Silly question but....

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Dimbutnice
joined 2 Jan 2006
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Posted by Dimbutnice, 17:31 2 January 2006

Very sceptical if any of these high prices for these units are justified. They "only" seem to be flourescent tubes after all but am looking at the Diamond 4. Anyone bought one of these can say if it has helped? I wouldn't mind paying £230 if it is definitely going to help.

Other thing is that I've used sleeping pills for years and jumping the gun has the lightbox helped anyone stop using these?

TIA - Dave

siddy
joined 22 Jan 2003
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Posted by siddy, 19:22 2 January 2006

Hello Dave,

welcome to the forum. I suppose firstly it is important to make a positive diagnosis of sad, are you confident that you have this condition?

If you have sad a lighbox will reduce your symptoms and in the long term the cost will be negligable. I have had one light box for ten years and one for seven and they are still working fine.

Can I ask why you were prescribed sleeping tablets? If your sleeping patterns went wrong due to sad, consistent use of a lightbox and dawn simulator will help regulate your sleeping waking cycle.

With sad it is advisable to have a way of managing it and use light treatment and meds etc but ultimately these reduce symptoms and won't remove all the unpleasantness of living with sad.

Dimbutnice
joined 2 Jan 2006
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Posted by Dimbutnice, 20:13 2 January 2006

Hi Siddy, Took the plunge and ordered a Diamond 4. I am VERY convinced that my depression is seasonal. 2005 has been exceptionally bad. I have hardly been able to stand. Every year I tell myself that I will try light therapy and so I did at last. I have been using a Daylight flo' tube and can already feel the difference after 5 days. The sleeping pills I have been on for years due to the intermittent sleeping so there is also now an addiction problem to handle but hopefully this will be easier if the lightbox works.

Cheers - Dave

siddy
joined 22 Jan 2003
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Posted by siddy, 08:15 3 January 2006

Hello again,

The Diamond 4 is a good model so although expensive in the long run is worth the money. Have you managed to read 'Winter blues' by Norman Rosenthal? I would recommend this book as a good overview of sad and has lots of advice e.t.c in there.

I use my lightbox at 7am every morning for about an hour, yours is a higher output so I would suggest trying 20-30 mins to begin with. You will most likely find the brightness overwhelming at first but you do get used to it over time.

Hope it picks you up

Craver
joined 26 Oct 2004
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Posted by Craver, 14:15 3 January 2006

Hi Dave (and Siddy...)

Well done on ordering the lightbox I hope it will (sure it will..) make a difference. I was in a dreadful state every winter from an young age but have had a Diamond 4 for the last two winters. I use it for 30-40mins at 7am before work and at weekends I do an hour. I noticed the difference on the 3rd day - it has helped a great deal.

I'm 80% 'normal' in winter now. It is a lot of money but for the difference it has made I would pay double the cost. That combined with the generous support I received from the guys on this forum really helped me get back a large degree of 'life' in the winter months, and I didn't feel so alone. I am grateful for the light and the forum and hope you gain benefit from both.

Good luck with it, let us know how you get on.

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