Show Up And Turn the Light On
If you’ve read this far, I’ve likely piqued your interest and you want to know more about light therapy. Great!
Here’s the key and I can’t stress this point enough: You need your daily hit of light to make light therapy work. It has to become a morning habit, as automatic as brushing your teeth.
If there’s a discipline in learning to manage the winter blues, this is it. You gotta get your light daily. No ifs, ands or buts. This is one of those times that you just need to show up. And turn the light on.
Some people can slack off for up to three days before they feel the wet, gray blanket creeping back into their brain and body. Personally, I don’t know why you would want to feel that lethargy again.
Consistency is the key to success with a light therapy management plan.
Will Light Therapy Work for You?
It depends.
It depends on how willing you are to readjust your morning routine and how committed you are to creating a new habit. In my case, I was so desperate to feel better I was willing to do anything. Most people who don’t have a contraindicated condition are likely to benefit from light therapy.
Disclaimer, of course
Here’s my disclaimer: There are certain conditions that may not be appropriate for light therapy. If you have a history of eye disease or are taking medications that make you photosensitive, you should consult with your doctor before starting light therapy.
You also need to check with a doctor about light therapy if you have been diagnosed with SAD, depression, bipolar disorder, mood or sleep disorders or are taking medication for the treatment of depression and/or mood disorders, such as: fluoxetine (Prozac®), fluvoxamine (Luvox®), paroxetine (Paxil®), sertraline (Zoloft®), venlafaxine (Effexor®), nefazodone (Serzone®), Wellbutrin® and Zyban®. Light therapy may change the effect of these kinds of medications.
Two Reasons Light Therapy Won’t Work Even if You’re a Good Candidate
First, you are attempting to create a new morning habit during the hardest time of the year, the dark days of winter when your normal energy and persistence are at low tide. It’s almost a set up for failure.
Second, most people will attempt this change in a vacuum, without the kind of guidance, support or encouragement that could make the difference between success and failure.
Perhaps your doctor or therapist suggested you try light therapy, in which case you may have a resource, if you have enough determination to keep it up between appointments. But most people won’t have much support to do what on the surface seems to be a such a simple thing, which is so unfortunate.
Accountability and Support Make the Difference
I spent a year training to become a health coach. What makes coaching so powerful for so many people is the fact that they are accountable to someone else for doing what they say they will do.
I’ve seen it work over and over again. I’ll discuss with a client what they want and the steps they need to begin taking. Then I’ll ask, “So when will you do it?” and they pause. Sometimes I have to ask for a specific deadline. And to seal the deal I’ll ask, “And how will I know?”
We’re human. No one wants to admit they didn’t do something they agreed to do.
The LightBox Community
These are the reasons why I’m creating The LightBox Community. You’re not alone and you don’t have to be miserable. Been there, done that. No one wants that T-shirt.
With my step-by-step winter blues management program, online and telephone coaching, the guidance of a health coach (me) who’s beat the blues and the support of an online community anytime during the season, you’ll be able to recover your natural sense of energy and joy no matter how long the sun hides.
Here’s a thought to ponder:
- What if you start caring for yourself in this most basic and fundamental way? What would that feel like?
Next post:
How you will use the lightbox determines what kind of light to buy.
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