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I probably already know my answer, but I just want others opinions. My Doctor decided to try light therapy, I have a yearly history of being admitted in Feb/march time for major depression. I have a manic swing when using antidepressant medications, even at low doses I start manic episode and by the time I taper off them, it's to late - damage done. Our thinking is using the light box at a low duration, 13 min daily (Standard dose is around 30 minuets). Our thought is if I started manic episodes we can wean me off the light box faster than we can medications. I tapped up at 2 min a day, with twice a week appointment with my doctor. He decided I needed to stay at 13 min. I was using a borrowed light box until I could find if my insurance would pay to have my own box. Both my insurance denied coverage. I got frustrated and decided I wasn't going to continue borrowing a box (an other patient might need it and It was to expensive to buy) So I stopped, really didn't feel all that different anyway. Well to my surprise 2 days after stopping I crashed, sever depression, suicidal thought and panicky with body restlessness that was keeping me from being able to sleep, I actually fell asleep at the wheel and took out a mail box (my bad) My husband demanded I just fork over then money and buy one ($189), start using the borrowed light box again till mine came in::: He actually threatened to admit me. I really didn't think I was all that bad, but I trust his judgement. I'm waiting for mine to arrive and I've started using the borrowed box again. Started this time at 5, 8, then 13. It's interesting how the depression seemed to just fade away. I am still having a hard time, but no way near what I was after stopping the light cold turkey.
Has anyone experienced using a light box with Bipolar? I thought maybe I had SAD, but my doctor says no because my "spring" down swing is to sever to be considered SAD. Any thoughts???????
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Always Keep Fighting
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