Seasonal Affective Disorder - has anyone used a light-box or similar?

I bought a light box a few years ago still have it in the box as i found it was too stark first thing in the morning, think it depends on what is really coursing the depression , sorry to say it didn't help me at all. By the way it was quite big and comberson and coast about £145-00 but have a friend who swears by it so it just depends on the person if you can borrow one to try think that would be better than spending out till you know if it will work for you. Good luck

Thanks all - have taken the plunge and bought both Light Box and Wake-up clock. Took me two days to get the alarm clock to work - not the easiest set-up... but it worked this morning and I was up by 8am - in spite of it being a dull morning - normally I sleep right through Chris Evans though hearing him this morning I don't know how I manage that!
Have tried the light box for the last 2 mornings and will see how that goes as we move into darker days - I'm keeping an open mind and taking both the vitamins and the anti-depressants as well! One way or another something should work...

DS uses a light box during the winter and finds it helpful, he also has a clock that lights up slowly like the sunrise.

I used/use one and find it very helpful. Mine is packed away so I'm sorry but I can't tell you the make. There is a website for SAD www.sad.org.uk which has information on recommended manufacturers.

I think you have to experiment to find out how in front of the light suits you. It can be anything from 30 mins to over an hour I think. You don't have to stare at it though, it just has to be positioned so the light strikes your eye. I put mine by and to the side of my computer monitor and that works fine.

Best of luck.

Thank you Clematisa

Best of luck with PD Rosannie - dad had that and at first it was thought to be depression but hopefully things are much better 20years on and at least you have the diagnosis now and can get all the required help.
I had a lovely break in Malta in May and if only we could have a bit of sunshine here that would be great! I love gardening so that gets me up and going out - though I must admit it's harder when it's raining and the winds are blowing a gale!
Thanks everyone for all your ideas - very much appreciated.

Hi Clematisa,
I tried a light box and yes, I think it can help. However, I had to give mine away as I found that it started to trigger my migraines. ( I have suffered since my teens but recently bright lights , even the sun shining off a car can cause one) just thought I might mention this in case you are susceptible to migraines too.
I had to sit by mine for quite a long time. Perhaps the wake up light is more gentle. Can anyone comment on that?
I manage now by having a short break in late autumn and Feb. at my son's who lives in Spain. This top up helps. I know that's not possible for everyone. And as other have said, try to get out as much as you can when it is bright.
Best of luck to you.

I've tried one. It didn't work for me but the person I passed it on to has found it helpful.

Thanks Luckygirl didn't want to hijack the discussion, I was just pointing out that some symptoms can turn out to be indicators of other things and can't be alleviated with a light box.
It's early days for me after diagnosis but I think my symptoms started 8 years ago, but none of them indicated PD as a cause. Your words are encouraging and I am hopeful for the future.

Sorry to hear that Rosannie - my OH has PD and was diagnosed about 8 years ago, but had already had symptoms for about 2 years before that.

The medications he takes are a bit of a nuisance - remembering what to take when is the main problem (as he also has drugs for his heart problem) - but they really do keep the disease at bay in a way that never happened in the past. He does of course have some problems - lack of stamina is top of the list. But he can still play the violin, even though he has a tremor on his left side, the hand he fingers the violin with.

No-one looking at him would have any idea that he has PD, as he does not shake badly.

There are of course all sorts of minor problems - the disease slows down his gut, so he is often blocked up, he has a bit of giddiness etc. There is a brilliant Parkinsons specialist nurse in this area and she is on the end of the phone for either of us anytime.

I am sure that the condition will be kept at bay for you in the way it is being for my OH, so please do not feel too daunted by the diagnosis.

Thanks Jing, that's just how I feel!

Rosannie

Yes a light box does work to help alleviate the symptoms of SAD which is not necessarily the same as Depression which may have more complicated origins.
Everyone's experiences and circumstances are different, fresh air, anti-depressants, vitamins - it's trial and error to find what works for you.
I have suffered with fatigue, low mood and lack of motivation and presumed this was SAD, now having put it together with other recent symptoms I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's.

There is something about outside light that seems to lighten your brain up. Even on the gloomiest of days.

Some of them didn't. (Re previous post) Pity ssri's weren't invented decades ago. Best thing since sliced bread. Again IMO.

Merlot The problem is though even if you go outside so many winter days are dark and depressingly gloomy. Bright shining snow works. Actually so many British days throughout the year are dark and gloomy! Not just winter.

Easier said than done though merlot. Though, of course, you are right.

You have to go outside. Summon up every bit of willpower even on the dreariest of days and just DO IT.

How did our grandparents manage to get through the winter without medication and light boxes?

Good job the army didn't need them in both World Wars

Still useless. IMO of course.

It is not just any old artificial light in those SAD lamps it has to be a light at the correct frequency or wave lenghth or some such complicated physics thingummy.

I cannot believe any artificial light can help serotonin levels. Only real live natural sunshine can do that.

Keep taking the tablets. And I don't mean vit D which will do sweet fanny Adams for depression.

I think the Dr may have wondered if it was a bad time too but she has agreed to try me on a lesser dosage of the mirtazapine (30mg v 45mg) on alternate days to see how it goes and so far all seems well... I already take AdcalD3 for osteopenia so VitD3 may already be a help and perhaps I can up my serotonin levels with other vitamins - don't take any at the moment as I eat a healthy balanced fresh fruit and veg diet, but maybe I should consider supplements now too?
Since I'm retired now I don't have to get up at 6.30am but it would really be nice to be able to get up if I felt like it and not feel like I've lost a day when I don't surface till after 11 when the light wakes me!
Thanks Mamie, I did wonder when was the best time to use it so thanks for that and good that you have found it useful too.
Thanks Galen - did you find something else that worked for you... ?

I am wondering if this is a bad time to consider going off an anti-depressant when the cold and dark will be upon us in a few months.

I tried one and it worked in one way. It was the kind that gradually lights up on a timer switch and therefore you wake naturally as the light intensifies.

I found that when I had to get up for work on dark, cold and dreary winter mornings it helped to be woken, gradually and naturally, rather than by a shrill alarm.

I've started taking Vit D during the autumn and winter months and find this helps.

Or Vitamin D
Get plenty of sunshine now, within reason of course - don't burn! - then go outside as much as you can on sunny winter days and take vitamin D tablets in the winter.