Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 290947

Shown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

SAD lightboxes

Posted by jrbecker on December 17, 2003, at 11:34:18

Here in grey Chicago, I'm actually doing fairly well with my daily regimen of half hour to an hour of light therapy every morning. I use a Northern Lights lightbox. It's portable but fairly bulky. I think it ran me over $280.

I was surprised, however, to see a new light therapy product on the market that's available at some local pharmacies (Walgreens) and also available online. It's called the "Litebook." It looks unbelievably small and portable, but packs a good luminescent punch. And the best part is that it's pretty cheap, at around $200.

check out this link for more...
http://www.litebook.com/usa/

At work, I've been using a small halogen desk lamp that I have turned up so it shines directly on me.

The exposure has definitely helped my energy and mood levels.

 

Re: SAD lightboxes » jrbecker

Posted by Emme on December 17, 2003, at 12:50:23

In reply to SAD lightboxes, posted by jrbecker on December 17, 2003, at 11:34:18


> I was surprised, however, to see a new light therapy product on the market that's available at some local pharmacies (Walgreens) and also available online. It's called the "Litebook." It looks unbelievably small and portable, but packs a good luminescent punch. And the best part is that it's pretty cheap, at around $200.

I have it. Yes, it's teeny. About 6" by 5" and about an inch thick and very lightweight. Perfect for a small or cluttered desk like mine! I like it. The light is very white.

>
> check out this link for more...
> http://www.litebook.com/usa/
>

 

Re: SAD lightboxes » jrbecker

Posted by SLS on December 17, 2003, at 15:15:31

In reply to SAD lightboxes, posted by jrbecker on December 17, 2003, at 11:34:18

> Here in grey Chicago, I'm actually doing fairly well with my daily regimen of half hour to an hour of light therapy every morning.

Hi JB.

Thanks for regularly posting such wonderful information.

What is your diagnosis (if that's not too personal a question)? Has your illness demonstrated any seasonality? How would light therapy work when treating bipolar or unipolar depression in the absence of seasonality?

Thanks.


- Scott

 

Re: SAD lightboxes

Posted by crazychickuk on December 17, 2003, at 16:01:09

In reply to Re: SAD lightboxes » jrbecker, posted by SLS on December 17, 2003, at 15:15:31

sheesh, i sit here with the light on full all the time still down in the dumps.

 

Re: SAD lightboxes

Posted by Iansf on December 17, 2003, at 20:19:01

In reply to Re: SAD lightboxes, posted by crazychickuk on December 17, 2003, at 16:01:09

I tried light therapy in the past, using a head device rather than a box. Paradoxically, it actually made my depression worse! Within a few days I went from depressed to completely despairing. I don't know if that happens with many people, however. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest where it was overcast at least 2/3 of the time. Maybe my system grew to accept gloomy weather as normal and too much light trips some interior warning system or something. It's all such a mystery.

 

Re: SAD lightboxes » SLS

Posted by jrbecker on December 18, 2003, at 11:24:12

In reply to Re: SAD lightboxes » jrbecker, posted by SLS on December 17, 2003, at 15:15:31

> Hi JB.
>
> Thanks for regularly posting such wonderful information.
>
> What is your diagnosis (if that's not too personal a question)? Has your illness demonstrated any seasonality? How would light therapy work when treating bipolar or unipolar depression in the absence of seasonality?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> - Scott

Hi Scott-

I've been diagnosed as an atypical depressive. Although I don't really exhibit hypomanic symptoms, my mood definitely fluctuates. Off meds, I can sometimes become irritable and dysphoric -- a symptom many experts believe is a sign of soft bipolarity.

Yes, there is definitely a seasonality to my mood. I am often less depressed in the warmer, sunnier months, however, I can also sometimes experience more anxiety during this period as well.

As for treating a unipolar or a bipolar who does NOT exhibit seasonality, with light therapy...well my guess is that those individuals will not respond as well to this form of therapy as those depressives that exhibit SAD symptoms to begin with. As a couple of the follow-up posters mentioned, light therapy doesn't work for everyone. In fact, a small minority of us have responded negatively to light therapy. My guess is that light therapy might exacerbate bipolar symptoms (the research has found that light therapy can induce hypomania in some or add to anxiety or sense of dysphoria). However, this has never been the case with me.

Light therapy seems to be benign enough for everyone to give it a shot if they exhbit seasonality to their depression. Many report that it only moderately helps their symptoms. But in most cases, the extra boost is well worth it.


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.