Hi!

So recently I’ve realized that I might have SAD. Round the winter solstice, there’s about 6 hours of sunlight per day in Estonia and for much of December and early to mid January, it was also overcast so even the 6 hours of “sunlight” were kinda dark.

So I went to read Wikipedia and:

Two methods of light therapy, bright light and dawn simulation, have similar success rates in the treatment of SAD

So I’m just wondering if anyone has personal experiences with these, particularly the dawn simulation as I believe that’s something I could just set up and forget hopefully (I have ADHD, I do NOT do well with things I have to repeat every day). Does it help? Do you use it outside of wintertime too?

  • Aquila@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    6·
    10 days ago

    Sad lights help. I have one on my desk and when i remember to use it it def helps. Wakes you up and feel more energized

  • BillDaCatt@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    10 days ago

    I have a wifi switch on a freestanding lamp in my bedroom that comes on every day at 7 am and stays on until I turn it off at night. I have found it really helps to wake me up in the morning without needing to use noisy alarms.

    I also have a dog and if I don’t get up right away, he sees the light and starts pestering me to take him outside.

  • Hazel@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    5·
    10 days ago

    Hii, not sure if it counts as ‘dawn simulation’ but I have a smart light set up to turn on gradually at the same time year round.

    It helps maybe a little with SAD, but mostly helps my sleep consistency. I couldn’t say for sure with all the other factors in play.

    • boonhet@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
      3·
      10 days ago

      Pretty sure it does count. To be fair, sleep consistency is very important too as bad sleep would be a contributing factor in other issues

        • boonhet@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
          2·
          10 days ago

          Unfortunately I think that’s inevitable. If I was rich, I’d move to the southern hemisphere late October every year and move back in march or so

          • Hazel@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
            3·
            10 days ago

            Oh absolutely, I’d move in a heartbeat if I had no attachments here. I’ve lived at more southerly latitudes for a period and it makes a big difference. Really sucks feeling like shit half the year and everyone expects you to keep going like usual 🥲

  • AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.netEnglish
    4·
    10 days ago

    I’ve not tried one before, but something that always sticks out to me is that a few years ago, when we were roadtripping around North Finland, every single AirBnB we stayed in had a SAD light or sunrise alarm clock (these were AirBnBs where it was someone’s home, not a dedicated holiday rental). That speaks volumes to me, in much the same way that seeing all those places store vodka in their freezer was something I used when arguing with my housemates that we should also.

    • boonhet@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
      1·
      9 days ago

      Good point. They’re even further north and must have experience with all this.

      Also love the vodka in the freezer argument. Always important to have a bottle!

  • AudaciousArmadillo@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    4·
    10 days ago

    I got one of these therapy lights this year. I think it helps a bit. What I noticed most is that I wake up earlier than I usually would in Winter.

    But be aware that you have to look into the bright light for 30 minutes every morning. And while you can do some stuff during that, it is kind of a chore. It also only works if you do it consistently. So it’s not like you turn on the light and feel great afterwards.

    I got one from Beurer and have no complaints.

    • Tehdastehdas@piefed.socialEnglish
      1·
      9 days ago

      Not a chore to look into when I adjust my (bright) computer screen to maximum brightness and read something with a white background. The dawn lamp is next to it.

  • BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    10 days ago

    This is one of the reasons we moved south, but a powerful SAD lamp does wonders. Be sure to use it at least 20-30 minutes every day, ideally in the morning. The lamp should include instructions.

  • troed@fedia.io
    3·
    10 days ago

    I tried one for a good while but can’t say I noticed any benefit. What did work though was regular old SSRI medication which I’m now on year round (going off them in the summer just brings side effects) instead.

    /Sweden

  • Drusas@fedia.io
    2·
    10 days ago

    My partner uses one that you wear as glasses and the little lights shine down on your eyelids. It works for him. He used a couple of lamps before that and found that, basically, the more expensive ones work as long as you sit right in front of them.