My Experience

My doctor suggested light therapy for seasonal effective disorder. It is one of several ways I am dealing with symptoms of depression that start in mid-October at the changing of the seasons.

Before starting the treatments, I met with a light therapy specialist for three hours to document sleep-waking patterns, evaluate mood, do a clinical consultation and set a schedule for therapy.

I do light therapy in the comfort of my own home. I set an alarm at 6:15 am every morning, roll out of bed, grab the newspaper or a laptop computer and go to my living room where I turn on a special light positioned a certain preset angle. I sit in front of the light for about 45 minutes (depending on the time of year), reading or looking at the computer but making sure that I can see the light at just above eye level.

I don’t feel anything particular from the procedure. It is possible to experience nervousness (at which point one is advised to stop immediately) but I’ve never felt that. In general, I feel that the therapy helps me with my overall energy level in winter months.