Blue Light Therapy

The days are getting shorter up in the Northern latitudes and were still over a month out from the winter solstice. I’ve tried to regulate my moods over the past few years with blue light therapy. Fifteen minutes in the morning seems to help. 

Does anyone else use blue light therapy? Do you have any thoughts or opinions on the practice or other ideas for dealing with seasonal darkness - both of mood and light. My light is crapping out as well and I’m only getting 3-4 shines out of a charge. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good quality replacement light?

Thanks

My wife uses one of these full-spectrum lights to help enhance her mood, during our dark and wet Vancouver winters.
It seems to really help her.
https://verilux.com/collections/happylig...amps-boxes

Nice thread as I consider one of these every year........one day I'll get one....

My wife uses one of these full-spectrum lights to help enhance her mood, during our dark and wet Vancouver winters.
It seems to really help her.
https://verilux.com/collections/happylig...amps-boxes

Hi Celestino, thanks for the resource.   I can understand how people in Vancouver might appreciate light therapy in the winter. That said, a friend who lives in Vancouver sent me a picture a couple of days ago of the sunset from the water taxi between Gibson’s and Keats. Spectacular. That’s my kind of light therapy. Picture below .

Yes. When the sun shines, here, in Vancouver, it is an extremely beautiful place to be with the ocean and the mountains.

Yes. When the sun shines, here, in Vancouver, it is an extremely beautiful place to be with the ocean and the mountains.

As beautiful as it is out there I know I couldn't handle the winter absence of sunshine.  Strange as it may sound, I'll take -30 with clear blue skies any day over 30 - 60 days without sunshine.  Don't get me wrong, I prefer it warmer than -30 but its the clear blue skies that keeps my mood high.  That said its -10, cold and windy right now with leaden skies.  Depressing, like the song California Dreaming which I rank up there with the most depressing songs of all time. Johnny Cash's rendition of Hurt is possibly slightly more depressing.  Thats why Im doing the light thing 

Job one Marko is to try and not let it bother you and try to embrace. I can't speak for the blue light I certainly hope it helps but if your saying you need blue skies for your mood your mind has already gone to a negative place. Don't get me wrong I know some of those fall days that look like Wuthering Heights can wear on you and my winters are not as severe as yours but if your willing to put in some effort you will be rewarded. Exercise can help and not necessarily weight training which can create heat in the body but maybe more stretching which open up channels and in the body and improves blood flow/circulation and your frame of mind or even meditation or tai chi if your up to it. Your body has a internal clock and certain organs are more active throughout the day and year. I could list it hour by hour but as far the seasonal fall and winter can be difficult for many especially this year. Sadness in the fall when the lungs are most active followed by fear in the winter which involves the kidney and the central nervous system.

Job one Marko is to try and not let it bother you and try to embrace.  I can't speak for the blue light I certainly hope it helps but if your saying you need blue skies for your mood your mind has already gone to a negative place.  Don't get me wrong I know some of those fall days that look like Wuthering Heights can wear on you and my winters are not as severe as yours but if your willing to put in some effort you will be rewarded.  Exercise can help and not necessarily weight training which can create heat in the body but maybe more stretching which open up channels and in the body and improves blood flow/circulation and your frame of mind or even meditation or tai chi if your up to it.  Your body has a internal clock and certain organs are more active throughout the day and year.  I could list it hour by hour but as far the seasonal fall and winter can be difficult for many especially this year.  Sadness in the fall when the lungs are most active followed by fear in the winter which involves the kidney and the central nervous system.

Thanks for this WeeScott and to be clear, I don't "need" blue skies I just prefer it that way.  I'm retired now and I exercise in some form almost every day, mostly weights with some cardio and a little stretching and meditation.  I think you're right that I'd benefit from more of that.  I've decided to try snowshoeing this winter as there's nothing like getting outside in winter to help you appreciate it.  And movement is key throughout life but especially as you age, move it or lose it.

Its funny the mood that the weather/climate influences.  I've watched some "Gritty British Crime Dramas" on Netflix and there are some excellent ones but I can only watch them a little at a time (not a binge watcher) because they can be pretty bleak.  Shetland is one, loved it but yikes, the climate  (and isolation) up there would lead anybody to murder most foul.  Hinterland is another.  I'm not sure I've ever seen any scenery in any of those programs where the sun is actually shining.  I know its part of the production to create the desired mood for the show.  I understand that the UK recently (last year?) had an unseasonably warm, sunny and dry summer and apart from drying up peat bogs and exposing ancient relics. wonder what sorts of issues that caused for a population unused to so much UV light.

I use mine every morning (well almost every). I use it primarily to get my circadian rhythms in sync. I have something called Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, and the light is a tremendous help with setting my internal clock. It also helps me keep the Seasonal Affective Disorder at bay. This is the one I use Nature Bright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy