Posted by Leonardo on November 2, 2000, at 12:54:58
In reply to Re: light boxes links/SAD/Norman Rosenthal, posted by ksvt on November 1, 2000, at 22:21:36
Hi kvst
Yes it is quite normal to be doing something else while using a lightbox, usually reading or siting at a computer. The recommendations actually say NOT to stare into the light, but preferably to have it mounted above head level just in the periphery of your vision, and if possible pointe slightly downwards to maximise the amount of light entering your eye. Provided you stay at the recommnded distance (usually 20 inches), it doesn't matter if you move your head around a bit. The bigger and brighter the box, the more you can move your head and still stay in the light. Obviously, if you move right away from the light, you don't get the benefit. Effectively this means staying seated. I bought the light visor device (head mounted)so that I could move around anywhere and still get the light. That part works, but it's not as bright as a lightbox, and its not so easy to read because the visor only shines into your eyes, not onto the table in front of you or whatever. Most of the lightbox suppliers have pics which show people seated at desks while using the lights, working at a computer typically. You probably need the screen brightness turned up full to see it I would guess!
Good luck!Leonardo
> >Leonardo - I've seen pictures of people using light boxes and they're holding them and staring into them. Your post suggests that you can actually do something else while you're in range. It's much to important to me to feel like I'm accomplishing things to sit idly. How much freedon of movement do you have and still maintain the benefits? Thanks for your info. ksvt
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> If you go to the links page of http://www.normanrosenthal.com/
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> > you will find some (but not all) of the main lightbox suppliers. Norman Rosenthal is supposed to be the world expert on SAD - he identified and named the condition!
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> > Last winter I bought and used a 'light visor but did not find it very effective, though I definitely perk up in the presence of bright lights.
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> > I may buy a lightbox this year (if I can afford it), as I don't think the visor is bright enough, but I've just started using it again as its the best I have so far. If you think it will help, go for the biggest and brightest box you can find/afford. Apollo claim that the other manufacturers boxes have been found to be not as bright as they claimed, under independent tests... http://www.apollolight.com/
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> > You need to sit at the specified distance to get the specified brightness (20 inches for 10,000 lux for 30 mins is the usual spec these days). You don't need to stare at the light but it needs to be in the periphery of your vision. It works by the light entering your eyes - skin illumination has no effect. They say these days that 'full spectrum' light is not necessary, it's just the overall brightness that counts. I think a box will work better than the visor because it floods a whole area in front of you with bright light, especially if you read a newspaper underneath it. Home made boxes and tungsten lights are not recommended - to get enough light you would be burnt to a crisp by the IR of a tunsten light, not to mention blinded by the intense point source. Home made fluorescent lights are a potentially dangerous UV source.
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> > > I'd love to hear the experiences anyone has had with light boxes. I have chronic depression, not necessarily SAD, but there is no question in my mind that my depression gets worse in the winter time. This is much on my mind since with the daylight savings time change, it now gets dark alot earlier, and snowed a chunk of the day. Do they work? How do you use them? Where do you get one? How much do they cost? Thanks ksvt
poster:Leonardo
thread:47717
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001102/msgs/48020.html