Light Therapy as a Treatment for SAD
By Mike Zimmerman
The use of light therapy as a treatment for SAD syndrome, properly named seasonable affective disorder, is well known to, and generally recommended by, the medical profession. Millions of poor souls are affected by seasonal affective disorder and while most of us look forward to Christmas all they experience is depression and a craving for starchy and sugary foods.
Sufferers become lethargic, feel tired even after sleep, and can suffer physical pain in the joints and abdomen. They can feel despair, guilt with nothing to be guilty about, and severe anxiety. Frustration and irritability for no apparent reason are also common. To some it is mild and to others it can be very severe to the point of suicide. It is not, therefore, a condition to be ignored and light therapy definitely helps in most cases.
