Posted by Caedmon on November 19, 2006, at 16:15:31
In reply to Light Therapy, Dark Therapy!, posted by Andre Levy on November 14, 2006, at 0:32:12
> You're right on the money, Sean. Have a look at these findings:
>
> Dark Therapy
> http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/darkrx.htm
>
> Bipolar Disorder, Light, and Darkness
> http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/LightDark.htm
>I think this is very interesting. Light has a profound effect on my mood (not enough, or too much too long), as does dark.
I also find that circadian rhythms play a big role in how I feel. I can vastly decrease depression by simply denying myself some sleep in the morning, and if I do this long enough and keep the hours of sleep short enough, hypomania almost always will follow. Or, I can crash right into depression by just taking a hypnotic and then sleeping in for a few hours.
If I have been feeling depressed, I will often wake myself at ~ 4:00 a.m. with the dawn simulator and an alarm clock (and a caffeine pill, lol). Then I turn on a light box/ therapy lamp and sit in front of it for about 45 minutes (maybe goof off on the computer or something). I stay awake the day through, sometimes resorting to caffeine again, sometimes I don't need to. My depression will remit 80% of the time if I do this; anxiety, perhaps 50% of the time.
- Chris
poster:Caedmon
thread:9730
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061117/msgs/705287.html