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The winter season may bring a festive mood to many people as this means that Christmas is just around the corner.However, to some people, winter brings a negative effect.The chilly weather puts them into a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder or SAD, or sometimes known as the winter blues.

Lack of sunlight during the winter affects the hormone in our bodies called melatonin, which is responsible for our sleeping pattern, and this causes the mood disorder called seasonal affective disorder.The diagnosis is based on the symptoms, which may include mild to severe depression, loss of energy, extreme change in appetite, difficulty in sleeping, sudden irrational fears, refusal to interact with other people, inability to focus, and tendency to overeat.

Exposure to as much sunlight as possible is one of the things people experiencing winter blues should get.However, for those who don't have the luxury of time or sunlight, one of the most recommended treatment methods is light therapy.Various models of light therapy lamps are available in the market, especially those that can be used at home.

Light therapy lamps are specially designed light boxes that make use of high luminosity bulbs with at least 2,500 lux.Some boxes are designed to cast out as much as 10,000 lux, and use of such light boxes entails less exposure time for patients.The intensity of the light box and the distance the patient sits from it is related to the time of exposure spent under the light box.

A winter blues patient simply sits under the light box for a specific period of time, depending on the prescription of his physician.Psychiatric evaluation is recommended before going through treatment as that will help his physician determine the severity of his depression and the amount of light he needs.Light therapy should be done religiously on a regular basis for the patient to feel its positive effects.

The winter blues patient may experience some side effects while undergoing light therapy, although it is perfectly safe when used according to the physician's instructions.Some side effects at the beginning of the therapy are constant apprehension, headaches, vomiting and eyestrain.Continuous therapy sometimes causes irritability, sleeping problems, exhaustion, chilling and shaking, and other temporary discomforts.These insignificant inconveniences are reported to subside in several days.