SAD lamps again ?

BlisteringBarnacles

Saw this thread from almost a decade ago. I wanted to follow up on it, but the thread is closed.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5153033/sad-lights/p1

I ended up buying a cheap one for £23 on Black Friday sale. It is small and portable. I used it for 20 minutes last couple of days but not sure if it has helped in any way. Can try it couple more weeks before (if) I return. I dont even mind the cold and dark but the grey is soul crushing. Its like the world turning to black and white.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CZ43VVK3?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

There is one selling at £700+ - is it worth plonking that kind of dough ? It just seems like a large light, or is there anything more to the tech ? If its going to drip-feed happiness thru an IV line, then its worth it I suppose :-)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SAD-Light-Therapy-Box-Northern/dp/B003OWJCIM

I live in a low cost rental apartment, so no fancy diffuse lighting multi-bulb LED lights that is quite popular these days in modern houses. Just one old fashioned bayonet plug in the ceiling. I can of course plug in an LED bulb equivalent to 100 watt incandescent. Or an LED floor lamp like this : https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09N33CBT6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1  - I tried it actually (12W, doesn't say how many lumens) but it did not seem bright enough to me, compared to the old incandescent halogen floor lamps from the 90s.

appreciate any suggestions. I think a very powerful floorlamp with multple levels of brightness and temperature would be good but the one above ain't it.

Thanks.

Spoonie_Turtle

I use this one https://drivedevilbiss.co.uk/our-products/aids-for-daily-living-personal-care/wellbeing-health/led-daylight-lamp
I got mine for under £20 on eBay but it's not always quite that cheap everywhere.

Edit just before posting: actually I just looked at your first link and mine looks a very similar thing!  But anyway, I've typed all the following out already and maybe others might find it useful too.

It's simple, cheap, lots of different options including several different brightnesses and different hues.  I don't have SAD but my brain and body don't really wake up properly without sunlight (and I do start to feel mentally grim after several consecutive days of dull/grey/overcast days, I just wouldn't categorise it as SAD), and this makes up for it.  It's on my windowsill about … maybe 50-70cm from my face.  So not quite as close as they recommend but I couldn't get it closer in a way that would be reliable every day.  I have it on for 45mins minimum every day.

I found last year if I had it on too late into the day I wouldn't sleep well, so although the waking up better with it could potentially be a placebo effect, it's certainly having some effect for sure!

It doesn't have a timer to turn itself on though, you have to physically do that (it didn't work with a timer plug either) or wrangle a physical smart switch to press the button, which is not easy.  I made it work but I can't in all good conscience recommend that as a solution.  Also the controls once it's on are touch-sensitive, not tactile.  Again there are sort of ways around it but something to be aware of it that's important to people.

Edit after posting: once I'm awake from the SAD lamp I find a bright white LED bulb for the room, 5000K, 100W equivalent or above works for me.  I actually initially had it bare to - I thought - get the most light benefit, but had to put my (white) lampshade over it because it was a bit too much for me!  But I am ironically light sensitive after a certain point when my brain's had enough so YMMV.

FlorayG

There has to be a huge difference in output for that difference in price but I can't see from the descriptions what it is
Anyway; it can take up to a month to start having an effect on you ( needs to fool your brain into thinking spring is arriving) and you need to sit very close to it, so having extra bright lightbulbs in your sockets won't be much use

Saver73

I have used a body clock light to go to sleep and wake up for years, they are expensive, so shop around, have a read of some reviews, but well worth the money I think.  I don't use the alarm function, just the sunrise/sunset light. I found it took a few weeks to be effective and also helps regulate sleep patterns.

https://www.argos.co.uk/browse/home-and-furniture/home-furnishings/clocks/c:29525/brands:lumie/

BlisteringBarnacles

Thanks for the kind replies.

I have also had vestibular problems (vertigo and hearing loss) in the past/recent past. But I fully recovered and haven't had these problems in a while. My sleep has also been good recently although I have this really bad habit of sleeping from 3 AM to 10 AM.

However, in the last few days, from Thu 5th Dec to be precise, I have been waking up abruptly to use the bathroom after 4 hours of sleep and the rest of the sleep is then ruined. The same happened in winters of 2021, 2022. Altho I ordered the SAD lamp, I started using it only from Saturday 7th Dec. 10 mins on Sat, 20 mins yesterday and 20 mins today. All as soon as I wake up.  

Today I have been having slight dizziness. Not vertigo as such, but a worrying dizziness that may lead to vertigo. I don't know if the dizziness is due to the bright light from the SAD lamp or due to poor sleep. Going to stay away from the SAD lamp and try and change my sleep cycle from 12 to 8 and maybe get some natural light in the morning outdoors.

silvercar

As an alternative, I use a vitamin D spray and that seems to help.

BlisteringBarnacles

Thanks.

I now have increased (since last couple of days) Vitamin D from one 25ug (1000 IU) tablet to two tablets from Holland Barratt. My Vitamin D levels when measured in April 2024 in India was 38 ng/mL [Reference range : 30 to 80] So I was certainly on the lower end. I used to take one tablet in summer and two in winter while living in UK.

In 2023-2024 I was mostly in India, and had considerable sun exposure but this was also a period of extreme stress with regular visits to hospital to care for my dad. So I rarely got time to actually relax in the sun. For some reason a very reputed ENT doctor in a top hospital in India who asked me to measure my Vitamin D levels ( for my hearing issues ) told me not to take too much Vitamin D and suggested I take 1 tablet x 1000 IU only 4 days a week. When I protested that my levels ( as measured by his own lab ) were on the lower end, he just shrugged. He had also given me an anti oxidant tablet which probably contained Vitamin D.

Anyway, increased the Vitamin D now and will consume oily fish as well a little more. Stopped the SAD light today. The vertigo like dizziness is almost gone. The last thing I want is the SAD light therapy triggering vertigo. That would be the proverbial frying pan to fire.