in the UK and Europe. Our products have brought medically proven relief to thousands of sufferers of
. Our customers are normally the general public but we also supply direct to BUPA, the NHS, Primary Care Trusts, General Practicioners, Pharmacies,Psychologists and other memebers of the medical profession.
affects millions of people throughout the world in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Here in the UK and other parts of Northern Europe hundreds of thousands of people suffer the devastating effects of
for use in the home and at work at the most affordable prices on the Internet. You will also find lots of useful information about any SAD,
. Please click on the links above to help you decide.
. Designed by experts in their field, following years of research in to the relationship between SAD and light levels, our
Want to order off-line? Call us on 08452 99 44 00 or download the 2009-2010 SAD Lighting order form by clicking the link
SAD - Frequently Asked Questions by our Customers:
Do you have a catalogue?
Yes. We provide all of our information on these web pages, but if you have a friend or relative who doesn't have internet access then please download and print out the 2009-2010 SAD Lighting catalogue or fill in the form and we'll post one to you.
Click here
How do I choose which Light Therapy product to use?
The choice of a Light Therapy product is basically governed by your lifestyle and your individual requirements.
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What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months. Milder forms of SAD are known as the "winter blues".
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What are the Symptoms of SAD?
The symptoms of SAD can vary from person to person, and are similar to those that develop in other types of depression.
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Who gets SAD?
It's extremely rare to find people with symptoms of SAD living within 30 degrees of the equator, where daylight hours are long and extremely bright. But it can affect people anywhere else in the northern and southern hemispheres - from Scandinavia, in the North, throughout Europe, in most of North America and North Asia, and as far as the southern parts of Australia and South America. Some people even get SAD in summer, during dull periods.
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What Causes SAD?
When the light passes through the eyes into the brain, serotonin is released. During the fall and winter, there is less daylight than in the spring and summer, which causes a drop in the body's serotonin levels.
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Why do we have seasonal mood changes?
Most of us feel better when the sun is shining - more cheerful and energetic. On grey, gloomy days, especially in winter, we tend to feel less enthusiastic, more inclined to stay indoors or even in bed, to do less work, to socialise less and to eat more. The reason for this is the change in the quality and quantity of light.
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What else can I do to help myself?
We know that being outdoors throughout the winter isn't a cure, because many farmers and outdoor workers have SAD. But, it's still worth making the most of the available light. Go outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible, especially at midday and on bright days. Inside the home, choose pale colours that reflect light from outside. Sit near windows, when you can.
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How can family and friends help?
It's not always easy to live with someone who has SAD. It's like being with two different people, one who is lively, cheerful and energetic, during the summer, and the other who is sleepy, morose and irritable, during the winter.
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Are there any other treatments for SAD?
Talking treatments, such as counselling, psychotherapy or cognitive behaviour therapy, or in severe cases of SAD, SSRI antidepressants,
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What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
SAD is a depression that happens when dark winter days keep your body clock from resetting every day.
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Read all our SAD FAQ's
About SAD
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is officially recognised by Doctors and Psychiatrists as a medical condition that is thought to affect 2 million people in Great Britain.
In the beginning we only worked and lived outdoors in full natural daylight. At the turn of the 19th century 75% of the population worked outdoors. Now less than 10% of the population work in natural outdoor light. This change has resulted in a dramatic increase in light deficiency symptoms.
Symptoms include:
- Depression, feelings of gloom and despondency for no apparent reason
- Lethargy, lacking in energy, unable to carry out a normal routine
- Anxiety, inability to cope
- Social problems, irritability, not wanting to see people
- Sleep problems, finding it hard to stay awake during the day, but having disturbed nights
- Loss of libido, not interested in physical contact.
- Craving for carbohydratesand sweet foods, leading to weight gain
SAD Treatment & SAD Lights
Historically, treatment for depression and thus Seasonal Affective Disorder involved the use of drugs. However, in recent years research in the USA and UK showed that SAD sufferers responded, often quite dramatically, to Bright Light Treatment. Our fully proven lightboxes have been specifically designed for bright light treatment and they are a recognised method of alleviating S.A.D.
Lack of light causes an increase in the production of Melatonin (the hormone that makes us sleepy at night), and a reduction of Serotonin, the lack of which causes depression. The exposure to bright light therapy reverses the process, with the additional benefit of being drug free.
Beginning light thereapy treatment is quite literally as easy as flicking a switch. You should start to feel the benefit within 7-14 days of using a lightbox.
By providing summertime levels of light during the winter you can successfully alleviate the symptoms of SAD with the result that former sufferers can lead a normal, happier life and beat the Winter Blues. In fact almost everyone can benefit from increased energy levels when using a lightbox.
All of our lightboxes are produced by the SAD lighbox company, a division of Full Spectrum Lighting Ltd. They were the first company in the UK to design and manufacture lightboxes specifically for alleviating SAD, and after nearly two decades they continue to design innovative, and extremely effective, light treatment products.
SAD Light Safety
Safety is paramount in the products we supply. Our Light Therapy products are entirely safe to use for healthy people. However, in some cases we advise you to consult your doctor before you start using the appliance; If you:
- have an eye complaint or if you are sensitive to light.
- are (or have been) depressed
- are (or have been) taking antidepressants or medication against epilepsy.
Our customers have often consulted their doctor prior to purchasing a SAD LightBox and light treatment has been recommended to them. Our SAD LightBoxes are used by the NHS to treat various illnesses adn conditions.
Medical Disclaimer - The information supplied in this site is not intended as medical advice. If you have any questions concerning any topics or treatments in these documents, you should seek the advice of your doctor, particularly if you are suffering from depression, have any medical or eye problems or are on medication that effects the eyes.
Our range of products are supplied by the S.A.D. Lightbox Company who were the first company in the UK to design and manufacture lightboxes specifically for alleviating SAD, and after nearly two decades they continue to design innovative products. The company is registered with the Medical Devices Agency as a certified manufacturer of light therapy equipment as required by European Union legistlation. (CE 0120, designed and built to conform to EN60601-1/-2, EC93/42, EC89/336, EN60598 and EN46002).
SAD FAQ's
The choice of a Light Therapy product is basically governed by your lifestyle. Some products report a treatment time of twenty minutes but these tend to be larger and more powerful. Other smaller, more discreet, products can fit on your desk at work or at home and these take up to an hour to provide your full treatment.
Here at SAD-lighting.co.uk we understand that it can be confusing to choose your SAD Light Therapy product. We have therefore devised a handy guide to help you in choosing the right light box for you. Click here for further info.
What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months. Milder forms of SAD are known as the "winter blues".
SAD symptoms begin in the late autumn when there is less daylight (or, as we sometimes say, the days get shorter). Symptoms of SAD may not begin to abate until late winter or early spring.
Who gets SAD?
Women account for 70-80% of all people with SAD. SAD is more prevalent in the higher latitudes than in the lower latitudes that receive more sun. Some people who work in offices with little access to natural light may experience SAD all year.
What Causes SAD?
When the light passes through the eyes into the brain, serotonin is released. During the fall and winter, there is less daylight than in the spring and summer, which causes a drop in the body's serotonin levels.
Serotonin is an important chemical in the brain known as a neurotransmitter. A neurotransmitter is a molecule in the brain that helps nerve cells to work together. One of the roles serotonin has in the brain is to act as a traffic cop to other neurotransmitters. Without enough serotonin, a wide range of body functions is affected, including mood. Less daylight is a trigger for the body to increase production of a certain hormone - melatonin. The role of melatonin is not clearly understood, but it is thought to help in the sleep process. The body releases it at night, during sleep.
Together, the lack of serotonin (which helps nerve cells cooperate) and the increase in melatonin (which put a body to sleep) cause SAD.
What are the Symptoms of SAD?
- Carbohydrate/sugar cravings (sometimes accompanied by weight gain)
- Decreased sex drive
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Diminished productivity
- Difficulty waking in the morning
- Fatigue
- Feeling depressed or sad
- Irritability
- Lethargy
- Low body temperature
- Sleeping too much
- Withdrawal from social activities
How is SAD Diagnosed?
Symptoms are the primary basis for the diagnosis of SAD. SAD is not the same as clinical depression. Depression does not have a seasonal fluctuation.
What is the Treatment for SAD?
SAD Light Therapy.
The basic treatment for SAD is light therapy. The British NHS, many European Medical Institutions along with the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association recommend light therapy. Light therapy is as simple as it sounds - adding more light to the environment.
Light therapy can be started in late August or early September, before symptoms start. Normally, light therapy is done each day upon waking in the morning. Some people may find that another session in the afternoon is helpful.
A device called a light box is often used for light therapy. The box contains fluorescent light bulbs, and is set up in a convenient place to receive treatment. This could be a nightstand, a desk, or the kitchen table. The light should not be looked at directly. Sessions with light therapy can be as short as 15 minutes, or as long as three hours. Treatment should be individualised so that neither too much, nor not enough light is received.
Side effects are possible, but are generally reported as minimal. Side effects can include:
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Eye strain
- Feeling "wired"
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Nausea
Other Self-Treatment Ideas.
- Eat fewer carbohydrates.
- Effectively manage stress.
- Get more exercise.
- Increase the amount of light in your daily environment, by adding lamps or skylights and trimming trees or bushes that block sunlight.
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
- Sit near a window whenever possible.
- Take walks on sunny days, even during winter.
- Take a vacation in a sunny, warm location, if you are able.
What is the difference between a SAD light and a normal flourescent light?
Ordinary light bulbs and fittings are not strong enough to treat SAD. Average domestic or office lighting emits an intensity of 200-500 lux but the minimum dose, necessary to treat SAD is 2500 lux, The intensity of a bright summer day can be 100,000 lux.
The SAD Lightbox bulbs also emit the full spectrum of light (the same as natural sunlight), unlike flourescent bulbs that emit a much narrower range of colours and thus the clarity is greater and better visual accurity is acheived. It is for this reason that sitting under flourescent lighting can be tiring.
How to choose you SAD Light
Our extensive range of light boxes means that we have something for everyone. Our price range also caters for different budgets because we realise that not everyone can afford a high powered lightbox.
To be effective a lightbox must emit a minimum of 2500lux. All the SAD lightboxes we retail emit 10000 lux, giving the user an efficient and speedy treatment. With each of our SAD lightboxes we have included a handy specification table that provides you with a guide to the strength of each SAD lightbox and the treatment time required.
The most important thing is to be realistic about the amount of time you want to use the lightbox. The SAD Diamond 4, the Silver Lite and the Ultima 4 are great if you are pushed for time as they give a full treatment in just 20 minutes. However. if you have a little more time on your hands choose the SAD Diamond 2 or the SAD Litepod.
The SAD Litepod is great as it can even be used on your desk at work. Handy and discrete this is our best seller.
If you want a light treatment as you wake the Sunriser is for you. This alarm clock attaches to a standard bedside lamp. It works by gradually increasing the light emitted from your lamp until it is on full brightness when your alarm sounds.
If you want more information just click on the model names on the navigation bar on the left hand side.
