Help with lighting query - S.A.D

poorbabe

I'm a SAD sufferer which means this time of year is too dark for me and I crave sunlight. In the mornings I use one of those bodyclocks that lights up my bedroom within 30 mins. It's very useful and going to bed early helps too (when I can move from the sofa, that is :rolleyes:).

For the past couple of years I was thinking of getting a lamp that I can sit close to in the evenings I am home. However they cost £100+ which is not very MS, but I've discovered some lightbulbs (mentioned by Hapless) that are the equivalent of 125w or 130w that I could use in my bedroom and living room. My problem is, when I have visitors they might find it too bright for them, in which case would I be better off getting a lamp as I seem to be the only one that needs very bright lighting this time of year, or should I give them sunglasses when they visit?

ksh123

Hi
I also have SAd and was lucky one year to be leant a lamp by a local health clinic as the cost of the special lamps is way out of my price range. It was very helpful. The thing is though its not the brightness of the lamp that it helps - its the quality of the light - SAD lamps mimic daylight and have less yellow light than ordinary bulbs which is why they help SAD sufferers. Just having a very bright light is unlikely to help at all I'm afraid.

If you Google SAD you will find all sorts of info.
This company sells the bulbs alone at http://www.sad-lighthire.co.uk/verilux.php for 5.95 each of 9.95 for two including postage. This way you could just use a small lamp which you can turn off when you have visitors etc.
They also rent light boxes but they are not cheap either.
Good luck.

bubblesbonbon

You can also get energy saving daylight bulbs. Several lighting specialists sell them but I get mine on line from here.

There are various fittings so make sure that you get the right ones (BC - normal bayonet cap, ES - edison screw)

Like all energy saving bulbs, they are brighter watt for watt (click here for comparison)

I have had mine for 2 years without a problem apart from one bulb that lost a bayonet pin and that was replaced post free.

:cool:

poorbabe

Thanks for posting bubbles. That's my 'plan b' option. What I might do is purchase one of those bulbs for my bedroom and get a SAD-type light appliance on a 30 day trial then take it from there.:think: