So, you have a Seasonal Affective Disorder Light from Alaska Northern Lights and you are still not sure how to use it. Do you just switch it on and leave it running so that you can catch some light whenever you walk past? Or do you sit directly under your Seasonal Affective Disorder Light like you would with a tanning bed (just on a smaller scale)? How to use your Seasonal Affective Disorder Light properly may seem a little more complex than you originally thought, but after reading our recommendations on using your Seasonal Affective Disorder Light you will be enjoying the benefits of your light within minutes!
First of all it is important to make sure you understand how your Seasonal Affective Disorder Light works. Your Seasonal Affective Disorder Light is the key instrument in what is known as light therapy. Light therapy is a treatment that uses a special type of light much brighter than ordinary lights. Customarily this form of this therapy is conducted using a light box containing fluorescent lights rather than full-spectrum or ultraviolet light. The intensity of light typically ranges between 2,500 and 10,000 lux. At Alaska Northern Lights our Seasonal Affective Disorder Light box has a 10,000 lux range at 24 inches. How to choose your SAD light box will depend on many important factors which we are happy to guide you through.
To use your Seasonal Affective Disorder Light during your light therapy session you will need to sit at a prescribed distance from the light box. Generally the amount of exposure you will require will depend on the intensity of the light you use. This could range from 30 minutes to 2 hours per day and will in most cases be prescribed by your doctor.
Once you know your exposure level you must place the light box on a desk or table, sitting in front of it at the specified distance. The light should reach your eyes, but it is recommended that you do not stare at the light box. The great thing about using your Seasonal Affective Disorder Light is that you can do so while reading, eating breakfast, or working at your computer. Most often light therapy is prescribed to be used in the early morning at 10,000 lux, however some people with Seasonal Affective Disorder may benefit more from doing their light therapy in the evening, ending 1 hour before going to sleep. Typically light therapy begins in the fall and is continued through spring.
In most cases people respond to light therapy within 3 to 5 days. It is important that you do not become despondent if you don’t respond to the treatment within the first week, as some people take a little longer to adjust. If you do find that you do not respond in the first week you should notice an improvement in the second week.
As you can now see using your Seasonal Affective Disorder Light is pretty simple. If you have any questions about our light therapy boxes, please don’t hesitate to call 1-800-880-6953 or e-mail us at – info@AlaskaNorthernLights.com.