Add Some Sunshine to Your Home Even on Gloomy Days With This Light Therapy Lamp
Make every day sunny, even when it’s dismal and wet outside, and stop letting the weather affect your mood and energy levels.
Photo: amazon.com
About 14 years ago, I was diagnosed with a mental health issue, and it’s been one roller coaster ride after another since then—medications, doctors, one-on-one therapy, group therapy, hospital stays, new diagnoses. Finding the right combination of treatments that work takes time; it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
One therapeutic consideration that was never “prescribed,” or even mentioned, was a light therapy lamp. With 10,000 lux (a measure of light intensity) or more, these lamps mimic the sun’s rays and are designed to similarly boost your mood by increasing serotonin levels. Naturally, I had some serious doubts when I heard about these lamps. I thought for sure that they were a gimmick and that I’d have zero success using one. Man, was I wrong! And I’m sad that it took me so long to find out.
RELATED: 10 Easy Home Improvements to Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder
Moving Past the Doubt
For the longest time, I refused to buy a light therapy lamp. I thought that nothing so simple could actually work. What finally convinced me? My older brother, someone I completely trust, tried a lamp and confirmed that they do, in fact, work. While you don’t know me personally, maybe the little I’ve shared will persuade you not to wait as long as I did.
Don’t get me wrong: I haven’t stopped other treatments, and I am not recommending that you do either, but don’t allow stubbornness to steal 13 years of “happy lamp” (as I like to call it) from you.
Instant Relief
Photo: amazon.com
“It’s an instant relief”—that’s what my brother told me—and he was right (but don’t tell him I said so). As soon as I turn it on, the atmosphere in the room changes, and I feel a shift inside me. My energy spikes, my mood takes an upward turn, and I’m good to go for the afternoon. I admit that sometimes the mood elevation doesn’t last as long as I’d like it to once my time with the lamp is up, but I find the energy levels and increase in focus at least help me finish off the day.
Not Just for the Cooler Months
Light therapy lamps are also referred to as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lamps. People who suffer from SAD generally experience changes in energy levels and mood during the cooler months when it’s gloomy and blah outside. Last year I wanted to avoid that effect, which is why I finally gave in and bought a light therapy lamp.
What I’ve found since then is that I don’t use the lamp only during the bleaker months. On cloudy days when it’s raining and lifeless outside, no rule says I can’t take the lamp out to help my mood. Also, depression can hit on any of the 365 days of the year. If someone wants to isolate inside, a light therapy lamp can bring the sunny outdoors in.
RELATED: The Best Light Therapy Lamps for the Home
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Who Can Benefit the Most?
As I’ve mentioned, people who suffer from SAD, mood disorders, or depression can benefit from a light therapy lamp. But others reap benefits as well. If you have trouble sleeping at night, the lamp can help improve your sleep cycle, and if you travel a lot, it can help alleviate jet lag.
Why Choose the TaoTronics Therapy Lamp?
Because I still needed convincing, I didn’t want to buy a lamp that would break the bank, but I also wanted something with a few extra features. With the TaoTronics Therapy Lamp, you can select 100 percent light strength or dim it gradually down to 20 percent. This is a nice option if you’re not in the mood for that full-on sunny feeling. And I also like the fact that it comes with a 30-minute timer to help ensure you don’t overuse it. Sometimes, though, I do use it for a full hour and just set a timer on my phone instead.
Get the TaoTronics Light Therapy Lamp at TaoTronics for $37.99.
Photo: amazon.com
