Light Therapy

Getting natural light is very important when you are depressed.  Many of us find that our depression gets worse when the days get short.  Light therapy, using light boxes, can really help, especially if you live far up north, or have a job where you leave home in the dark and return home in the dark.  Set the box up at work, it could make a real difference to your energy level and feeling of well-being. 

Light boxes are a lot easier to find now than they used to be.  You will probably be able to find a variety of styles, sizes and price ranges at your local pharmacy, health food stores, or lighting store.  They range in price from $50 up to over $300. 

If money is tight, or you are not sure that a light box will work for you, many places offer the option of renting a light box.

If you live in an area where they just aren’t available, here is a list of websites that sell light boxes:  Many of them have good information about light therapy.  

Light Boxes/Light Therapy:

Alaska Northern Lights
 http://www.alaskanorthernlights.com

Apollo Light Systems
http://www.apollolight.com

Bio Light
http://www.bio-light.com

Day-Light Light Therapy Systems
http://www.up-lift.com 

Full Spectrum Solutions
http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com

Light Therapy Center
http://www.lightmask.com/

Light Therapy Products
http://www.lighttherapyproducts.com

Lighten Up Systems
http://www.lighten-up.net/

Morning Starlight Light Therapy
http://www.morningstarlight.com

National Light Hire Company
http://www.sadbox.com

Natural Lighting
http://www.naturallighting.com

Nu-You Light Therapy Products
http://www.nu-light.com

Outside In
http://www.outsidein.co.uk/

Articles/Information:

"Seasonal Depression and Light Therapy" by Michael A. Ferenczi, National Institute for Medical Research - http://www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/MillHillEssays/1997/sad.htm

Holistic Online - http://www.holistic-online.com/Light_Therapy/hol_LightTherapy.htm

"Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder" (University of Washington) - http://depts.washington.edu/scc/sad.html

Q&A about SAD - http://www.sltbr.org/sadfaq.htm

"Light Therapy for Depression" - http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.lighttherapy.html

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