In another thread I mentioned I'd be attending an information session about SAD lights. Well, it was worth going to.
I found out the mental health office in Saskatoon runs SAD light trials, where you take the Beck Depression Inventory (a measure of how depressed you are), and are given a light to take home and use as instructed for two weeks. When you return, you take the inventory again to see if your mood has improved. They have intakes on a regular basis. They use the original "Day-Lite" manufactured here in Canada. (Because I'm already convinced the light works for me I declined the trial.)
A few things I learned:
- Make sure you have no serious eye problems before using a SAD light.
- Sit at a table or desk no darker than oak in colour, because a dark surface absorbs some of the light rays. A a light coloured tablecloth will work ok.
- Make sure there is another source of light in the room, like lamps or light from a window, because otherwise the light is too harsh.
- Sit at the correct distance and angle from the light, as instructed by the manufacturer.
- Don't use the blue-type lights because they have been known cause eye problems.
- The usual "prescription" is a light with a power of 10,000 lux, used in the morning for 30 minutes.
- Some people can avoid taking anti-depressants if the SAD light works well for them, but don't fiddle with your anti-depressant medication simply because you're using the light.
- Work in partnership with your doctor or other informed professional as you experiment with the light. (This is easier said than done, considering most doctors and psychiatrists know very little about SAD lights and many don't believe in them.)
- And very important: If you have bipolar disorder, only attempt SAD light therapy under close supervision by a doctor or other mental health professional, as hypomania/mania could be triggered by too much exposure to the light. (Once again, easier said than done , considering most doctors and psychiatrists know very little about SAD lights and many don't believe in them.)
There is more information too, which I don't have handy and will post another time. If you live in Saskatchewan and want contact information for the mental health people involved, please send me a private message (join the forum if you're just "lurking") and I'll try to help.
On a cute note: informal "polls" have been taken by those who run the sessions, which show that a popular food people turn to in winter is Cheezies (the original hard crunchy ones). People have also been known to break off the corner of a new salt lick (any cattle farmers here?) to suck on. And of course there's the usual carb,chocolate, fats, etc. cravings... something to do with our animal brain thinking we'd better store up now, because who knows when our next meal will be... even though we no longer live on ice floes...
I found out the mental health office in Saskatoon runs SAD light trials, where you take the Beck Depression Inventory (a measure of how depressed you are), and are given a light to take home and use as instructed for two weeks. When you return, you take the inventory again to see if your mood has improved. They have intakes on a regular basis. They use the original "Day-Lite" manufactured here in Canada. (Because I'm already convinced the light works for me I declined the trial.)
A few things I learned:
- Make sure you have no serious eye problems before using a SAD light.
- Sit at a table or desk no darker than oak in colour, because a dark surface absorbs some of the light rays. A a light coloured tablecloth will work ok.
- Make sure there is another source of light in the room, like lamps or light from a window, because otherwise the light is too harsh.
- Sit at the correct distance and angle from the light, as instructed by the manufacturer.
- Don't use the blue-type lights because they have been known cause eye problems.
- The usual "prescription" is a light with a power of 10,000 lux, used in the morning for 30 minutes.
- Some people can avoid taking anti-depressants if the SAD light works well for them, but don't fiddle with your anti-depressant medication simply because you're using the light.
- Work in partnership with your doctor or other informed professional as you experiment with the light. (This is easier said than done, considering most doctors and psychiatrists know very little about SAD lights and many don't believe in them.)
- And very important: If you have bipolar disorder, only attempt SAD light therapy under close supervision by a doctor or other mental health professional, as hypomania/mania could be triggered by too much exposure to the light. (Once again, easier said than done , considering most doctors and psychiatrists know very little about SAD lights and many don't believe in them.)
There is more information too, which I don't have handy and will post another time. If you live in Saskatchewan and want contact information for the mental health people involved, please send me a private message (join the forum if you're just "lurking") and I'll try to help.
On a cute note: informal "polls" have been taken by those who run the sessions, which show that a popular food people turn to in winter is Cheezies (the original hard crunchy ones). People have also been known to break off the corner of a new salt lick (any cattle farmers here?) to suck on. And of course there's the usual carb,chocolate, fats, etc. cravings... something to do with our animal brain thinking we'd better store up now, because who knows when our next meal will be... even though we no longer live on ice floes...
Comment