Looking for a quality sunlamp to treat SAD

[Anonymous]

Hi All, recently diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD.) Psychiatrist wants me to find a good sunlamp. Where do you buy these? Are they all expensive, or can you find one at a reasonable price (under $200-250?) Thanks

[Anonymous]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Sun+lamp+SAD

[Anonymous]

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/in-depth/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/ART-20048298?pg=2

They are all fairly expensive and in that $200-250 range unless you can find a used one. You may also want to get one with a dawn simulator. I have found that to be a great help as well. The light slowly brightens your room in the morning so your brain doesn't have to go from dark to light suddenly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/in-depth/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/ART-20048298?pg=2

They are all fairly expensive and in that $200-250 range unless you can find a used one. You may also want to get one with a dawn simulator. I have found that to be a great help as well. The light slowly brightens your room in the morning so your brain doesn't have to go from dark to light suddenly.

Doesn't nature take care of this for you? I have the "blues" in the winter too and it is due to the shorter number of daylight hours. I always though that was what SAD was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Sun+lamp+SAD

I am asking for advice, not a link to a google search. Iwanted real life opinions and recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/in-depth/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/ART-20048298?pg=2

They are all fairly expensive and in that $200-250 range unless you can find a used one. You may also want to get one with a dawn simulator. I have found that to be a great help as well. The light slowly brightens your room in the morning so your brain doesn't have to go from dark to light suddenly.

Doesn't nature take care of this for you? I have the "blues" in the winter too and it is due to the shorter number of daylight hours. I always though that was what SAD was.

Nature does this in the summer but not winter. So in the winter a dawn simulating light does what nature would do in the summer where the light builds outside and your brain is processing increasing light even before you wake up. I love the dawn simulator and use it until I wake up to natural sunlight. I don't have SAD - my brain just hates waking up in the pitch black to turn a light on. I feel grumpy and irritable and it takes me a really long time to wake up and actually feel awake. So using the dawn simulator eliminates that, and fakes your brain into thinking it is summer! The whole serotonin-melatonin exchange cycle is natural and dependent on light and dark so I just help it stay more regular all year.

[Anonymous]

Gotcha PP. I never thought about that.

[Anonymous]

10:32 - which "dawn simulator" did you buy? I just checked on amazon.com and found three. The SADD lamps were separate. I am looking for one for DC for dorm room. And do any "dawn simulators" come with the SADD lighting in them or are they separate devices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:32 - which "dawn simulator" did you buy? I just checked on amazon.com and found three. The SADD lamps were separate. I am looking for one for DC for dorm room. And do any "dawn simulators" come with the SADD lighting in them or are they separate devices?

This is the dawn simulator I have. http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Hf3470-Wake-up-Light-White/dp/B003XN4RIC/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_1. It works great for me. It is not a SADD light. I also use this light sometimes http://www.amazon.com/Philips-goLITE-BLU-Therapy-Device/dp/B001I45XL8/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1389558463&sr=1-1&keywords=blue+light+therapy and I have had it for a few years. It does help to some degree but I have since read that white light (10 000 lux) is healthier than blue light for the eyes. I don't officially have SAD and have never used an official SAD light. I know there are some that are combined - for example http://www.amazon.com/Sunrise-Therapy-Light-Dawn-Simulator/dp/B0010AX7UY/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1389558569&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=SAD+Therapy+Light+Box+w%2F+Dawn+Simulator but it doesn't look like it gets particularly good reviews.

[Anonymous]

I bought one several years ago (can't remember the name, but it did cost about $250).

Just a quick tip, you really need to use it first thing in the morning. It really only worked for me if I got up a half hour earlier than usual and sat with it on. You don't have to be staring directly at it. I believe it is supposed to be slightly above you. So you might want to get one with a floor stand, because most of the table stand ones aren't high enough.

[Anonymous]

15:36 here again. I will say that while the lamp did help a little, I don't think it really helped enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought one several years ago (can't remember the name, but it did cost about $250).

Just a quick tip, you really need to use it first thing in the morning. It really only worked for me if I got up a half hour earlier than usual and sat with it on. You don't have to be staring directly at it. I believe it is supposed to be slightly above you. So you might want to get one with a floor stand, because most of the table stand ones aren't high enough.

A lot of the technology has changed in recent years - they are a bit different than they were a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Thanks 15:31. Very helpful!

[Anonymous]

Crazy idea - we have a grow lamp for our plants. It is crazy bright so you wouldn't want to look right at it. But we got a hanging appliance and 3 2-foot full spectrum bulbs for under $100. I sometimes sit in the sunroom and read when the lamp is on, but I don't have SAD, just normal winter blahs.

Anybody with real SAD think this would help OP?

[Anonymous]

I have had issues with SAD and have felt much better taking a vitamin D (D3 1000iu) supplement. Worth a try and much cheaper than a lamp.