The days are shorter, sunshine is scarce and rain and wind are blowing around us. From the autumn onwards you can suffer from so-called winter depression. Changes in light exposure are a possible cause of winter depression. Does this make a daylight lamp the ultimate solution?
What is winter depression?
According to Thuisarts.nl the winter depression may be related to changes in the amount of light. In winter the days have fewer hours of sunshine than in summer. Sunlight inhibits the production of melatonin, so in winter much more melatonin flows through our body. And you can notice this. Melatonin influences your day and night rhythm, your sleep and your mood. Why is one person more affected by this switch than another? In some people, the body adapts less well to the lack of light. According to neurologist and sleep disorder specialist Jerold Simmons some people are more sensitive to melatonin. As a result, you may start to feel gloomy and tired. Winter depression can also be recognized by a poor sleep rhythm – sleeping a lot or little.
This is how a daylight lamp works
In many cases, winter depression can be treated with light therapy. With this treatment, you expose your body to the light of a special lamp for about 10 minutes for a number of days or weeks. You sit in the light of the lamp, without looking directly into the light of the lamp itself. The lamp is bright, but not as bright as light from the sun. In addition, the light from this lamp does not contain UV light. The light from the lamp, just like sunlight, inhibits melatonin production.
Bye bye winter depression?
Light therapy does not work equally well for everyone. Everyone has a different sensitivity to melatonin, so light therapy may have more or less effect on one person than on another. Also good to know: light therapy is not suitable for everyone. For example, light therapy is less suitable when using antibiotics, eye diseases or depression with manic periods. Therefore, consult with your doctor whether light therapy can help in your case and let your doctor or psychologist inform you how long you can use light therapy for the desired result.
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2023-11-18 23:44:30
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