Has anyone with S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) tried using light therapy?

I've experienced some S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) during winter months when there is less daylight. There is a special type of light now that provides the same light as the sun, and it is supposed to help people if they use these bulbs for so many hours a day. Has anyone tried this, and did it help? Do you recommend any?

yes, those lamps have been shown to help.

though, i have a few friends with sad and they've been using ge-reveal with good results. (other companies make the same type of bulb - it is blu-ish in color and it results in a slightly biased spectrum when it is illuminated.) in cases where it is effective, it is a very inexpensive solution.

it is still important to encourage socialization and outdoor excursions for these folks. friends and family need to be their safety net. :)

an interesting note on the whole light/SADD interaction - there is evidence that it doesn't need to be *seen* - that the effect is actually photochemical and occurs in your blood as you bask in the glory of em-radiation ;)

Less sunlight is more apt to effect your mental attitude. People living in climates that are predominantly cloudy can be depressed. When they see the sun they get much happier. Can you move to a place with more sunlight?

S.A.D. That's a new one for me. I guess they have a disorder for everything under the sun now. No pun intended.

Chow!!

yes they do help some. there are many new modles out on the market now. all will help to one degree or another. just as using full spectrum light bulbs will help also and make the room seem brighter and easier to see things in.
no I canot recommend one type or brand over anorher as each person is different and each manufacturer may make slight changes that will cause them to work better for some peple than others.

I have suffered for many years with SAD as well as bipolar disorder and live in Canada where our winters are darker and cloudy. I used the SAD Lamp which I purchased from a medical supply store.(approx $210 Can.) I started at 5 minutes per day and increased it each day up to 30 minutes. This how it is suggested by the manufacturer and my therapist as to how it is used. I must stress thought that because I am bipolar the times are different. The length of time used by someone with unipolar depression is far different than that of bipolar depression. I used it 3-5 minutes every other day. It successfully relieved my depression without sending me into a mania as the full length of time did. Hope this helps