[yellow_fleurs]

Does anyone use one of these? They wake you up slowly in the morning? I heard a psychiatrist talk about these for bipolar and wondered if it might help. In the summer, when the light comes in the window I bounce right out of bed and cannot sleep in usually. I need less sleep and wake up energized. In the winter I can barely get myself up because it's still dark outside. I already use a light box sometimes, but might get one of the dawn simulators, too.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I used to have one and it was very helpful. I was helped more though by the dusk simulator that turned the light off gradually; for some reason I fell asleep more easily with that feature. When I was working the dawn simulator was also helpful. It broke several years into disability and I didn't replace it as it wasn't as helpful anymore.

[yellow_fleurs]

I didn't even think about the dusk simulator option, but that sounds good, too! That's great to know it helped. I am kind of excited to maybe try one out. Did you get one that was a separate lamp or that attached to your light?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

i had both kinds. I liked the one that was a light itself more but it did have a shade that was a glass dome and I broke a couple of them (which eventually was why I stopped using it).

[yellow_fleurs]

Good to know! I also just discovered there are some phone apps that do the same thing but have not be tested officially I don't think. I downloaded Gentle Wakeup and am trying it tonight. It also has sounds like birds if you like that haha.

[FluffyDinosaur]

I got one recently, and while I like it, I haven't noticed any effects on my mood episodes, unfortunately.

[unicornlady]

Makes me hypomanic pretty quickly (within 2 days)

[yellow_fleurs]

Thanks for the responses. Unicornlady I had heard of the light boxes doing that, but did not know if it was a risk with the dawn simulators, too. That's good to know it can happen.

[OliverB]

I have one and it helps me a lot.

[unicornlady]

Originally Posted by yellow_fleurs

Thanks for the responses. Unicornlady I had heard of the light boxes doing that, but did not know if it was a risk with the dawn simulators, too. That's good to know it can happen.

I'm very prone to mania, so it's probably not a concern for most people, but yeah. Definitely a no go for me.

[*Beth*]

This is interesting info. I've never heard of dawn (or dusk) simulators. I have a light box, but the only for-sure I've noticed is that it causes my dreams to be extremely vivid.

[Tucson]

I am now looking at both sunrise and sunset simulators. Sme of these light clocks can do botg, including changing the color of the light as this artificial sun rises, or sets. Nice.