Could Your Lighting Cure Your Depression?
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For the longest time, we’ve used artificial lighting to set the tone of our daily tasks. They stimulate us to be alert when we are working or remind us to relax right before we sleep. They have an undeniable effect on our moods and this influences how our bodies react. It is no surprise that extensive research has shown that lighting can be used to fight seasonal disorders and keep their nagging symptoms at bay. Color temperature and light therapy are two known influencers used to reduce the symptoms of seasonal depression with possible room for improvement.
Color temperature
Notice how certain shades of light have a different effect on how you feel? Like when you walk into a cozy cottage and the lamps are a certain warm version of yellow or how you find it hard to sleep after long hours on your computer? All these variants of light communicate to your body and it responds by stirring up the feelings you acknowledge.
So, what is color temperature?
When it comes to lighting, color temperature is simply how we describe the intensity of light provided by a bulb which can be measured in degrees Kelvin. This is relevant to you when suffering from seasonal affective disorders because the warmth or coldness of your artificial lighting may help improve your symptoms or make them worse.
Seth Swirsky, author of 21 Ways To A Happier Depression mentioned in his book that changing his indoor lighting contributed to weakening his depressive symptoms. It’s an inexpensive way to combat the negative feelings you have inside. Furthermore, you can buy bulbs that have adjustable wattage that way depending on the task you’re performing you have appropriate lighting.
The link between us and light has been found to stem from the projections of our photoreceptors which are laid out in several places inside your body.
According to an article on arch daily, the projections made through photoreceptors help synchronize your internal clock with the right times of the day. Additionally, your photoreceptors can also reach specific parts of your brain that are responsible for emotions. Meaning that when we see what we describe as warm rays of light, absorb them then perceive them in our minds our perception of associating it with tranquility provides us a calming effect within our body.
Moreover, sometimes when you walk into a room of comforting yellow lights and feel like a weight has been lifted off you, it could be because those tones imitate dusk/ dawn which are times when your body is generally peaceful.
On the other hand, bright lights that are pale remind us of daytime, somewhere in the afternoon where the sun is shining like a white circle of light over your head, making it hard to feel anything other than highly stimulated and alert.
When it comes to finding a way to minimize the dark emotions bubbling up inside us soft glowing lamps are the way to go, by creating a sense of relief and tranquility within your personal space you are influencing your body to do the same. illuminating the dark parts of your mind might just give you the peace you are looking for.
What's more, color temperature can be applied anywhere and anyhow; it doesn’t have to be about the work you are doing or the test you are studying for. You are very free to apply it into your dining room, living room or when watching tv, or even your bedroom.
Light therapy
In the spirit of battling seasonal depression amongst other disorders, researchers found that by stimulating our senses using light we can reduce the severity of the symptoms we face.
What is light therapy?
Light therapy is a therapeutic process that involves an individual sitting beside an object is usually referred to as a lightbox for a while. The treatment process is often conducted from autumn all the way to spring. This is due to the belief that seasonal depression is more frequently suffered during winter or months where there is less sunlight.
How does it work?
Consistent exposure to artificial lighting for as little as 10 to 15 minutes or even half an hour a day during the week could help improve your symptoms.
Although it has proven effective, It is not a cure. Light therapy acts as a serotonin trigger, which you may say is responsible for the happiness we feel. When we lack adequate sunlight we experience a drop in serotonin. Thus, resulting in the low, mellow moods we all experience, and often this leads to depression if not just its symptoms.
The good news is Lightboxes come in different varieties with adjustable wattage and UV ray filters so you do not encounter skin or eye damage when nearby.
There are some still worrying that they may face or suffer from conditions that inhibit them from benefiting from the method, like eye conditions. Make sure to contact a doctor first if you have concerns about whether you can use the treatment or not.
It is not common to experience side effects but a few to note include:
Headaches
Eyestrain
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Irritability
Problems sleeping
When it comes to sleeping problems, it is highly advisable to avoid light therapy in the evening. Moreover, it has been found that for best results therapy should be conducted first thing in the morning.
You may not be able to annihilate your SAD (seasonal affective disorders) but, you can fight against the signs by means that is not only easy enough to do at home by yourself but inexpensive as well. However, with that being said remember to contact a doctor first to discuss the possibility of using light therapy or color temperature in your home to help you.
