Seasonal Depression . . . “tis the season . . . “
Can anyone else feel the earth moving? I don’t know if it is just getting back to work after time off or getting up earlier to get my kid to school, but I am dragging this week. You don’t have to suffer from seasonal depression to appreciate how dark it is in the morning and how the quality of light is different. Autumn is clearly almost upon us.
When September rolls around, I begin to discuss seasonal patterns of mood shifts with my patients. Now is the time to consider use of a SAD-light (seasonal affective disorder light) if you typically get more melancholy and depressed over the fall and winter months. While there are many products out there, many do not have the light output necessary to provide for clinical improvement in symptoms. The florescent bulbs you get at the local do-it-yourself store are useless–they are not bright enough and they are too far away. You need a very bright light of a specific wavelength that is close to you (18-24 inches). Otherwise, you are wasting your money.
The product I direct my patients to is from a company out of Canada called Northern Light Technologies (you can reach them on the web at www.northernlighttechnologies.com). The product of theirs that I steer people to is the SATelite, a somewhat unattractive desk lamp that is just excellent for treating seasonal mood disorders. It is not too big but is bright and convenient. I direct people to sit under it for 15-20 minutes per day (usually in the morning–you can have your coffee and scan the paper while you sit there).
Sometimes, this, by itself, is enough to provide for mood support for the winter season. More often, it is used as an adjunct support for more traditional medications. It can, in my experience, improve the response to medicine, and sometimes allow me to use a lower dose. Now is the time to consider getting it because it comes with a 60 day money back guarantee that will allow you to return it if it doesn’t work for you (lets see the pharmaceutical companies match THAT!!!). By the way, I have no financial stake in this company–I just think the product is good.
–Dan Hartman, MD
