"In autumn, our bodies sense the change in light as the dark winter months approach, which can help explain what you are feeling. As daylight diminishes, you may find your mood dimming, too. About 1 in 20 adults have Seasonal Affective Disorder which is seasonal depression. And millions more experience a milder form of "winter blues." One way to fend it off is by using a light box, beginning in the fall."
""A lot of research has shown that using bright light therapy in the morning can be extremely helpful to reverse some of the symptoms of seasonal depression," says Dr. Dorothy Sit, a psychiatrist and Associate Professor at Northwestern University, who has studied bright light therapy. Typically, people sit in front of a light box, which emits bright light, every morning, for about 30 minutes, give or take. Sit says making it part of a morning routine is key."
""If people use a light box every day they can experience an enduring effect throughout the fall and winter," she says. Sit points to an often-cited study that found light therapy is on par with standard anti-depression medications in relieving symptoms. Some people do both, taking medication and using a light box, and research shows the combination can be helpful. Studies point to improvements in symptoms within one week of starting light therapy."
Autumn light reduction triggers shifts in sleep and appetite and can lower mood, producing seasonal depression in about 1 in 20 adults and milder 'winter blues' in millions. Morning exposure to bright light from a light box for roughly 30 minutes can reverse many symptoms and is most effective when used daily as part of a routine. Some studies show symptom improvement within one week. Research finds light therapy comparable to standard antidepressant medications, and combining medication with light therapy can enhance benefit. Morning light resets circadian rhythms because light through the eyes cues the brain's master clock.
Read at www.npr.org
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]