topic Re: Light Box in Wellness

Light Box

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 23:03:50 GMT

Well, I've been looking into and thinking about getting a 'light box' for at least 3 (maybe more) years.

I finally just bought one. I've known for a long time I'm very much affected by dark, dreary days (especially in the winter).

Even when I was in high school and when I worked I would stay home if I could. When I quit the government job I actually owed them money! Ha!

Anyway, I've almost bought one a few times but (I'm famous for this) I'd drift over to something else and never ordered one.

I've done so much research....well...I just needed to get one.

Anyway, I'm curious. Does anyone else here use a light box? Have you had good results with your's?

I know someone who swears by their's. I'm a person who's always willing to try new and different things. By being an 'explorer' I've made my life better in many different ways.

If something makes sense to me.....I'll try it. I do have a tendency though to loose interest...I'll try to stick with this one.

I do take prescription Vitamin D and I have IGG and get infusions. It all helps. Most people in my life just think I become a hermit in the Winter.

My oldest daughter is greatly affected by the cold Winter months. If she could, she'd live in Florida year around.

Re: Light Box

Kachina624 — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 23:13:45 GMT

I live in the Sunbelt. The last thing we need is a sunbox. We look forward to a dreary day as a rare treat. Sun is shining brightly right now in a perfect blue sky. Our sun is more intense than Florida's due to higher altitude. I'm at about 5800 ft.

Re: Light Box

cherry — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 23:15:30 GMT

Best of luck. I have read good things about them. Merry Christmas

Re: Light Box

Mary Bailey — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 23:27:50 GMT

I think I need one of these too. The Christmas tree lights really help my mood but once they are gone I'm really blue.

Someday I'll order one probably, maybe.

@Annabellethecat66 I hope it works for you. Did you get it at Amazon

Re: Light Box

Naturesbeauty — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 23:30:49 GMT

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is very common where there isn’t a lot of sunlight during the Fall/Winter months. Treatment for SAD may include light therapy (phototherapy) I have a light by Verilux “HappyLite” sunshine simulator. It really helps with my moods. If I don’t use it on cloudy days I have no energy and just want to sleep all day. I need sunshine. I use it while putting on my make up each morning. They also have light bulbs that you can put in you lamps, etc. when ever I need light I just set it up in front of me. (Paying bills, reading, doing my arts and crafts.) it really does help. Makes me happy and in a better mood. On sunny mornings I go outside in my back yard and sit in the sunshine for about 30 minutes. Drink my coffee/tea and enjoy the birds. I hope this helps.

Re: Light Box

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 23:58:35 GMT

@Naturesbeauty Thanks for the reply. I've done so much research on this I could probably write a paper for English class...Ha!

I just loose interest in everything so quickly, I never did buy one....until this afternoon.

I just wondered if anyone else here owns one. It must be at least 10,000 lux strong or it isn't a real light box.

Also a really good light box will filter out the harmful light. I always worry about anything that will cause the brown spots on faces.

Anyway, stay tuned. I'll try to remember to let everyone know if it helps.

I know a lot of people have SAD to some degree they just don't realize why they feel like they do on sunny days versus rainy, dark cloudy days.

Re: Light Box

Azcowgirl — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 00:12:43 GMT

I understand completely @Annabelletheca....If I had not moved to the Southwest years ago, I would have bought one .I couldn’t take the dreary northwest any longer. Even with the sunshine we get here, I still feel dreary if there are a few cloudy days in a row.

I hope it works for you, and btw Merry Christmas to you !

Re: Light Box

morganjen — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 00:38:16 GMT

I tried one once and it gave me a migraine.

Re: Light Box

phoenixbrd — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 03:27:40 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 I'm looking forward to hearing your results. Like you, I've thought about purchasing for years. As you know, SAD is real and there are results using the light box. Much happiness on those dreary days!

Re: Light Box

wagirl — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 14:33:07 GMT

I have used a sunlight lamp for many years---and it does seem to help my outlook. I live in WA state and the grey, rain, gloom is ever present for most the year. I have my lamp at my laptop table so I get a couple hours a day. but it is not a quick fix--prob many months and so gradual you may not notice. Also it needs to shine in your eyes --not like someone blasting you with a flash light, but it must reach your eyes to work. My light is tall so it shines over my face downward---my cat even sits under it too. Its not hot either but the bulbs are pretty pricey--mine just burned out but have had it going for at least 6 years or more. Got mine from AMZ and it was not bad $$ wise.

Re: Light Box

Annabellethecat66 — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 14:40:36 GMT

@phoenixbrd My problem is I get bored with everything. My late husband was just the opposite (so is my oldest daughter). She and he finish everything.

When they were little all I had to say to them to 'straighten them out' was, "Are going to have to talk to your Father about this". They'd say, "Noooooooo". Ha! (Very seldom did he have to hear about the problem). The message was, 'Dad always followed through...Mom would forget and move on'. (Like if I said, "Go to your room". In 5 minutes they'd be out and I'd have forgotten. He'd make sure they stayed in there.). Like that.

Anyway, totally off subject (why now be any different). Where was I? Oh! So I hope to see resuts pretty quickly. Otherwise, you guys might have to say, "So Annabell, are you using the light box?" Then I'll feel guilty (something I often feel) and go back to it.

I've read a lot about it and it's helped a lot of people. On Amazon (the one I got) a lady put up a picture of her beautiful cat and she said it really helped her cat??? Whatever works, right? Ha!

Take care and have a wonderful Christmas or whatever you celebrate. I get frustrated because everyone has lost all meaning of what the day is supposed to be. I wasn't any different when my girls were young.

I recently had all of the VHS tapes my husband took over the years converted to DVD's for the girls (very, very expensive, but worth it). It made me realize how overboard I went. I bought everything and in all of the videos it's so funny because my late husband would set the camera on the tri-pod and let the film roll. You can see him laying in the floor with the girls saying, "Let me see that! What does that do? Wow! That's neat". The words were genuine because he only did his Christmas shopping for me on Christmas Eve and the day before Christmas Eve. I'd send him out with a list of what I couldn't find and he was to find it. As my girls got bigger and went with him, the gifts he gave me were way more expensive and amazing! (They liked spending Daddy's money and buying Mommy expensive jewelry). Ha!

To give you an example. The first few Christmas' (because we were only 19 and didn't have much money) one gift to me was obviously on sale because it was a horrible purple sweater and it had a hole in it! Ha! We waited 7 years to have children because we were so young and I wanted to be able to stay at home and raise them. My family thought I couldn't have children since we waited so long; but we had a plan. We both had terrible childhoods and made sure our children and married life would be like you'd see on TV (Father Knows Best, Make Room for Daddy, etc).

Wow! I've blabbered on and on. This is exactly why I always say, "I've never met a stranger". Because I give some of myself to them and strangers tell me things I'm sure they don't discuss with others. I talk to people (conversations) everywhere. I love, love people.

Anyway, (must be a word I like a lot), you take care. I often think about people who have no one in their lives. If I knew them I'd say, "It's just one day. It's whatever YOU want it to be. If you are sad, hang in there, it will be over soon". Not everyone has someone.

I gave a homeless many a $5 bill while waiting for a light in my car. He gave me the biggest toothless (well he had maybe 3 teeth) grin and said he was going right over to the "all you can eat" restaurant across the street. He said he had a little to add to it (I felt guilty I hadn't given him $10 but the light changed). Ha!

OMG! I've written a book! I should push delete.....but..

Re: Light Box

phoenixbrd — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 14:03:22 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 It is so obvious you have a big loving heart. I enjoyed hearing the stories about your husband and daughters. You two worked to make your life joyful and meaningful. You have live a very rich life full of good memories. And, yes, we will hold you accountable for the results of that light box....no boredom here! Hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow! Much love and a Merry Christmas!

Re: Light Box

garmer — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 23:48:45 GMT

@morganjen wrote:
I tried one once and it gave me a migraine.

You have to start out slow and build up to the time the doc prescribed. I learned the hard way, lol. If 5 minutes is good, an hour would be great, right? Wrong ! Too much time = too much serotonin = bad headache. It's best to use these under a doc's supervision.

Re: Light Box

Annabellethecat66 — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 18:31:10 GMT

OK, so who's been wondering how I'm doing with my light box?

No one? I don't blame you...it is boring.

So, between the snow and cloudy days...I've been sitting here like a chicken on an egg. Not every day...but here and there.

Incidentally, the person who'd commented about the light not being good for people with cataracts, I've read that. That's why I wear glasses specifically made (and to be worn) while sitting in front of a light box.

I told you guys, I researched and thought about this thing for a few years.

It's still very boring....