Shedding Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder
The ends of the hot, hazy, humid days of summer are soon coming to an end. As the days get shorter and the nights longer, many of us will begin to feel down, less energetic, put on a few pounds, and have difficulty waking up in the morning.
For as many as 10% of the Canadian population these symptoms will be extreme enough to prevent them from functioning normally. They will feel chronically depressed and fatigued, and seek to withdraw from the world and avoid social contacts. They may increase their sleep by as much as four hours or more per day, have greatly increased and gain a substantial amount of weight. Women frequently report a worsening of premenstrual symptoms. Sufferers will typically begin to feel a combination of these symptoms in autumn, and throughout winter. Only with the coming of spring will they note an alleviation of their symptoms. These people are afflicted with seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.).
Since those suffering from S.A.D. are believed to lack exposure to extended daylight hours, light therapy is now a respected, effective and safe alternative to medication. This type of treatment involves exposure to intense levels of bright full spectrum lights (up to 10 000 lux) for a period of time ranging from 15 minutes to one hour, once or twice a day.
These full spectrum lights are not just ordinary fluorescent or incandescent lights. They are actually documented to simulate the benefits of natural sunlight- without the harmful radiations. Researchers indicate that full spectrum lighting provides positive changes in energy and mood, and helps the body absorb vitamins and minerals more efficiently. Recent evidence also documents an enhancement of the immune system by the process of boosting T-cells counts. More than 15 medical centers and clinics in Canada, the United States and abroad have reported much success with light therapy in patients with clear histories of SAD for many years.
Light therapy has been found to be effective in a wide range of disorders other than seasonal affective disorder. It has been used and shown to be useful in the treatment of insomnia, night shift sleep disorders, jet lag, premenstrual syndrome, depression, and carbohydrate binge eating. There is some preliminary research evidence indicating that it may also be effective in treating bulimia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and AIDS. Clinical studies also demonstrated that when first grade classrooms are equipped with full spectrum lighting, children flourish. When compared to classrooms with regular fluorescent lighting, children exposed to full spectrum lighting showed a decrease in hyperactive behavior, improved academic scores, and had one-third less dental cavities!
Although the therapeutic applications of light therapy are widening, and it is considered a relatively safe form of treatment, it remains a powerful treatment that may not be suited for everyone. For this reason, evaluation, supervision, and follow-up should be considered necessary by a health professional who specializes in light therapy. If you believe that light therapy may be a treatment option for you, please consult the author or another qualified health professional for more information.
© Stephane Bensoussan, M.A., Holistic Psychologist, 2004
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