Light therapy has been known to have numerous benefits for those who suffer from SAD. Let’s take a look at the best light boxes for this particular issue. 

This is a specific type of depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it normally takes hold of the person suffering from it during the months of fall and winter. A light therapy box can provide some much needed relief to the sufferer. It is, however, important to note that in order to get the best possible treatment for SAD, light therapy treatments should be combined with another type of treatment for SAD. This can include things like drugs that are psychotropic in nature or also psychological counseling (sometimes known as psychotherapy). 

The light therapy devices that are used to treat SAD are also commonly known as light boxes, phototherapy boxes or bright light therapy boxes. All of these boxes are essentially manufactured to produce the same result and the same effect. However, certain types of light therapy boxes may work better for you if you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

Consult Your Physician First

If you do decide to get a light therapy box, it would be the best if you consult with your personal physician beforehand. It would be ideal to get their opinion on the matter before you start doing sessions. If you, for example, suffer from both Bipolar Disorder and SAD, then it is especially important that you talk to your doctor before you start light therapy. Whether to even use it in this particular case and also the timing of when you use the light therapy box both needs to be very carefully reviewed by your personal physician. If you increase the exposure too quickly or you use the light therapy box for too long each time, you may actually induce the symptoms of mania if you already have bipolar disorder. This is why it is so important to consult with your doctor first. 

You also should consult your doctor if you currently have or have had eye problems. This can include problems such as glaucoma, damage from diabetes or cataracts. If you happen to suffer from these issues, you must get consultation from your doctor before you start the therapy process. 

What is a light box?

The main idea behind light therapy and its devices is to mimic the natural light that is available outside. People who have conducted research on the topic firmly believe that this particular type of light has the potential to induce chemical changes within the brain. This has the very real potential to lift the mood of the patient and also to ease the other related symptoms of SAD.

In general, the light therapy box that you choose should be able to do the following. It should be able to provide an exposure that is 10,000 lux of light. They must also emit as little ultraviolet light as possible. 

Some recommendations that have to be made with regards to using the light box are the following:

• The session should be conducted in the first hour after waking up in the morning.
• Each session should be about 20 to 30 minutes long
• The device should be about 16 to 24 inches away from the face
• Do not look directly at the light when your eyes are open

It is very important to remember that while light boxes are designed to be effective and safe, they do not need to be approved or even regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of SAD. This is why it is so important to understand the options that you do have.

Also worth noting is that you can buy a light box without a medical prescription. While your doctor may recommend a specific light box, know that most of the health insurance providers will not bear the cost of the light therapy box. Therefore, you have to pay it from your own pocket and this is an important point to make sure that you understand. 

What to consider

Here are some things that you should consider when you are getting a light therapy box specially for SAD. 

Is it specially made for SAD? If the answer is no, then it may not be able to help your depression. There are some other types of these devices that are made for skin conditions and those will not help with SAD. Also, those lamps emit UV light and have the potential to damage your eyes if you do not use them properly. 

Is it of the right brightness? Different light boxes offer different things when it comes to the intensity of the light. If you use brighter light, you can make do with shorter sessions.  Normally it is recommended that you get a light box that can emit 10,000 lux intensity of light. 

UV rays? Light boxes that are designed for use for SAD, should filter out most of the UV light or in fact all of it. 

Can it cause damage to the eyes? There are a lot of light boxes that are designed and come with features in order to protect your eyes. Make sure that the light box you are getting can filter out most of the UV light so that you do not damage your eyes. If you have any pre existing eye conditions, it is especially important to consult your doctor before you get a device for light therapy. 

Is it the right style? Light therapy boxes are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and come with different features. There are some that look like upright lamps and there are also those that are rectangular and small. 

Can you place it properly? Make sure that you think about where it is within the house that you want to conduct your light therapy sessions and make sure that the light therapy box you are getting can be placed there properly

Lastly, make sure you consult your physician to make sure that you are getting a light box that will best suit your needs.