Light therapy may also be helpful as a therapy for sleep disorders, otherforms of depression, and more.
This decrease in exposure to sunlightimpacts some people more severely than others, causing depression.
How Light Therapy Works
Light therapy is easy to use.
Ian Hooten / Getty Images
Instead, the intention is that your eyes pick up the light indirectly.
Exposure to light both resets the circadian rhythm of melatonin and acutely inhibits melatonin synthesis.
Similarly, light therapy is also used to treatjet lagto help people acclimate to a new time zone.
Benefits are often seen after just one session, which typically lasts from 15 to 60 minutes.
Research has also found that using a lightbox in conjunction with other therapies yields better management of symptoms.
Benefits
The efficacy of light therapy is well established, particularly for use with seasonal affective disorder.
The benefits received from the boost of light are short-term and need to be maintained with consistent therapy.
Also, generally, light therapy is very safe to use and has no contraindications with other treatments.
The reported side effects of light therapy include eyestrain, headache, irritability, or nausea.
These adverse impacts are usually minimal and cease when the gear is turned off or after a few days.
Moving away from the lightbox or shortening the duration of treatment can mitigate adverse issues.
Lightboxes are unobtrusive and often highly portable and adjustable making them very convenient.
Is It Right for You?
Consider if you will have the time and/or inclination to incorporate light therapy sessions into your daily routine.
There are many options of light therapy boxes and lamps available.
They may be able to recommend specific brands or models that they have experience with as well.
Lightboxes come in a range of sizes, shapes, and strengths.
Lux is the unit of measurement that measures lumens (light output) per square meter.
Some devices are portable, making them easy to take with you for travel or to and from work.
There are also some light therapy products made specifically for children.
The prices of these products start around $25 and go up to $200 or more.
Try the following suggestions to improve your results.
Make Light Therapy a Morning Ritual
Schedule your light therapy sessions for the morning.
As noted above, be sure to choose a lightbox that emits low levels of UV light.
So, don’t give up on light therapy after just one try.
American Psychiatric Association.Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
2020;15(5):e0232798.
