The Happy Light

ReneeElizabeth26

Has anyone tried this or bought it? Whatcha think? Did it help with seasonal depression or was it just en extra expensive bright light?

1117Stella

Can I use this as my reading light?
Who uses this? Seen any differences, improvements?

mfesloca

I love my Happy Light! I use it every year. You won't see immediate results, obviously, but with extended use it has helped me a lot with my seasonal depression. I start using it right about now and use it through the beginning of spring. I think starting early in the season helps head off the whole SAD thing. I just sit in front of it for about 20 minutes while I eat breakfast. You need to sit with it directly in front of you. No more than 20 inches away.

Make sure to use it first thing in the morning only. Using it late in the day really can and mess with your circadian rhythm.

I also make sure I take 5000 IU of vitamin D every day (doctor recommended), exercise daily, eat well, and stick to a regular sleep-wake cycle (go to bed around the same time and get up at exactly the same time every day). If I stay on top of all those things I notice a huge improvement in the dark months. It definitely has cured me, I'm prone to depression all year, but it has made the Pacific Northwest winters much, much better.

Kalikel

Check with the doctor and make sure you aren't low on anything. Shortly after I began my supplements, I felt SO MUCH better. Supplements won't help you if you don't need them, but if you do need them and take them, you begin feeling so much better.

Moving away from the most bitterly-cold, heavily-snowed and dark-skied climate to a warm, sunny climate ended that SAD business. That was so horrible, I was so down every winter. I tried a light, tanning beds, vacations to sunny places in January. I considered (but rejected the idea of) anti-depressants. The only thing that really did the trick was relocating, lol.

That cold and gloominess - it can get to you!!!!!!