As the days begin to get shorter, many Canadians feel a sense of depression. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), this phenomenon is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and it affects around 20 per cent of the population in some form or the other.
Thankfully, one of the easiest remedies arrives at your doorstep in an Amazon package. The HappyLight Lucent Light Therapy Lamp by Verilux is an effective yet affordable product for those looking to banish their winter blues.
Symptoms of SAD include feeling depressed, having low energy, difficulty in concentration and change in appetite or weight.
Light therapy is one of the prescribed treatments for SAD since it mimics daylight by providing full-spectrum light. Exposure to this light triggers the release of hormones and neurotransmitters in the body that improve overall feeling of well-being.
There are several reasons why the HappyLight Lucent Light Therapy Lamp is well worth its $52.99 price on Amazon.
The sleek tablet-like lamp measures 8.5″ L x 6.5″ W x 0.5″ H and comes with a detachable stand that lets you prop it up in either portrait or landscape mode on your table. You can get started by plugging the device into any standard AC outlet.
An appealing feature of the lamp is its simplicity. While costlier models from the same company have extra buttons to control the intensity, colour and duration of the light, this lamp relies on an on/off button at the top.
So instead of spending time trying to figure out how intense the light needs to be for you – lamps can deliver up to 10,000 lux (light level) intensity – you can ease into the required usage over the course of a few days. The operative word there is “ease”, since light therapy lamps can produce mild side-effects such as nausea, headaches and eye strain if used improperly.
Even if those side-effects sound alarming, they can be avoided with a little care. First-time users are advised to place the lamp on their table at a comfortable distance and face the light for up to 30 minutes at a time.
Depending on your age, height and weight, your tolerance and overall energy requirement will differ. The user manual mentions that if you feel jittery as if you’ve had one too many cups of coffee, you’ll need to cut back on the usage of the lamp.
Those words of caution highlight just how effective this light therapy lamp can be when utilized properly. If used every day, preferably within the first four hours after you wake up, the lamp will help improve your overall mood, boost your energy levels, and help you sleep better at night.
It’s easy to be skeptical about the impact that bright white light from a lamp can have on your daily life. But then again, the reason this product is required is because the bright white lamp in the sky goes missing for many months in winter.
If you have trouble sleeping, feel tired all day long, experience a sense of hopelessness or sadness, it’s important to talk to your doctor.
Don’t diagnose yourself with Seasonal Affective Disorder and expect an Amazon purchase to solve everything.
If your doctor confirms the diagnosis and recommends a light therapy lamp, HappyLight Lucent Light Therapy Lamp by Verilux is the perfect product to purchase.
Within a few weeks, you’ll realize your days are brighter, thanks in part to the lamp on your desk.