SAD Frequent Questions
Do you have a SAD Light catalogue?
Yes. Please download the 2007-2008 SAD Lighting catalogue by clicking the link 2007-2008 SAD Catalogue.
Can I order a SAD Light Offline?
Yes. Call us on 0871 218 1128 or download the 2007-2008 SAD Lighting order form by clicking the link 2007-2008 SAD Lighting order form
How do i choose which SAD Light to use?
The choice of a SAD Light product is basically governed by your lifestyle. Some SAD Lights report a treatment time of twenty minutes but these tend to be larger and more powerful (with the exception of the Apollo GoLITE P1 and Apollo GoLITE M2).
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 SAD light box for you. Choosing the right SAD Light for you..
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?
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.
