Sad And Jet Lag Can Be Treated With Natural Light

Jet lag and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are very common conditions and thousands of people suffer from them every year. You will be relieved to learn that an anti jet lag diet is hardly necessary, neither do you have to take massive doses of melatonin or sleeping pills. If you are a person who suffers from a seasonal disorder, you will be happy to know that by using sad light box or lamp, you can resolve this problem without taking medication.

What role can a sad light box play in preventing jet lag or helping you to overcome SAD? Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that tends to occur (and recur) as the days grow shorter in the fall and winter. It is interesting to note that when there is snow on the ground, this condition is less common and the reason is because of the light!

Genetics or age could well be a factor in whether a person is likely to suffer from SAD although researchers are not at all sure about this. Sufferers are recommended to start the light therapy as soon as the first symptoms appear (usually in the fall). It has been established that the time of day you have the therapy is not a factor in the effectiveness of this cure.

Sunlight and natural light are essential to our natural biological rhythms. Once there is a change in these rhythms, then our bodies have difficulty in adjusting. Shorter days and long haul flights upset our natural clocks. Table-lamps are ideal at twilight when the light begins to fade.

If your doctor suggests you try light therapy, you may use a specially made light box, or a light visor that you wear on your head like a cap. Generally, light therapy takes about 30 minutes each day throughout the fall and winter, when you're most likely to be depressed. If light therapy helps you, you'll continue using it until enough sunlight is available, typically in the springtime.

How many times has a holiday or a business appointment been ruined by jet lag ? It can last for days after arrival. Every time we cross a few time zones quickly, then we are likely to suffer from this condition. It can have negative effects on your judgement in a business deal and can also make you feel even more depressed when you are trying to get used to your normal routine, once back at home.

When travelling across a number of time zones, the body clock will be out of sync with the destination time, as it experiences daylight and darkness contrary to the rhythms to which it has grown accustomed. In jet lag, the body's natural pattern is upset, as the rhythms that dictate times for eating, sleeping, hormone levels and the body temperature rhythm no longer correspond to the norm.

A few people I know take sleeping pills hoping that this will solve their problem. This may be dangerous as if you are immobile for a long time, you might get a fatal blood clot. Other people take melatonin which can be effective. There are sites which recommend anti-jet lag diets! The best solution is to buy a sad light box and bask in its light. It will work wonders for your SAD condition and help you to recover from jet lag.