Combating Depression With Light Therapy

By Author: Mike Zimmerman
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Depression can affect people of all ages, ethnic origins, and genders. Many people are able to combat depression through a combination of medication and therapy or counseling; however, there is no one medication that is "right" for treating every form of depression and medication often comes with undesirable side effects. Researchers have been experimenting with light therapy to combat depression for a number of years and the findings thus far are encouraging.

The primary form of depression that has been targeted with light therapy is Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. This is a condition that affects people in the winter months, leading to depression that is more severe than just the "winter blahs" or blues. Researchers believed that the cause was linked to shorter days and sunlight in lower intensity and frequency. Light therapy has been discovered to relieve this form of depression, so it stands to reason that light therapy could also relieve other forms of depression.

Light therapy is simply exposure to special light that is brighter and more intense than indoor lighting but not as bright as sunlight. The ...
... light used for SAD relief is not a full-spectrum light but rather a specific single light source like white or blue light. Exposure to the light for a pre-determined amount of time has been shown to replicate the chemical reaction that occurs in the body when it is exposed to natural sunlight.

Exposure to sunlight stimulates the production of chemicals within the brain and helps restore the Circadian rhythm which is basically the body's inner clock. Light therapy can replicate the effects of the sun, causing this chemical reaction to occur. During this process, the brain releases the chemical serotonin which creates alertness and energy, helps restore the body's inner clock, and has a generally positive impact on overall mental and physical health.

Many people suffering from SAD who have undergone light therapy have reported an increased feeling of well being, with fewer symptoms of depression. While SAD is only one form of depression and is considered mild compared to some forms, researchers believe it may be possible to treat other forms with light therapy and achieve the same success.

Depression takes many forms but also has many causes. Chronic illness and pain, sleep disorders, and excessive and prolonged stress can cause depression as well as mental health conditions and disorders. Though the symptoms of depression can vary from feeling tired, uninterested or lethargic to mood swings, feelings of worthlessness and thoughts of suicide, it is believed that at least some depression symptoms may be relieved with light therapy regardless of the level or intensity of symptoms.

In some ways, you could equate light therapy to restarting your computer when it runs slowly or sluggishly. The effect light therapy has on the body is similar because it is like resetting your body's clock. Patients with sleep disorders undergoing light therapy have reported an improvement in their sleep/wake cycle which tends to improve their overall sense of well being throughout the day. Similarly, those people who have health conditions, like Lupus, who cannot be exposed to natural sunlight or those who work in constant low-light conditions can also benefit from light therapy.

More research is being done to test the effectiveness of light therapy on various forms of depression, as well as on other diseases affecting the brain like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Nonetheless, the information currently known about treating depression with light therapy is very encouraging.

Light therapy is considered to be a low-risk procedure with minimal to no side effects. Side effects that have been reported after intense or prolonged light therapy include eye strain, headaches, sweating, and agitation. Many times these symptoms can be relieved by simply decreasing the duration or frequency of light therapy treatment. People with sensitive eyes or those taking photosensitive medications should ask their doctor before using light therapy. Light therapy is considered an alternative treatment. While it is safe to combine light therapy with more conventional treatments, patients should talk to their doctor before starting.

As a low-risk alternative to treating the symptoms of depression, light therapy could prove to be very beneficial. Results vary from person to person but many people have found light therapy to have a very positive outcome.
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