How is light therapy used to treat SAD?
Persons with SAD generally begin with 30 to 45 minutes of treatment in the morning. Light in the evening may cause insomnia. After a week or two, the person with SAD can experiment with reducing or increasing the daily duration of treatment. The most common light source is a full spectrum fluorescent light. This fixture provides a reflecting surface behind the lights and a plastic diffusing screen in front. The light box is placed either horizontally on a desk or table or vertically on the floor. The intensity of light from this special light source is equivalent to the amount of light exposure the person would receive from looking out a window on a sunny spring day. Side effects of phototherapy are uncommon. Some patients complain of irritability, eye strain, headaches, or mania. No evidence has been produced of long-term adverse effects, however. What should I do if I think I have SAD? Learn as much as you can about SAD. If your symptoms are mild, that is, if they don’t interfere too
