FED UP OF WEATHER.

The Lumie forum is for chat, discussion, support and advice on all aspects of light therapy and how it can help. To join in you'll need to register.

We do not monitor this forum every day. If you want to reach Lumie please see the Contact us page.

debbie
joined 11 Feb 2011
72 posts

send a pm

Posted by debbie, 20:33 8 June 2011

I THOUGHT I WOULD START TO IMPROVE WITH
MY SAD, WHICH SLOWLY CREPT BACK IN MAY. ITS
SO WET AND DULL EVERY DAY HERE IN NORTH
WEST ENGLAND, WHAT BIT OF SUN SHINES IS VERY
SHORT LIVED,. THE LIGHT EVENINGS ARE A BIT
OF A BLESSING, BUT IVE CURRENTLY GOT A LAMP
ON INSIDE THE HOUSE HAS ITS SO DULL, I CANT
SIT OUT IN THE GARDEN WHICH I LOVE, GO
SHOPPING WITHOUT GETTING WET THROUGH, ITS
LIKE WINTER ALL OVER AGAIN, DOES ANYONE ELSE
FEEL LIKE THIS IN JUNE? LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT
IT, DEBBIE

Happy Girl ;)
joined 9 Jan 2010
26 posts

send a pm

Posted by Happy Girl ;), 11:35 9 June 2011

Well Debbie I'm still feeling a bit down it's being raining for the last month. I thought I was the only person still feeling down. Thank god I'm not alone ! Going on a three week holiday next week so hopefully that will be the remedy to my woes ! I think the forecast for July is supposed to be nice !

debbie
joined 11 Feb 2011
72 posts

send a pm

Posted by debbie, 17:46 12 June 2011

dear happy girl thankyou for your reply, im pleased
im not alone with sad in june, its bad with constant
rain again today, a break to the isle of wight is
planned for this summer, apparently its better in the
south, have a nice 3 week break, hope your sad
subsides. debbie.

daisythefirst
joined 9 Oct 2006
25 posts

send a pm

Posted by daisythefirst, 22:29 15 June 2011

Hi debbie and Happy Girl,

Came here tonight as I'm struggling so much with this weather. At least I know I'm not alone. Just to be able to sit out in the garden would make all the difference. It's so disappointing, I just get through the winter by the skin of my teeth thinking there is light at the end of the tunnel, but these past few really bad summers have a bad effect on me. Life is such a struggle. :( I just have no energy to do anything. My light box remains on instead of going away for a few months.

samleona
joined 18 Jun 2011
4 posts

send a pm

Posted by samleona, 19:35 18 June 2011

Hi All,

I've come here also because I'm having a bad time at the moment. I took St Johns all winter and had an ok time. Stopped taking it at the end of March, we had lovely bright weather and now boom back to feeling crap and eating too much.

John Hopper
joined 24 Feb 2007
20 posts

send a pm

Posted by John Hopper, 21:41 28 July 2011

Debbie and others - I am the same, there have been a few too many dull days this summer, especially in July, after a great April and May when I spent a lot of time sitting in my garden after work and at the weekends.

debbie
joined 11 Feb 2011
72 posts

send a pm

Posted by debbie, 00:26 29 July 2011

dear john, thankyou for your reply, i do
agree there has been alot of dull grey
days this summer, i felt okay in april i too sat in my garden alot, this week hasnt been too bad, sunny spells and warmish, but i start to dread the darker
evenings approaching, i feel gloom around early september i will have to invest in a light box this year. hope you stay well debbie.

John Hopper
joined 24 Feb 2007
20 posts

send a pm

Posted by John Hopper, 06:59 29 July 2011

Thanks for your reply, Debbie. The light box certainly transformed my winters when I first got one in December 2003, then a more powerful one in 2007. Like any solution, it is not a total one, but is a huge help. I usually start using it regularly on weekday mornings from late August when it is dark at six a.m. when I get up for work. At weekends I don't usually start using it until the clocks go back. I think you will notice a powerful positive effect when you first start using it, though that may well diminish a bit after a couple of winters. Let us know how you get on. Take care. John

debbie
joined 11 Feb 2011
72 posts

send a pm

Posted by debbie, 21:39 29 July 2011

thankyou john for your advice on a light
box, i certainly dread this winter, im
currently on citalopram and recieving
congnitive behaviour therapy,a light box
does sound a good investment, when its
light in the evenings i feel really good,likewise in the mornings, but as soon as the dark evenings come i start to have panic attacks and depression, so
i will certainly get one of these boxes, and take your advice on using it when the clocks go back. thankyou for your help. debbie.

Linda
joined 2 Oct 2010
72 posts

send a pm

Posted by Linda, 17:37 1 August 2011

Hi John,
I'm interested in your comment about getting a more powerful light box. Can you tell me a bit more ? - eg how many lux, and the approximate recommended treatment time? And did it help you more than the first one? My current light box is 10,000 lux, and has a bright white light, but research on the internet suggests that blue light might be better, so I'm wondering about investing in a second unit.
Would appreciate any more information. It's August already, and I'm dreading the winter.

Many thanks.

florana
joined 18 Sep 2010
55 posts

send a pm

Posted by florana, 21:34 1 August 2011

Hi Linda,

10,000lux is the reccomendation and the manufacturer should provide details on how far you need to be to get a beneficial effect, how long etc. From Lumie's pages:

Lux measurements should be linked to distance A product description promising e.g.10,000lux is meaningless if it's not linked to a practical distance as well. A lightbox that produces 10,000lux when measured 1cm away may emit only 500lux at a more useful 50cm. Users should always follow the manufacturer's recommendations when positioning their lightbox for treatment.

The Lumie Zip has blue light in it (though not a solely blue light). The product page has info on treatment times etc.
http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/zip

This is what Lumie says on the use of blue light:

Use of blue light alone is still being investigated Whilst wavelengths in the blue part of the spectrum are most effective at influencing the circadian clock and are beneficial in treating SAD and circadian disorders, there is currently nothing to suggest that blue light on its own is better than full spectrum light therapy. Furthermore, there are no studies into the long-term effects of using blue light only.

http://www.lumie.com/shop/which-light-is-right-for-me

John Hopper
joined 24 Feb 2007
20 posts

send a pm

Posted by John Hopper, 09:07 3 August 2011

Linda

My first lightbox was a small Brightspark that I think I bought from Boots online. Couold be used flexibly, in bed or sitting at my computer. My second one is a very large Pharos Max bought from Outside In. Over £200 but well worth it. Much less flexible, though, can only really be used on a table.

piper
joined 7 Aug 2011
1 posts

send a pm

Posted by piper, 23:33 7 August 2011

HI all, new to this site, have struggled through the last few years with SAD and have been thinking of a light box. Every winter seems to get worse,I felt quite desperate at the end of last winter, have taken medication before but do not want to keep using it. I work indoors so do not see much of the summer (when we get one!!)I was thinking of a larger model for use at home, any suggestions would be welcome. Piper

florana
joined 18 Sep 2010
55 posts

send a pm

Posted by florana, 09:30 8 August 2011

Hi piper.

The biggest one Lumie offers is the Pharos MAX:
http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/Pharos-MAX

There's also the cheaper Pharos Regular:
http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/pharos-regular

Or Pharos Compact:
http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/pharos-compact

If those are too big or don't fit well then a lot of people find the Brightspark convenient as a desklight enxt to a computer etc.
http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/brightspark

The Arabica can also be used that way:
http://www.lumie.com/shop/products/arabica

They all come with a 30 Day trial so if you find they don't work you can send them back for a different model.

Best of luck.

PurpleIvy
joined 16 Mar 2005
952 posts

send a pm

Posted by PurpleIvy, 08:45 17 August 2011

I find my dinky little rechargeable very neat, portable and handy. I think it's an Apollo.

Post a reply

home > forum > sad

01954 780500