Quote:
Originally Posted by BethRags
My pdoc is insistent on me trying a therapeutic lightbox. I am planning to purchase one today (with $ I don't have to spend). Does anyone have experience to share about using therapeutic light? Does it help SAD and/or regulate sleep?
|
I use therapeutic light therapy to treat depressive episodes. There isn't a single antidepressant I can take that doesn't make me wildly manic. My psychiatrist knew of a clinical trial using light therapy for bipolar 1 patients being conducted at a prestigious psychiatry research hospital where he did his residency. He thought it was worth trying. We had to play with the dosing because too much exposure does make me hypomanic. We did find a dosing schedule that works pretty well. It's not a perfect treatment for depressive episodes, but it's far superior to not being able to do anything at all.
About cost...it's an approved therapy for bipolar 1 depression. My insurance company covered the expense.