The Application Of Light Therapy In The Treatment Of SAD

SAD is an acronym for seasonal affective disorder. As implicit from the term, the disorder does not occur in every season. Normally, the affective disorder happens during seasons when the sun does not normally shine. It usually occurs in fall season and winter also.

There are different ways through which you can treat the symptoms of SAD. Some of the ways through which you can reduce the effect of SAD are light therapy, medication and psychotherapy. Here are the steps you will employ in order to use SAD light therapy.

Before you apply the light therapy for the treatment of SAD, you need to first meet with your doctor. Though your doctor may not object to the application of the therapy, but he or she can also advise you on how best to make the therapy more effective.

Besides your doctor can also suggest other remedies or treatment of SAD to you because light therapy does not treat SAD completely. It will only reduce the symptoms of SAD. Besides, visiting a doctor will help you to find out how severe the symptoms of the seasonal affective disorder are.

After discussing with your doctor, the next thing that you should do is to get a light box. You have to make sure that you get the right light box that will work well for you depending on your condition. Your doctor can also recommend for you.

There are many stores where you can buy the light box and good a thing it is an over the counter device. You can also order for one through the internet. When you are shopping for the device, you should consider the rate and range at which the light box can produce light.

A good light box can produce up 10, 000 lux some distance away from the user for comfort and ease of use. Another feature that you have to look out for is the ability of the light box to checkmate UV light which can be insidious to your health.

When you have gotten the light box, then you can start the SAD light therapy. Position the box in such a way that it will be 2 feet away from you and also above your sight line. The duration you will stay on the light depends on the severity of your case and also on your body system. You can meet your doctor to help you in that regard. However, 20 minutes or more is good.

There are certain things that you should do in order to enhance light therapy. You can boost the effect of the SAD light therapy by going outside whenever there is sun. The sunlight can be helpful in reducing your depression. Moreover, it is also natural than light box.

You should also ensure that there is enough light in your home. In fact you may not apply SAD light therapy if there is reasonable amount of light in your living abode. In this regard you need to put more light in your home or use lighting that have considerable intensity.

Another way through which you can enhance the effect of the therapy is by being active in bright light both indoors and outdoors. Regular exercise is another means through which you can handle SAD. Always ensure that you are busy with something. Make sure that you monitor your mood always. If you are occupied, you can easily deal with the symptoms of SAD.

You can apply SAD light therapy in order to reduce the symptoms of SAD. For details about the application of the light therapy visit the author’s blog.