Depression: is light an alternative?

Depression affects millions of people worldwide. If you have depression, your doctor may have prescribed medication.

Typically, these medications are serotonin re-uptake medications, also known as SSRIs. A common brand name is prozac.

So is there an alternative you can consider?

Surprisingly, being out in the sun or mimicking the effect.

SSRIs are drug that boosts serotonin in your brain. Serotonin helps regulate mood, sleep, and emotions. It could take a few weeks before you feel better.

Prescribed by a doctor, some people feel side effects like nausea, dry mouth, or trouble sleeping. In rare cases, it can cause severe mood swings. SSRI’s work internally by changing brain chemistry.

Light therapy on the other hand works by changing your body’s natural rhythms. It is not a drug.

It uses bright artificial light. The light mimics sunlight. This treatment is especially helpful for people with seasonal depression.

You sit in front of a special light box for about 20-30 minutes a day. Ideally, the lumens of the light should mimic that of the sun.

You can obviously also just spend time in the sun.

Morning sessions usually work best. Spending time in the light resets your biological clock. It improves sleep and energy levels.

It has few to no side effects. In fact, your body is designed to be in the sun.

Light therapy is often enough for mild or seasonal depression. Sometimes doctors recommend using both together.

One important difference is speed. Light therapy can start showing results in a few days. SSRIs often take several weeks and are hard to stop.

So what should you do?

The first thing always is not to self-medicate or decide what is best for you without medical advice. Depression is a serious condition. It is important to make informed choices.

Speak to your doctor to evaluate whether you can consider both light therapy and medication. Perhaps, if your condition improves, you can reduce the dependance on medication.

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