Do you find yourself feeling more depressed in the winter? You’re not alone. The lack of sunlight during the fall and winter months can lead to winter depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In this blog, you’ll discover how light affects your mental health and why red light therapy can be an effective, natural treatment to improve your mood and wellbeing during the darker months.
How Light Affects Your Mental Health
Light plays a crucial role in our well-being. Like food and water, light is essential to our bodies. It helps regulate our body clock, maintain our mood and stimulate the production of important neurotransmitters such as serotonin. However, in a world where we are increasingly indoors, the value of natural light is sometimes overlooked. This lack of light can lead to mental health issues, especially during the winter.
Winter depression and the role of red light therapy
Winter depression, also known as SAD, is a condition that affects approximately 5% of the population, especially in areas with limited daylight hours during the winter months. Symptoms of SAD include depression, fatigue, weight gain, and decreased interest in activities.
Red light therapy is a proven treatment for SAD. Patients are exposed to bright light that is similar to natural sunlight, often through special red light therapy lamps. This artificial light helps to improve mood, reset the body clock, and reduce symptoms of SAD. Research shows that red light therapy can be effective in treating SAD and can help to significantly reduce symptoms.
Red light therapy for depression and mental health
Red light therapy not only has an effect on SAD but has also shown promising results in treating depression and other mental health conditions. Studies conducted in 2018 have shown that red light therapy has antidepressant properties and can be effective in patients with major depressive disorder. Additionally, there are studies suggesting that red light therapy can be useful in treating anxiety, bipolar disorder, and traumatic brain injury.
How to Use Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is a safe and simple treatment method that is suitable for people of all ages. It does not require medication, injections or surgical procedures. To experience the benefits of light therapy, all you need to do is be exposed to the therapeutic light for a certain amount of time. The light will work with your body to reduce symptoms and improve your overall mood.
Conclusion
With a red light therapy lamp, you can get natural light in your own home. With a quality device, you can get enough light in sessions of only 10-15 minutes. Because red light therapy is so easy to use and carries little to no risk, red light therapy is likely to become a common treatment for seasonal affective disorder in the coming years. Forward-thinking doctors agree and are already using natural light to treat depression.
Anyone beginning light therapy should monitor how their moods and emotions are affected and consult their doctor and/or therapist if they have any concerns or questions.
