Light box therapy

[ny biker]

From what I can tell, the ideal position is not to look directly at it, but have it shining down on your face. Like in the photo of the woman in front of the light here:

http://www.carex.com/item/CCFDL93011.../#.V-GJVzWD0sU

Having it off to the side a little does seem okay, since you're still generally facing toward it.

Interestingly, some of the photos on various manufacturers' websites do not show this sort of exposure, they show people sitting next to a (small) light that is shining on their torsos or on whatever they're sitting next to.

But what you are both saying is making me think. It seems that you need the big light on your face, within 1-2 feet away depending on the light, if you just want to get the full effect in 30 minutes. Sitting farther away (or using a light that is less than 10,000 lux) can still work if you use it for a longer time. So having it on at work for hours would be another approach that gets the same effect, and it doesn't really matter that you have the light on longer if you're going to be sitting there anyway. (It would matter for people whose jobs don't involve staying indoors in one place, like nursing, construction, police/firefighters, or even teaching.)

And I guess it still helps if you use it during daylight hours? In my current office I sit next to a window that faces southwest, so I do get some sun from there, weather permitting. It's just that the sun sets so early. And now that I think of it, I get the most sun in the afternoon, not in the morning.

This is very helpful, I'm getting ideas on how I can make this work. Thanks!

[ny biker]

Well I am taking the leap, marking the end of summer by purchasing this light box:

http://www.alaskanorthernlights.com/specs-LED.php

It's not the least expensive option, but it's portable (about the size of a laptop), has three different brightness settings and the brightest is 10,000 lux at 30", while most have to be 12-15" away for that level of brightness. It uses LED lights, which I think is one reason for the higher price. Over the years I've had migraine-related problems with glare from overhead fluorescent lights; as I've gotten older and the migraines have subsided this has been less of a problem, but still I think LED lights will be less likely to annoy me. I have two LED lights at home that are not a problem.

Due to the migraine photophobia I have long been in the habit of not using bright lights indoors and wearing dark sunglasses all the time, even sometimes in the rain. So there is a chance that I won't be able to use any light box, but I am hoping I can make this work. If not, there is a 60-day guarantee.

I'm planning to start using the light box on the least-bright setting next month and gradually increase the brightness and duration as winter settles in. I am also going to take other measures to get more natural light, like spending more time near windows during the day and either not wearing sunglasses or switching my very dark Oakley lenses to something lighter.

If anyone is interested, here are other TE threads on the topic and some other information I found on the internet that seemed legit and was helpful.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=45127

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=40864

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=26610

http://www.columbia.edu/~mt12/blt.htm

https://www.drew.edu/Counseling/sad-and-light-therapy

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...-20048298?pg=2

http://psycheducation.org/treatment/...or-depression/

http://www.brightenyourlife.info/ch3.html

http://www.uwhealth.org/news/light-t...rder-sad/14108

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...ess-in-america

http://www.cet.org/

http://www.alaskanorthernlights.com/light_therapy.php