Mainly for Pete and his Theories...

Mainly for Pete and his theories…

“I would like to know which of you find light therapy 100% effective, mildly effective and which of you it doesn't do anything?”
Light therapy is my control panel if you like, used correctly (and I cannot emphasise that strongly enough) I find mine roughly/on average 80% effective. It is my primary source of power to keep in on top of how I feel from September-mid April. Without it my symptoms are seriously incapacitating, and I would not like to describe the emotions/thoughts I have had to handle in my endless years before light therapy. I am fortunate that I don’t also require medication (it always succeeds in making me feel worse, more brain dead).
Second line of self help is a healthy balanced diet, again, hard when all you crave is carbs.
Third is drinking 2/3 litres of water a day, this seems to help brain fog!
Fourth, get out into the fresh air and any available sun as much as possible.
And, the overall umbrella to that lot is personal discipline (exceedingly difficult, especially for saddies, but totally essential). This means, within reason, getting up at roughly the same time every single day, no lying in. But, I am human and at weekends, having had to get up at 6.15am Mon-Fri, I do occasionally lie in despite knowing that it is going to make me feel simply awful for the rest of the day, puts everything out of synch, I always regret it, even in summer as it happens.

"I'm asking these questions including the polls is because I'm trying to understand why light therapy is not as effective as natural sunlight? Evidence has shown that using your light box for 9 years and over makes you less prone to SAD and some people didn't require to use there light box."
I have used light therapy for 3 years. As light therapy is taken in bite sized pieces and is not constant for the duration of the day, you honestly don’t need to concern yourself about its effectiveness compared to summer light, two different things really, light therapy being summer’s stand-in (never as good as the real thing!). Being only 3 years down the line, and not brave enough in September to see if I can manage this year without my light fixes, I don’t know if sad diminishes by the year with the use of lightboxes.

"I would like to no how often you guys do light therapy, I do mine everyday even tho the effect is not that great. The reason I'm asking these questions including the polls is because I'm trying to understand why light therapy is not as effective as natural sunlight?"
I use Light Therapy EVERY SINGLE DAY, I think you will read in other posts, and manufacturers instructions, that this is vital. Routine is of the essence too. For everyone this does vary in duration of light and the exact time(s) of day it is taken. Like meds it needs to be taken at the same time every day, for the same duration every day, precious little deviation from that ~ after all we are talking bodyclocks here. Distance from the light source is also a major influencing factor. A satellite is 10,000 lux @ 50cm, which is exactly what I do. At a stretch I am able to miss one day once a blue moon, but beyond that one pays the price within 2/3 days. It then takes at least 4 days of correct use to get back to one’s winter norm.

Many others have given you info to help, like reading Dr Norman Rosenthal’s book “The Winter Blues”, lots of answers will be found in there for your concerns. Also as Siddy and Bright One advocate, do keep a diary of weather, your light therapy, diet, routine, and score your days out of 10 ~ SAD brains are fuzzy things and remembering details and spotting patterns is usually impossible. Set yourself a routine and stick to it for at least 2 weeks, finely tweak it from there in 2 week chunks, and you will arrive at the ideal for you. And keep coming back to the Forum, I for one just don’t feel I am doing this all alone any more. Remember though, everyone is different, some have SAD, some have SAD+, some need light alone, some need light+meds, but we are all in the same mental disability boat. My theory, for what it’s worth, is that as a bunch SAD folk are more tuned in than the average bear and sensitive/aware of the world and it’s natural forces, children of the universe don’t you know!!

I’m sorry that was long, but hope it helps, it has certainly drained this sad little person! It’s sunny here this p.m. so I shall grab a walk across the fields!

No one shout at me please for banging on a bit, it took a lot of effort!! Julie

Thank you Donna!
Like everyone, I go a long way on a "well done"! Yes, major effort, but was getting seriously worried about Pete's anxieties/things he felt he needed to know more about, and could only face helping in one go, not several little bits!

Am so sorry though that you are struggling at present, more than usual. From what I understand of this debilitating condition, it is worst of all for the majority of sufferers in Jan, Feb and all of March. Feb and March certainly apply to me, March being my complete black hole from where I wonder if I will ever emerge, it's truly frighening. Thanks to my lightbox though, last year was the very first year I have actually enjoyed my birthday which is 21 March. I wasn't the summer me, but I was actually there that year!!

Right, what I was really wanting to say about your headaches is : try really hard to drink more water, as much as you can manage (2-3 litres) in really helps in the "head department", and seriously cut back on coffee, tea and most of all chocolate. Also, Boots have an excellent little 'free issue' booket called Complementary Medicine with an excellent section on Heachaces and Migraines. If you describe to me how your headache starts and what shape it takes on I could let you know this evening what might help you. Like that you might be able to get back to your light which honestly would make all the difference to your Feb and March. I suffer from migraines, but have not noticed any increase in their occurrence by getting my light fix, if you manage to get into control of your headaches, you might be the same.

Anyway, good to read you Donna ~ Julie :D

Thanks Julie,

Well I have to admit that I don't drink enough water hardly ever!!

I don't drink much tea/coffee (maybe 2 cups a day)! and maybe 1 cup of water! This does improve in the summer I am pleased to say :lol:

My headaches in the winter are most probably because my blood sugars are lower in the winter :? I'm not diabetic though :lol: I know that Iam dehydrated too!

I find eating dry cornflakes help!! :shock:

Luckily I don't eat much chocolate!

Well I have had some lightbox earlier and fell asleep in front of it for the last 3 hours!!!

Well thanks once again Julie for your help. Keep going girl :D

Speak soon

Love Donna x