What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months. Milder forms of SAD are known as the "winter blues".

SAD symptoms begin in the late autumn when there is less daylight (or, as we sometimes say, the days get shorter). Symptoms of SAD may not begin to abate until late winter or early spring.

Who gets SAD?
Women account for 70-80% of all people with SAD.
SAD is more prevalent in the higher latitudes than in the lower latitudes that receive more sun. Some people who work in offices with little access to natural light may experience SAD all year.

What Causes SAD?
When the light passes through the eyes into the brain, serotonin is released. During the fall and winter, there is less daylight than in the spring and summer, which causes a drop in the body's serotonin levels.

Serotonin is an important chemical in the brain known as a neurotransmitter. A neurotransmitter is a molecule in the brain that helps nerve cells to work together. One of the roles serotonin has in the brain is to act as a traffic cop to other neurotransmitters. Without enough serotonin, a wide range of body functions is affected, including mood. Less daylight is a trigger for the body to increase production of a certain hormone - melatonin. The role of melatonin is not clearly understood, but it is thought to help in the sleep process. The body releases it at night, during sleep.

Together, the lack of serotonin (which helps nerve cells cooperate) and the increase in melatonin (which put a body to sleep) cause SAD.

What are the Symptoms of SAD?
Carbohydrate/sugar cravings (sometimes accompanied by weight gain) Decreased sex drive Difficulty in concentrating Diminished productivity Difficulty waking in the morning Fatigue Feeling depressed or sad Irritability Lethargy Low body temperature Sleeping too much Withdrawal from social activities

How is SAD Diagnosed?
Symptoms are the primary basis for the diagnosis of SAD. SAD is not the same as clinical depression. Depression does not have a seasonal fluctuation.

What is the Treatment for SAD?
The basic treatment for SAD is light therapy. The British NHS, many European Medical Institutions along with the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association recommend light therapy.

Light therapy is as simple as it sounds - adding more light to the environment. The most validated of the light therapies is the use of a bright light box at a dose of 10,000 lux for 30-60 minutes daily. The eyes should remain open and nearby during this time, but not directly staring at the lights. The best time to administer the therapy is currently in debate, though mornings have been suggested to mimic dawn.

Light therapy may take several weeks to take full effect though some improvement should be noted within a week. Light therapy should be continued until natural daily light exposure becomes sufficient, usually during spring.

A device called a light box is often used for light therapy. The box contains fluorescent light bulbs, and is set up in a convenient place to receive treatment. This could be a nightstand, a desk, or the kitchen table. The light should not be looked at directly. Sessions with light therapy can be as short as 15 minutes, or as long as three hours.

Treatment should be individualised so that neither too much, nor not enough light is received. Side effects are possible, but are generally reported as minimal. Side effects can include:

Difficulty in sleeping
Eye strain
Feeling "wired"
Headaches
Irritability
Nausea

Other Self-Treatment Ideas.
Eat fewer carbohydrates. Effectively manage stress. Get more exercise. Increase the amount of light in your daily environment, by adding lamps or skylights and trimming trees or bushes that block sunlight. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Sit near a window whenever possible. Take walks on sunny days, even during winter. Take a vacation in a sunny, warm location, if you are able.

What is the difference between a SAD light and a normal fluorescent light?
Ordinary light bulbs and fittings are not strong enough to treat SAD. Average domestic or office lighting emits an intensity of 200-500 lux but the minimum dose, necessary to treat SAD is 2500 lux, The intensity of a bright summer day can be 100,000 lux.

The SAD Lightbox bulbs also emit the full spectrum of light (the same as natural sunlight), unlike fluorescent bulbs that emit a much narrower range of colours and thus the clarity is greater and better visual accurity is achieved. It is for this reason that sitting under fluorescent lighting can be tiring.

For more information about our 10,000 LUX lightbox please click here.

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Dimensions:
51cm x 38cm x 4cm

Over 10,000 Lux!
Mains operated
Uses 2 x PLL36W bulbs
Bulbs last 8000 hours
Spare bulbs in stock

ONLY £69.99!


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and insurance.

For further information about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), click here.

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