3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Shopping for Used Light Boxes for SAD
Posted on: 21 September 2020
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a mood disorder where people experience depression, fatigue, and social withdrawal as the days shorten and become darker sooner. While counseling and medications can certainly help your SAD, you may want to try light therapy. You can find light boxes in stores or online from used medical medical equipment suppliers. While cost can be a big factor in your product choice, there are other factors to consider. Here are three questions to ask yourself before you buy a used light box.
Will It Work with Other Conditions You Might Have?
One blog post from Harvard's medical school says that while light therapy can be very beneficial, you need to consider how much light you need since too much light can affect other conditions. For example, if you have bipolar disorder, then light that's too bright could trigger mania. Do you have eye problems, such as glaucoma? Light that's too bright can hurt the retina. When looking at products, you need to look at the lux, or light intensity. One study found that 10,000 lux of white cool fluorescent light was very helpful to participants with SAD, but this could be too much for some people. Ask your doctor which intensity is safe for pre-existing conditions and still helpful for SAD.
Does It Filter UV light?
As you shop for used medical equipment, you might see products that are used for light therapy which aren't suitable for SAD. For instance, some people with skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis, might use light therapy equipment with higher levels of ultraviolet light (UV). These lamps need to be used with protective eyewear and could damage your eyes if used incorrectly. These types of light boxes shouldn't be used to treat SAD. The light box that you purchase should filter out most UV light and should be manufactured with SAD patients in mind.
Is It the Right Style for Your Needs?
Light boxes can be very large or very small depending on your needs. Do you struggle to get out of the bed in the morning? If so, then you probably would want a very small box on your bed stand so you can reach over to turn it on. However, some smaller boxes may need you to sit by them closely for long periods of time in order for them to be effective. Some people don't have the time to do this or might be uncomfortable sitting close to the light. If that's the case, you might want a larger device—like an upright floor lamp or desk lamp, that you can set nearby your kitchen or office so that you can eat, work, and do other things and not worry about sitting too close to it to get your needed dose of light therapy.
Talk with your doctor before purchasing your light box. Then, reach out to a supplier in your area for more information about purchasing used medical equipment.
Share