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I'm thinking of trying one - any good?
Alarm one by the bed, or a stand alone one...?
The Lumie alarm clocks do help get you up, but a proper lightbox has far more benefit. I'm out of the loop on how good these blue LED boxes are, but I'm using the Pharos Max, which used to be top of the range ~10 years ago. Massive step up from teh Lumie Brightspark, but the Pharos Max has 6 ~30W tubes in it iirc, really helps me September-March.
Top tip is don't buy replacement tubes from SAD companies like OutsideIn, they charge ~£12 a tube, you can get the same tube (and other light bulbs) at great prices like £4 per tube at www.lampspecs.co.uk (no idea on Topcashback, but look for promo codes like the old "captainchaos" iirc).
Some reading as it pops up around this time each year.
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/sad-light-box-recommendations
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/sad-wake-up-alarms-lumie-bodyclock-any-feedback
Tempted to try one of these things but not sure if they actually work or only work because people believe they do. I am rather cynical so if the latter then it would probably be a waste of cash.
If you truly are a sufferer of SAD, rather than the milder and more common "winter blues," lightboxes make a big difference. They don't cure all symptoms that SAD brings on, like the depression and anxiety, but they help massively with that horrid "wooly" feeling and concentration.
Some places do rental, as a way to try before potentially committing to something like buying a £300 Pharos Max (which are probably cheaper now than when I bought mine).
Got one of the sunrise alarm clocks.
The "natural sunrise" increasing intensity of light does make getting up easier in winter. I also have a second alarm though as the lumie beeper negates any of that as it is really harsh and annoying. I dont trust the alarm alone to wake me up.
Not sure about light boxes, never used one. Get plenty of daylight at work as the office has windows on two sides and I move around a lot and go outside.
Yes, a bought a blue LED lightbox last year and found it very helpful.
I've just come back from Cyprus, does that count 😀
As an aside, it is worth looking at your Vitamin D levels and considering taking a supplement.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-minerals/pages/vitamin-d.aspx
My Mrs uses a Phillips wake-up lamp and has a 'proper' SAD lamp too which she uses in her home office on days when she's, well, mainly stuck in her home office.
The alarm ones help you to wake up more gently, which is nicer for anyone really, but you need the full-on brightness of the proper lamp for a decent length of time to get the full anti-SADness benefit.
Tempted to try one of these things but not sure if they actually work or only work because people believe they do.
Like all these things, they actually work for some people but to differing degrees. And depression isn't really a condition that you can fool yourself into not having, if you get my drift.