Using Blue Light Therapy to Fight the Winter Blues

Do you suffer from the winter blues? If you get down and depressed during the dark, cold winter months, then you might be suffering from winter blues, the proper name for this is "Seasonal Affective Disorder". It is a known condition and really does exist. So if you have always wondered whether you were having a "bad day" or could somehow "shake yourself out of this mood" - it's not your fault.

Around half a million people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder every winter between the months of September and April. It hits the worst during the months of December, January and February.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can include:

Depression
Sleep Problems
Fatigue
Over eating
Difficulty concentrating and memory
Irritability
Tension
Less interest in sex and physical contact


Usually, a person can be diagnosed with SAD after three of more consecutive winters suffering from these symptoms.

Sometimes a person can go through life and not be affected by SAD. It can begin at any stage of life but the main age at which it affects people is between the ages of 18 and 30 years.

It tends to affect those living in the Northern and Southern hemispheres where winters can be cold, long and dark.

SAD is not common in countries where daylight hours are long, constant and extremely bright.

Research into this condition has shown that mood and energy levels are regulated by light and if we do not receive enough of the "right kind of light" then this can impact our moods and energy levels in a bad way.

So, if we give our body access to the "right kind of light", then we can restore the essential light signals much needed by our body to feel happy and energetic and we can change our mood and energy for the better.

Sad daylight lamps or sad therapy lamps are lamps that emit light at frequencies that the human body responds to and can help relieve this seasonal depression.

Philips goLITE BLU energy light HF3330 has been specially designed to use light therapy and is a tremendous help to those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
The goLITE BLU energy light with blue LED technology naturally restores the essential light signals needed to feel happy and energetic.

Blue light therapy has been successfully used for helping mood relief, especially for seasonal mood swings.

You can read more about this energy light here. Also, this item comes with FREE UK delivery using Super Saver Delivery

How Light, Health and Circadian Rhythms Affect Us
Our body uses light cues (such as those provided by the sun) to time internal functions which are also known as "circadian rhythms". This is why we start to feel tired and sleepy when it is dark outside and why we feel wide awake when the sun is out.

Properly timed rhythms help to regulate your sleep, appetite, mood, energy and digestion.
If your circadian rhythms fall out of sync this can lead to a deregulated body clock. The way we now live our lives means that a "normal" day no longer starts at the crack of dawn and ends at 7pm because people work much later, start later, work too many hours, don't get enough sleep etc.

Our bodies have lost their natural ability to regulate the body clock and it is no wonder then that our circadian rhythms are so out of sync.

As well as the adverse impact of our busy lifestyles in a world that never seems to sleep, the onslaught of winter with its short dark days means reduced sunlight. This is why we refer to the gloom and doom of winter as "winter blues".

How Can You Help Get Through SAD
Light therapy is a natural way to help restore your mood and energy levels and to beat the winter depression.

The main benefits of using a light therapy lamp to combat SAD are:

• they use natural light and do not require the use of artificial stimulants or drugs

• you can feel the benefits in as little as a few days

Further, the Philips goLITE BLU is discrete, sleek and portable, which means you can take this to work or use when travelling. You are not confined to using this at home only.

How the Advanced blue LED Technology works:

The Philips HF3330 Golite BLU provides the required specturm of light that our bodies respond to. The goLITE BLU is fully programmable which means you can save your personal settings.

Click here to find out how the Philips goLITE BLU energy light helped people who suffer from winter blues.

Also:

• it is compact (approx 6" x 6")
• weighs only 12 ounces
• produces no UV (which is dangerous for eyes and skin)
• it is portable
• it is rechargeable
• it has a built in clock and treatment alarm so that you don't forget when to use it
• the spectrum of blue light used in the goLITe BLU energy light is what our eyes respond to most
• using blue light dramatically reduces the overall intesity of the light compared to bright white therapy devices which are not so easy on the eye
• has a wider field of light so that you can carry out other tasks whilst undergoing your treatment, ie you can work on your computer or watch tv etc.
• is easy to use,control and recharge batteries
• does not cause eye strain or headaches
• has an easy to use touch screen
• easy to adjust light intensity
• has a 2 year warranty

Many customers who bought the Philips goLITE BLU lite were especially surprised to find what a difference it made to their lives in so short an amount of time.

The surface area of the light produced by the goLITE BLU system is quite large and can be set at varying levels of brightness.

One of the ways in which to use this is to use it as an alarm clock which is programmed to shine at the time the alarm is set to wake you up. So you are using it as a wake up light alarm.

A common way of using this light is to place it at your desk on the side about 20 inches away so that the light bathes your face but you are not staring at it directly.

At first it may seem that the light is quite bright but this sensation quickly disappears.

You can use this light at different times of the day. It really depends on when you find mood and energy levels started to sag.

After using this device for 2-4 weeks many users commented on:
improved mood
improved energy levels
better sleeping patterns
more dreams
increased libido
being able to get out of bed in the mornings

Disclaimer: The time it takes for this to work can vary from person to person.

Do not expect a quick fix. The manufacturer's recommendations are to use this light at 50% intensity for about 15-30 every day for a few days and to increase this intensity if there is no noticeable benefit.

This light SHOULD NOT be used if you suffer from bipolar disorder, are hypersensitive, have had eye surgery or if you are taking photo-sensitive medications.

Whilst it is not cheap, it really is a godsend because for many sufferers of SAD, any relief is good.

Independant research has shown that the Philips goLITE BLU energy light really does help fight the winter blues.
Give it a try and see if it can help you.