So, in my randomly updated news about me myself and I, I wanted to tell you about light therapy.
I decided to give it a try, after suggestions from several folks that it works for them. I’m nothing if not easily influenced by news like that. But I’m still a bit of a skeptic.
Here’s a few things I can say:
- I started a week ago or so.
- It’s harder than I thought to find time to sit next to a blue light.
- The light itself (a GoLite) is pretty neat. Small, easy enough for me to use (gee, timer and intensity).
- On the minus side, the card that came with it says “go to www.mygolite.com and register” and the web site seems non-existant at the moment
- I found another web site (new manufacturer maybe?) using Google
Okay, enough of that.
Does it work? I think so. I’ll tell you why I say ‘think’ instead of ‘I’m sure.’
I used it a couple times last week, for fifteen minutes at a time. It seemed like I might have had a bit more energy those days. My mood was better. HOWEVER – we’ve also had fabulous weather, I’ve been outside more, going on a walk almost every day for at least 30 minutes too. So these things may be affecting me more than the light, or along with the light.
Friday morning, no light (running late) but came home early from work and spent a couple hours in the yard working with the kids. With a smile. That last part is significant, because some days it’s hard to smile when operating lawn equipment with small children.
Saturday and Sunday I managed about 30 minutes of light time each day. No ill effects, seems (again) like I have more energy, more ‘oomph’ to do things. Smiling a bit more.
Is this the light, just change in seasons, something totally unrelated? That is the $20,000 question. It’s hard to think that just a few sessions with the lamp can make that much difference in my mood, but we’re talking harmones and receptors that I truly don’t understand, so anything (theoretically) is possible.
Not all is rosy, of course, it can’t be for me. Last night I was a grumpy old bastard; doing some stuff around the house, getting short with the kids, I even yelled at my dog for crissake. I took a long walk (with the one dog I hadn’t yelled at), had a glass of wine, couldn’t get to sleep until after 1:00 AM. Was that my body reacting to too much light therapy? Reality coming back? Too long playing video games? (Destroy All Humans 2 rocks, btw).
This morning I brought my happy little grow lamp to work. Nobody has said anything; I used it 30 minutes or so in my cube with the sliding door shut. They thought I wasn’t here, I guess.
Going to take the Circadian Rhythm Assessment soon.
Hey, that would make a good name for a rock band.
The Circadian Rhythm Assessment…”Hey, that would make a good name for a rock band.”
HAHAHAHAHA…that totally made my day.
Ben, yes, too much of that good light can keep you up at night. Like everything in life, it is a balance. Also, I find that when I play video games right before going to bed, it’s much harder to fall asleep, too much visual stimulation I think.
I think there is a bit of a placebo effect involved with the light, but I don’t discount it. Often, just the act of taking action can make you feel better.
Also, as I was told by my therapist ages ago, the best time of year to do something positive is when spring is starting to……well, spring. There is something about seeing everything coming back to life that helps people “come back to life” as well. She said it made her work easier when people start in the spring.
I was going to suggest that you should take the lamp to work, but you already did that. š Glad to hear you’ve been feeling better, no matter what has been causing that!