Are you suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder? Top 5 Lamps for SAD

This is a repost that is always worth sharing.

Are you suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons. Many people experience worse symptoms in the winter months. One of the proven ways to help with SAD is a specific type of lamp or light therapy box that emits a specific spectrum of light.

The SAD lamps are designed to mimic natural sunlight which is known to create Seratonin in the brain and helps to control your mood. During the winter months, there is often less sunshine and the loss of Seratonin from the darkness can cause depression. Are you suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD?

One of the ways to help compensate for the loss of sunshine is to add a Lamp specifically designed to mimic sunshine by providing light artificially.

How Do SAD Lamps Work?

Typically, light therapy is meant to compensate for the lack of exposure to sunlight that is thought to be linked to major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns. You’ll sit near a lightbox, which emits a strong light. The light usually mimics natural sunlight, but there can be variations. A unit of measure called a lux gauges the amount of light used in treatment. The standard output of a lightbox is between 2,500 and 10,000 lux.

Treatments usually begin in the fall and continue until early spring. Sessions commonly last from 10 to 15 minutes. The length of the session depends on how well you handle the treatment and the strength of the lightbox. Someone new to the method may be given shorter initial treatments. The more powerful the lightbox, the shorter the treatment session can be.

Why light therapy is effective is still being studied. One theory is that light naturally triggers the production of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is the “feel-good” brain chemical. Some experts believe that success with light therapy is due to a placebo effect.

Top 5 Lamps for SAD

Some of the links may not work since this is an older post but there are plenty of affordable options out there.

Miroco

Full Spectrum Light: The light therapy lamp delivers bright light at up to 10,000 lux to provide you with your daily boost of sunshine
Safe for Eyes & Skin: UV Free LED-No light pollution, no radiation, lasts longer than fluorescent bulbs
3 Modes at Finger Touch: Choose the most effective brightness for your needs at the touch of a finger
Built-In Timer: Re-energize yourself by setting an automatic timer from 10-60min in 10 minute intervals; long press any button 1.5s to cancel timing function
Portable Design: Compact size with foldable bracket makes the lamp easy to store and carry; fits next to your laptop, on the kitchen counter, on your cubicle desk, and elsewhere

Tao Tronics

10000 Lux Bright Light Therapy: Simulating natural daylight at 6500K, the glare-free light therapy lamp helps to effectively combat gloomy mood and rainy days, no risk of sunburn as this lamp is UV-free
20%-100% Customized Brightness: Easily adjust the brightness to cater to various needs, moods, lighting distances, and during autumn and winter days
60 Energy-Efficient LEDs: More LEDs are used to deliver the full brightness at only 12W, does not emit any UV light or other polluting radiation
Ultra-Compact: The therapy lamp measures only 6.9 x 6.5 x 4.2in so it can be set up anywhere like on a desk, kitchen counter, or other small places; easily stored away to be taken with you anywhere when traveling
Easy Touch Control: Just tap the Power button on the top to turn the lamp on or off, and the Brightness button smoothly dims or brightens the lamp

Miroco

Extra-Large Light Surface & UV-Free Light Therapy Light: Surface area (9. 8 x 6. 7in); the lamp delivers the recommended 10,000Lux and emulates the energizing power of a bright sunny day
Adjustable Brightness: With smooth dimmer, you can set it to the best level according to the environment, distance and your sensitivity with just a simple touch
Built-In Timer: Re-energize yourself by setting an automatic timer from 10-60min in 10 minute intervals; long press any button 1.5s to cancel timing function
Stable Therapy Lamp with Tilting Head: adjustable lamp head (angle range 55°) allows to adapt to each unique environment; Aluminum alloy stand with four rubber mat is stable and stylish
Memory Function: Helps you quickly turn on your light from last brightness letting

Verilux

USA BASED – Verilux, with over 60 years as your Healthy Lighting Company, is the creator of the original HappyLight brand with live customer support located in Vermont.
LED, UV-FREE, FULL SPECTRUM LIGHT – Delivers up to 10,000 lux (light level) intensity for effective light therapy. Refined styling with a smooth rubber reinforcing trim and detachable weighted base stand. Lens dimension: 53 sq in.
PERSONALIZED SETTINGS – This light therapy lamp offers 4 brightness levels, HappyHue with a choice of 3 hues of bright white light, and a countdown timer for the most choices for maximum comfort.
IMPROVE SLEEP, MOOD, FOCUS, ENERGY – Bright light from the HappyLight Luxe light therapy lamp provides signals to the body to help you feel energized, focused, and revitalized.
SAFE AND NATURAL LIGHT THERAPY – Non-invasive and drug-free; perfect for office workers, seniors, shift work, jet lag, insomnia, and sunlight deprivation.

Carex Health

10000 LUX LIGHT THERAPY LAMP (AT 12″). Daylight Lamp provides the recommended 10,000 LUX of glare-free white light. Sunlight lamp includes a safe, glare-free screen, and is a LED therapy light. Comes with a flexible angle stand for optimal light therapy
LED THERAPY LIGHT. The Mayo Clinic suggests using light therapy. Our natural light lamp brings you a light therapy lamp that safely and comfortably blocks 99.3% of UV and projects light downward as recommended by experts for maximum effectiveness
FULL SPECTRUM LIGHT. MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS. A large sun light lamp that provides superior light therapy. Our light therapy box is based on the model used by global researchers and includes 2 light settings for effective light box therapy.
CLINICAL STRENGTH, INDUSTRY LEADER. Raise your mood, improve your sleep, recover from jet lag, or boost your low energy using our mood light therapy light. Use it to energize your day or improve concentration while you work. Includes 5 year warranty.
BROAD ILLUMINATION RANGE. Our LED BrightZone Technology delivers the maximum dose of 10,000 LUX at 12 inches, ensuring you don’t have sit up close to the sun lamp like competing brands, maximizing effectiveness.

Several have coupons available from Amazon. I purchased the Miroco for myself and my father-in-law because it’s one of the top-rated and it’s compact. I didn’t need any bells and whistles and this one fits my needs.

Are you suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD? I would love to hear about your experience and how you’ve worked to combat depression brought on by the darker months.

Melinda