Note, however, that not all full spectrum lighting is made equal.Īny of the bulbs from the Chromalux® Classics line in particular can make a big difference in how you feel. We like to think of full spectrum light bulbs as a complement to therapeutic doses of bright light therapy, providing us with the full spectrum of visible light our bodies need. Of course, though not as prescribed by a doctor for the standalone treatment of SAD. So … will full spectrum light bulbs help with seasonal depression? The goal is to sit in front of a light box for up to 30 minutes per day, allowing your eyes and body to receive a simulation of sunlight that would otherwise be difficult to receive this time of the year.Īs you can see, full spectrum light bulbs and light therapy boxes are different use full spectrum light bulbs as you would a normal light bulb - that is for general illumination, but much more enhanced! Light therapy is precisely as its name describes - a therapy - and offers our eyes and bodies therapeutic bright doses of “sunlight” to regulate our body’s processes and start feeling like our normal selves again during these duller months. Light boxes produce very powerful light, and are therefore intended as therapy and not a source of general illumination. Light therapy boxes emit 10,000 lux (a measure of the perceived brightness of light) of blue/white, more energetic wavelengths, intended to trigger a biological response in our bodies. What are full spectrum light bulbs? What is a light therapy box? Are they different?Ī full spectrum light bulb emits a light spectrum that simulates the full visible light spectrum of natural sunlight ( learn more about full spectrum lighting here). A full spectrum light bulb is a light bulb like any other in that it may be used without restrictions, yet it emits the full visible light spectrum our bodies need.Ī light therapy box provides striking, bright white light using fluorescent or LED light in a color temperature between 5000-6500K, which is consistent with the color temperature of the sun at noon. Without enough bright light stimulation from the sun, our brain may increase its production of the sleep hormone melatonin, while decreasing the production of serotonin, the feel-good brain chemical that helps regulate mood. What are the symptoms of SAD?įeeling low in energy, sluggish, and agitatedĭuring the fall and winter months, we don’t get enough of the sunlight exposure needed to stimulate the hypothalamus, a part of the brain linked to our body’s internal clocks controlling the sleep-wake schedule, among other things. Though most of us have a tendency towards feeling a bit more lethargic during the fall and winter months, SAD is a diagnosis in which people consistently start to display symptoms of malaise and sadness in the fall, continuing into the winter months. The winter blues refers to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD for short), a type of seasonal-related depression. Let’s first define a few terms: What are the winter blues: Today we answer an oft-asked question during this time of the year: will full spectrum light bulbs help with the winter blues? With the shorter fall and winter days comes less time under natural sunlight.įor some, this time of year is nostalgic and cozy. For many others however, the time leading up to and through winter is a difficult one: feelings of sadness, fatigue, and a general lack of motivation start to feel commonplace. Feelings may vary, but many of us will feel the effects of less time under the sun.
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