Reddit mentions of Philips GoLite BLU Energy Light Therapy Lamp, (HF3422/60)

Ah, something I'm unfortunately an expert at! Skip to point 3 if you just want to read about the light, I'm pasting in something I wrote on a different thread. I have suffered from really dramatic SAD for years (Minnesota) and have finally got a handle on it.

For me, it revolves around 3 categories: Exercise, Vitamin D, and Light. Especially blue light. Also, I didn't realize until I started really digging into it how poorly researched SAD is. . .

1. Exercise: The "easiest" one. Getting your heart rate up once a day appears to be very effective in combating depression generally, and seasonal depression specifically. Being a ginormous nerd, I bought a smart trainer to strap my bike into, and cycle fast for 30 minutes every morning through virtual lava fields in Zwift. https://zwift.com/ It definitely seems to help, and I'm no longer 'foggy' in the morning, but I'm still having issues fitting it into my schedule. . . it probably takes 45 minutes more in the morning, total, to fit this in. . .
   
   
   
   
2. Vitamin D: My entire family is known to be chronically deficient in Vitamin D, so I supplemented with the suggested dose of 2,000 IU a day for the last year. While getting a blood-test for an unrelated reason, I asked if the doctor could also check my Vitamin D levels, and they were hysterically low, ~14 nmol/L. Normal levels are around 85, and anything below 30 is deficient. With this new knowledge I started dosing with 25,000 iu a day, and noticed an immediate improvement in my mood. I've considered really cranking this up as there seems to be no documented negatives from too much vitamin D (if you drink adequate water, at least) but 25K seems to be working for me.
   
   
   
3. Light: The tricky one. . .
   

• I had a standard "10,000 Lux!" light box that was a hand-me-down from someone who hadn't found it effective. . . I didn't find it effective either. Some research showed that these were only rated at 10,000 lux when you were 8 inches from the light and looking at it. That's not going to happen. This model made no difference at all.
  
  
• Looking around for a DIY solution with many more lumens, I ran across this blog: https://meaningness.com/metablog/sad-light-lumens and https://meaningness.com/metablog/sad-light-led-lux This seemed like a good way to go: find the maximum lumens per dollar possible and spend what I could justify. Out came the spreadsheet, and at 183 lumens per dollar, this LED floodlight won the prize: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KFVFQFW. I was thinking of getting 2 or 3, but I've only gotten one so far as a trial. It is SO BRIGHT. I'm intending to mount this over my bike trainer to get a blast of light while exercising. . .
  
  
• Blue light is king, apparently. . . a fairly narrow band of blue (Lower than 540nm) controls the circadian rhythm. In an effort to get enough of the blue wavelength, I tried having a very bright white light at my desk at work. This was ridiculously over-bright, led to a lot of eye-strain, and seemed to have only nominal effectiveness. To try to deal with the 'blue issue' I was going to do two things:
  Wear blue-blocking glasses every night starting 90 minutes before bed. Richard actually got me turned on to these, and they seem to work really well: https://www.amazon.com/Uvex-Blocking-Computer-SCT-Orange-S1933X/dp/B000USRG90
  Wire up some LED's in the specific blue wavelength to use at my desk at work. However, I happened to find an (overly expensive) ready to go solution to this from Phillips: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M3SGCUE This sits on my desk just below my monitor and beams JUST blue light into my face, within my field of vision. I can comfortably have this on for several hours in the morning, and it seems to make a huge difference. I think.
  The light and the glasses seem to agree, as wearing the glasses makes the light very nearly disappear. . .
  
  TL;DR: Use a LOT of blue light in the morning, block blue light late at night.

I've felt the same pattern my whole life. I chalk it up to S.A.D. - Seasonal Affective Disorder. Do some research to see if it rings any bells for you.

I bought this light on Amazon and surprisingly it helps when I'm working from home in the grey days of winter. After 30 minutes or so I feel a subtle giddy "who gives a fuck" feeling floating around my brain. Makes me jump up from my desk and do silly things around the house. Weird but whatevs. I've also started taking vitamin D supplements and try to get a few minutes of sun on my face whenever I can.

But it's spring now! My favorite time of year so yay
Hope you find a way to feel better next winter.

The "don't go to sleep for a night and go to bed early the next day" advice won't work for you if you have Delayed Phase Sleep Syndrome.

The only solution that worked for me (and my situation was almost desperate) was changing my eating patterns (particularly the timing) and avoiding blue light spectrum after sunset. Your body should associate light + socializing + food with the time of the day you should be awake. If you stay in front of your computer at night watching videos and eating the brain and body think it's daytime and your schedule will get really messed up.

1. The blue light spectrum blocks the realease of melatonin and interferes with your sleep patterns. Buy blueblock glasses (http://www.amazon.com/Uvex-S1933X-Eyewear-SCT-Orange-Anti-Fog/dp/B000USRG90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458086898&sr=8-1&keywords=blue+blocker+glasses)
   and wear them after sunset if you are at home (it is very important to avoid watching computer and mobile screens in the evenings before bedtime...I do it anyways but ALWAYS wear the glasses). Upon waking up, go for ten minutes under the sun, or get the room very bright (you can buy a blue light spectrum device such as http://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-BLU-Energy-Light/dp/B00M3SGCUE/ref=sr_1_10_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1458086966&sr=8-10&keywords=blue+light).
   
   
2. If you need a miracle: Do a 16 hour fast before your intended awaking time to reset your circadian rythm. Then eat immediately upon waking up. (This guy explains it better than me: https://www.reddit.com/r/sleep/comments/1pzoic/intense_fatigue_during_daytime_unrestful_sleep/)
   
   In theory one day should be enough. One day didn't work for me, but I have severe Delayed Phase Sleep Syndrome, my situation was desperate, and nothing worked...this literally changed my life. I did it for several days. Usually nowadays I don't eat after 18:30pm. if I'm at home. and I eat as soon as I'm awake
   
   
   Apologies for my English. If this helped you, please help me improve my English by correcting my mistakes.
   
   

My doctor gave me this info some time ago:
> The usual dose is 10,000 lux, beginning with one 10 to 15 minute session per day, gradually increasing to 30 to 45 minutes per day depending upon response. It may take four to six weeks to see a response, although some patients improve within days. Therapy is continued until sufficient daily light exposure is available through other sources, typically from springtime sun.

I don't know, (I haven't spent much time looking so I could certainly be wrong,) but I don't imagine most desk lamps are capable of outputting that much light. Here are some of the suppliers they gave me. I don't have any first hand experience to offer since I didn't end up buying one at the time (though I may reconsider soon. Oof, Seattle winter...)

• Sunbox
  
• Bio-Light
  
• Philips goLITE - formerly Apollo BriteLite
  
  Philips has a couple of models that they claim are "as effective" as larger 10,000 lux lamps, one of which is right around $100. Good luck!
  
  edit: formatting

that's it, I'm pulling the trigger on a Philips GoLite. they're cheap enough now it's worth a shot http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M3SGCUE/

edit: now debating the merits of using full spectrum bulbs in my home office instead of the GoLite. not sure if they will be as effective when used on a ceiling fixture... anyone know?

Ahhh! Well, different light bulbs have different color temperatures, some are more reddish or bluish, but in this case, I'm talking about devices that use blue-only LEDs. They appear as pure blue. I have an older model of this light.

At the end of the day, avoid blue wavelengths. Remember, "white" is our brain seeing a lot of visible wavelengths, so it includes blue wavelengths, too. Avoid computer monitors, compact flourescents, white lights of all sorts, really. Watching TV is not too bad, since the blue pixels aren't on as much during a film/tv show. Older incandescent bulbs are ideal for DSPS, but otherwise, buy the warmest-colored LED bulbs you can. The yellower, the better. They also sell these amber "blue-blocker" wrap-around glasses that promise to block all blue wavelengths at night, though I haven't tried them.

Halogen bulbs are not very blue; they're good at night, but won't help that much in the mornings.

Can I ask where you bought yours? I tried searching on Amazon and wasn't able to find that one. While I like the look of yours better I saw this one and was considering giving it a try, but I do like how your's stands more upright.

We're still hard-wired to want to slow down, pack on pounds and wait out the winter. My gym motivation has taken a real hit, too.

Have you ever thought about one of those S.A.D. lights? I thought these were all useless until my s.o. got one and I must say I've noticed a motivation improvement come February when it's breakfast time and still dark out.

Take some supplemental Vit D, get early morning sunshine if possible or buy a light to help (I have the Philips GoLite), get as much exercise as you can, go to bed earlier, eat less sugar and more veggies and lean meats, do some meditation or self-hypnosis, and be patient.

This works surprisingly well. It's a bit expensive, but in my opinion it's worth it (There are others that are cheaper, this is just the one I use).

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-BLU-Energy-Light/dp/B00M3SGCUE/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492553641&sr=8-2&keywords=blue+light+therapy&refinements=p_89%3APhilips

I set it to turn on 30 minutes before I have to get up.

EDIT: Side note, my psychiatrist recommended this for SAD.

I have one of these things, (older version was much cheaper). Seems to help alot after like 2 days

https://www.amazon.ca/Philips-HF3422-Golite-Energy-Light/dp/B00M3SGCUE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1537669583&sr=8-2&keywords=philips+blue

You can nudge your circadian rhythm forward (fall asleep earlier) with proper blue light exposure. The science is interesting but essentially it causes your body to produce melatonin earlier in the evening which helps induce sleep. The easiest way to do that is to go for a walk outside right after you wake up for about 30 minutes or alternatively there are blue light therapy products that can help.

On the flip side of this, you want to avoid blue light in the evening, as this can suppress the expression of melatonin. Don't look at electronics before bed, and / or buy blue light blocking sunglasses and wear them for a few hours before you fall asleep.

I bought this from a pharmacy

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-Energy-Therapy-HF3422/dp/B00M3SGCUE

Seems crazy haha, but I find it very helpful, i use it for 45 minutes in the morning, not every morning

I used a bluelight. It simulates traveling, and creates a sensation of mental well being. You set the light to the side, and set the intensity. It creates a sensation of walking / traveling while you are working or whatever.

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-GoLITE-Energy-Therapy-HF3422/dp/B00M3SGCUE/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1501198761&sr=8-6&keywords=blue+light

The original one was called a "golight" but is very hard to get now.

Humans have a desire to get up and travel every day for food, exploration, etc. The light simulates that
and it creates a mental state that is very pleasant. Don't overdo the brightness or time, more is not better. If you use it too long you feel like you have sunstroke. Quite amusing.