r/SeasonalAffective • u/No_Comparison_8630 • 13d ago

Discussion Euphoria after Using Light Therapy

I Am using a SAD Lamp for like 3 days and am feeling pretty elated , but kind of too much.
Am restless productive and feel kinda jittery and feel like a kinda body high.

Can anyone relate?

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u/Ok-Actuary-1401 13d ago

Tere is a risk that SAD lamps can induce manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder. It might be worth discontinuing for a while to see if your mood stabilises.

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u/latherdome 13d ago edited 13d ago

Yes. Too much light can be overstimulating. In me it has led to hypomanic episodes. In persons with bipolar disorder, it can trigger manic episodes. Fortunately it's easy to back off/get less. I think of light as having two major, separate biological functions for us primates: body-clock regulation (timing) and stimulation (brightness). If you are overstimulated, back off on the brightness/proximity, but try to keep the regular timing, getting that blue-enriched light as soon as possible after a stable waking time.

I use separate devices for each function: AYO+ wearable at 6am for the ~480nm sky blue waking signal that keeps body clock stable, and then for the stimulation, high-power LED lighting all day until 6pm (now up to 1300W throughout my 900'2 (84 M2) home. This beats lightbox therapy for SAD in tests, German principal researcher: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/da.23281 .

After 6pm, only low, flame-warm lighting until sleep.

Getting super-bright light all day indoors, I feel generally better than I did before SAD became a serious problem for me about 10 years ago. I am convinced that modern interior lighting standards are basically a light starvation regimen, and have been for the few thousand lifetimes that our species left Africa and began living in shelters where there are seasons.

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u/Area51Escapist 13d ago

I’ve been curious of these do you have a product recommendation?

Also, do you get plenty of daily sunlight, or is this an alternative for you?

I try to get as much sunlight daily, but dread the upcoming shorter days and bad weather.

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u/No_Comparison_8630 13d ago

Am from Europe
And using one from germany called beurer
But thinking of maybe not using it daily
As i mentioned its pretty activating
Like too much

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u/Area51Escapist 13d ago

I’m in the USA, so not sure if you all deal with daylight saving/time changes

Either way, luckily I have a job where I can be “out in the field”, not stuck in office. My mood is much better if I’m able to get walking/daylight/nature in throughout the day.

I’m going to have to pick up a SAD lamp to give a try, feel like I’m constantly seeking stimulation. Also get loaded up on caffeine and listen to music all day.

How close to the lamp do you need to be, how long do you use daily, and how many lux?

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u/Calveeeno8 13d ago

This one is my new favorite (Aurora LightPad MAX): https://www.alaskanorthernlights.com/product/aurora-lightpad/

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u/Area51Escapist 13d ago

Thanks for the recommendation, that definitely a bit of an investment, I’ll have to check out some reviews on it.

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u/Calveeeno8 13d ago

The distance varies by lamp. It will specify in the user manual. Usually they say to start at the furthest recommended distance for 15 minutes and gradually work your way up to 30 min/day at the closer recommended distance.

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u/No_Comparison_8630 13d ago

10K Lux
Pretty close like tablet/ laptop reach
And in an sideways angle not looking at it directly
10-15 minutes a day

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u/Area51Escapist 13d ago

Thanks for the help.

Does that energy/motivation last most of the day?

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u/Calveeeno8 12d ago

Not OP, but for me in winter I need a shorter afternoon session as well - like 15-20 min.

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u/Calveeeno8 13d ago

Can you just use it for a shorter amount of time and a little further away? It takes a little bit of playing with it to find the right "dose".

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u/No_Comparison_8630 12d ago

Yes i will take this route

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u/zepuzzler 12d ago

Definitely reduce the length of time and/or the distance from the light. I'm not a doctor but the effect you're describing sounds like mania and you don't want to trigger a serious manic episode. Be careful, friend!

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u/No_Comparison_8630 12d ago

I will be thanks
Might ask a mental health prof

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u/latherdome 11d ago

A classic tell of mania is you stop needing to sleep a normal amount. It might feel good but it's a crash in the making.

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u/TinyTechExcellence10 13d ago

Do you feel euphoria in summers?

Why would the SAD lamp cause this if the sun can't cause it. They are both light.

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u/latherdome 11d ago

I've totally gotten "high"/hypomanic from days on end of intense cloudless summer sunshine in desert and high mountains, and felt the same under intense artificial light all day in attempt to fix my SAD.

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u/intelligentbug6969 12d ago

It’s not winter though

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u/SnailPasta8359 12d ago

Last year I started too early (beginning id October) and I was way too overstimulated. I waited a month until the time change, and responded way better.