SAD lamp/light recommendation?

[buzzingtalk]

I have real problems with SAD, and every so often it really batters me down in winter - and this year seems to be one of them. I've been told to buy one of these lights, but I too am not sure on which one, and neither am I sure I can afford one.

I do know, however, that it is not recommended to buy daylight lightbulbs, as you will most probably be either ripped off by buying one with the wrong LUX rating, or you will use it incorrectly. (for example putting it on for too long or at the 'wrong time')

Doctor wreckons the best treatment for SAD is getting a light that is also an 'alarm clock' which slowly lights up the room your in to emulate sunlight. you can then put the light on for extra treatment. The lights by Lumie (link below) are the only ones to now be recognised by the medical profession as a real treatment apparently .. for more severe cases (like mine, i was told) i would also need a lightbox. its gonna be damn expensive to cure this problem, but i guess it happens for half of the year most years, so quality built products should get their moneys worth

SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder - Light Therapy - Lumie

Obviously I can't comment on 3rd party ones, I keep meaning to buy one. Its a much better option than anti-anxiety tablets and rediculous sleeping patterns haha. There are alarm-clock style ones on ebay, and I might try one of these out. But then again, I might just save up for a lumie one...

[buzzingtalk]

TS, I have had one of these for about a month
Bodyclock - Lumie

Would you say the bodyclock is quite portable - I sleep over at work a few nights a week and would need to take it with me. Is it heavy, or bulky?

[Two_Sheds]

There are alarm-clock style ones on ebay,.. I might just save up for a lumie one...

The old saying "buy cheap, buy twice" is probably true. While I'm a big fan of eBay, I wouldn't trust it for a SAD lamp.
Wait until mine arrives (it's due anyday) and I'll let you know how I get on with it.
Blue light is now recognised as better than white: it's the blue waves in the bright white lamps that do the work, and so now they're making blue wave lamps which use less energy to run

[Two_Sheds]

The lights by Lumie (link below) are the only ones to now be recognised by the medical profession ...

Says who?
GPs may have heard of them, they may have incentives to push them. It doesn't necessarily follow that they are the ONLY recommended supplier

This is the strapline from my link above: "SAD.co.uk: the UK's leading supplier of medically proven light therapy products"

[Nicos]

Now you've got me thinking about this too!

I need some form of lighting to sew by as the room I shall be using is very dark.
I had intended to get a bog-standard 'blue light', but was thinking that maybe one wouldn't be enough.
Has anyone done sewing by the SAD light??? ( might as well have it doing 2 jobs in one!)

I actually generally shun bright white lights- like halogen as they make me squint and give me headaches...could the SAD light cause the same problem??

[janeyo]

Would you say the bodyclock is quite portable - I sleep over at work a few nights a week and would need to take it with me. Is it heavy, or bulky?

It's not that big, quite compact. If you keep the box it would go back in it to be carried about to work.

[buzzingtalk]

Says who?
GPs may have heard of them, they may have incentives to push them. It doesn't necessarily follow that they are the ONLY recommended supplier

This is the strapline from my link above: "SAD.co.uk: the UK's leading supplier of medically proven light therapy products"

Well what I'm guessing by this is that they are the only lights where actual medical research has taken place, and is proven to work. The doctor said it more as an assurance that I was going to get a quiality, working product from Lumie as I raised the issue of where to buy one from as I'd seen them on fleabay but thought they would be crap.

That website you linked too is good - and the doctor told me that a while ago when SAD was still fairy unknown - so its likely that the website you link is now the comprehensive list of products that are backed by medical research.

[Two_Sheds]

Has anyone done sewing by the SAD light?

Not yet, but I will be when it arrives

[Hilary B]

The further North you live, the greater the risk of SAD (obvious if you think about it, you get shorter winter days the nearer the pole). I got symptoms when we lived in Orkney - much less noticeable now!
I have wondered whether this is the reason why alcohol is more likely to be a problem in more northerly countries, and managed with much less bother when you get down by the Mediterranean? Maybe there are (and have always been) people with SAD who 'self-medicate' for it with booze?

[Two_Sheds]

Maybe there are (and have always been) people with SAD who 'self-medicate' for it with booze?

I really believe so (Scotland & Russia to name but two dark countries with drinking problems). Also people with untreated or untreatable chronic pain.

[Jeanied]

Ooh, London has opened up a Sad Café!

[Two_Sheds]

Just an update. We paid for a lamp from sad.co.uk in November.
They were out of stock but when it arrived it was faulty (battery wouldn't hold a charge), we sent it back. The replacement was also faulty (stopped charging after a couple of weeks)
It is 3 months on and we still haven't received a refund.

[Dottie]

How very disappointing for you, after all the research you did too. I actually clicked on to see an update and find out if it had made a difference for you. Means you also lost out on a christmas present, now that's sad!

[buzzingtalk]

rubbish! well I won't be using their website then.