Seasonal Affective Disorders: The Treatment

In the past, the treatments for depression and other related mental disorders such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, involved the usage of proscribed medication. Many will say now that they do not see any problems in this medical behavior, but there are some consequences when it comes to medication and drugs. They usually give addiction and present numerous dangerous side effects. This is why, in the past few years, research has been made in order to find some alternative forms of treatment for SAD and other similar medical affections. One of these alternatives has always been at our fingertips: light therapy.

SAD usually appears in the winter period. It is triggered by the lack of light, which causes an increase in the production of melatonin (this is the hormone that makes us sleep at night). Generally, the increase of melatonin is followed by a reduction of the level of serotonin. The exposure to light therapy does not only reverse the entire process, but it is also drug free. It is essential to add the fact that SAD light therapy is a safe and secure method of getting rid of all the winter depressions. It is designed to be used by the majority of the population, without exceptions. Light treatment is not a revolutionary therapy.

Basically, the principles on which it is based are as old as humanity itself. The treatment is simple to undertake. The duration of one light session varies from 20 to 90 minutes, depending on the health and requirements of the patient in case. In addition, the only device that the patient will need to have is a light box, which is usually light weight and portable. Also, we must specify the fact that the lights for seasonal affective disorder do not cost too much. A certified medically proven light box usually costs from 150 Euro to about 350 Euro