With the day's getting shorter just wondered if anyone had tried using a lightbox? They are supposed to help with low mood and tiredness over the winter so was wondering if they might help with any of the symptoms of CFS/M.E. as well.
Hi Elaine,
Yes, I use one in Autumn and Winter, I think it helps keep me more awake and cheerful as I do not like the short days and long nights. Don't know if it helps with ME/CFS symptoms but as it's so complex my tiredness might be due to the illness rather than the lack of light.
Liz
Hello Elaine.
I have used a SAD box for 5-6 years. I think that and vitamin D help my moods during the fall / winter months. I can't say that I've noticed an increase in energy, but everyone is different. I've had ME/CFS since 1997. My psyiatrist suggested the SAD box and uses one himself for SAD.
If you live in the US or Canada, there is a very good product out of Quebec at Northern Light Technolgies, SAD Light therapy. This is where my doctor recommended and I'm on my second light box. They are well made and ship quickly, I don't know where there shipping area is. It's also import to but one that delivers an adequate amount of light, and correctly. There are alot of wanna be products out there now. Good luck to you.
Yes, I wondered about them for years and then I was convinced to get one when I had to do a research project on them for the Open University.
They definitely give me a feeling of extra energy and I've even felt sort of exquisite energy sensations up and down my spine. I don't know if everyone gets those but the longer I've used the light box regularly the more I get them.
I'm using a blue light one now.
How long do you use it for? Which one do you use?
It's good to know you think it helps your mood. I stay in Scotland so not much sunlight at all in winter (or summer a lot of the time!) so think it might be worth trying one. Thanks for your reply.
I'm glad you feel it gives you more energy. I didn't know you got different types. What is the difference between a white light and blue light one?
Blue light therapy is backed up by more medical research than white. I think blue is safter on the eyes and blue light is always in sunshine.
I use an LED one because I read that some of the tube ones can be harmful on the eyes.
Hope the moderator won't delete this, but I use a Philips goLITE HF3330 which is a blue light LED and I use it for about 15 mins in the morning. I can alter the length of time and the brightness of the light. I will start using it over the next couple of weeks again. If you fall asleep too early in the evenings you can use it later in the afternoon to keep you awake for longer in the evening, if you see what I mean!
That's the one I Use Sue! I like it much more than my old white one. Apparently we only get benefit from the blue that's contained in the white light ones, and using the pure blue ones gives more benefits.
It's certainly much more manageable than my previous one which was about 3' high! You can easily carry this one around with you if you go away for the weekend etc. But I preferred the white light!! However, I do find it helps me in winter.
Lol that's massive! My old white one was about the same size as my blue one.
I just love the colour blue anyway so I suppose I'm bound to prefer the blue light.
Thanks very much for that information. Will look it up. Sounds good if it's adjustable too. Sorry no energy to type much more, my day is rapidly going downhill - my puppy just lay down in some cement mix so had to give her unplanned bath, had nightmare getting it off her and am totally shattered now!!
Glad I asked on here as I didn't know you got blue light ones and think that would probably be better for me. Will look it up and see where I can get a good price on one. Thanks for the information.
Blue ones are more expensive but I bought a second hand one that looked brand new when it arrived!
Yes I looked them up and they are more expensive than I thought. I can either try a cheaper one, a second hand one or try and see one in a sale. I'm sure I saw one in the Black Friday deals last year but that's a bit away.
I hope you find one soon. They are good. And it doesn't have to be blue; the white ones are excellent too.
they give me migraines
I did wonder if one might give me a headache as it would be a very bright light. Have been reading reviews on ones and a few people have mentioned getting headaches but a lot of people give them positive reviews and say they really help. If I get one it might be safer trying a cheaper one in case it doesn't agree with me!
You can adjust the intensity of the light with my GoLite one. Perhaps make sure you get one that can do that. And start with 5 minutes and work up to more time, just to see if you get headaches. I would have thought that most people don't. In fact light therapy makes my head feel clearer.