Opinions plse on SAD lamps

[smudger1956]

Some interesting reading, thanks, I do feel a bit lathargic during the winter months,being a shift worker does not help, going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark, getting some sleep and waking up when it is dark or just about to get dark.......

 

[Scimitar]

For the SAD lamp to work it has to be quite powerful or, if a smallish one, quite close to you and in your line of sight.
My diy one is usually behind me, but it totally floods the room with light and there's no shortage of rays, man.
Future's so bright I gotta wear shades...

 

[marc.knuckle]

i have a SAD lamp and havent had to use it for years BUT when i was having a difficult time and bought one, i got 'better'.

i cant give dates or lengths of time but my thoughts are that it does work when you get a good one (i had mine from an ebay seller specializing in them) but even just the psychological aspect is worth getting one to make you feel positive at a hard time.

 

[Ptarmigan]

If feelings of depression, or just a lack of "get up and go" only happen in the depths of winter then SAD obviously should be considered.

However, if you get depressions and lack of energy frequently, just more _intense_ during winter, then it might be worth asking your GP to consider a (simple) blood test for thyroid gland function.
This can usually be corrected by a pill per day of levothyroxine.
and, quote from bmj.com, "patients with hypothyroidism are eligible for a medical exemption certificate for prescription charges (FP92)"

It certainly works wonders in countering "Black Dogs"

 

[103Alex1]

Yeah that's good advice neptune, I think just getting a bit of exercise that involves some fresh air each day makes all the difference in how you feel. I like jogging in the mornings myself but a bike ride is just as good. It's not all negative about the dark nights and cold winter, there's some nice aspects of it too..if you were in a hot country all the time I think you would get bored and miss the British seasons, including the winters ;-)

I completely agree with this. Was in the sub-tropics for years and it was what I missed most about Britain. But I have had SAD badly when in UK in the past over Winter and resorted to daylight bulbs and lamps. SADly, they didn't work for me. Basically I wasn't getting out in the fresh air enough and got lazy on the exercise front too - and was fighting the urge to hibernate every single morning. Getting out 1-2 times a day on the bike, this is probably the first Winter ever I haven't had major depression set in by now. In fact I'm looking forward to the challenge of it - keeping up a positive attitude and kitting up with some proper Winter clothes to keep it going. To me, every day without suffering through depression until the sun comes back out is worth pledging every penny of savings I have .. and I wholeheartedly agree with everything Morphix and neptune say on the exercise/fresh air front.

Still hate UK in the Summer though - that's the I want sun. Hot sun - and lots of it .. Madeira, Portugal, Canaries and Spain in the Winter are OK but not really for me. It rains, it gets cloudy, the sea's cold and it always feel like you're hiding from reality until Spring (when everywhere is gorgeous, Britain included). Plus the likelihood of picking up flu / chest infection on one of those December/January/February flying coffin experiences there or back for some reason seems way higher than at other times of the year !

 

[Dynamic Position]

Activa 172 professional fluorescent tubes give light output similar to daylight. Expect to pay 2 to 3 times the price of the standard white tubes.

 

[Broadbeans]

Hi, Throttle Jockeys!

I've been feeling grumpy and grotty due to the weather lately and have looked into the idea making a SAD lamp with superbright LEDS. Apparently, a certain shade of BLUE has the necessary wavelength of light for good results. (I think it's about 453 nanometres)

Seems odd, really, as my pal fitted blue LED ceiling lights in his bathroom, and it was depressing, like going into the ghost train!

 

[Scimitar]

Hi, Throttle Jockeys!

I've been feeling grumpy and grotty due to the weather lately and have looked into the idea making a SAD lamp with superbright LEDS. Apparently, a certain shade of BLUE has the necessary wavelength of light for good results. (I think it's about 453 nanometres)

Seems odd, really, as my pal fitted blue LED ceiling lights in his bathroom, and it was depressing, like going into the ghost train!

Interesting; in the same spirit of diy, but using what's available off the shelf and not being stung for so-called special fittings, I wonder what use some of the new generation of LED floods would be. You know the type of thing...
led floodlight | eBay