Guest guest Posted December 31, 2007 Report Share Posted December 31, 2007 there a treatment for SAD? Yes. Winter depression is probably caused by your body's reaction to a lack of sunlight. Light therapy is one option for treating winter depression. If your doctor suggests you try light therapy, you may use a specially made light box, or a light visor that you wear on your head like a cap. You will sit in front of the light box or wear the light visor for a certain length of time each day. Generally, light therapy takes about 30 minutes each day throughout the fall and winter, when you're most likely to be depressed. If light therapy helps you, you'll continue using it until enough sunlight is available, typically in the springtime. Stopping light therapy too soon can allow the symptoms to come back. When used properly, light therapy seems to have very few side effects. Side effects may include eyestrain, headache, fatigue, irritability and inability to sleep (if light therapy is used too late in the day). For people who have manic depressive disorders, skin that is sensitive to light, or medical conditions that make their eyes vulnerable to light damage, light therapy should be used with caution. Tanning beds shouldn't be used to treat SAD. The light sources in tanning beds are high in ultraviolet (UV) rays, which harm both your eyes and your skin. Your doctor may also want you to try a medicine or behavior therapy to treat your SAD. If light therapy or medicine alone doesn't work, your doctor may want you to use them together. Debbie J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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