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Information not intended as medical advice.

Re: Phototherapy Light


Posted by BRaymond on February 05, 1998 at 21:18:23:

In Reply to: Phototherapy Light posted by Bev on February 05, 1998 at 14:36:45:

Yes, the phototherapy lamp has been proven to be useful in the treatment of insomnia and narcolepsy. I used it to help reset my "biological clock" and to become more alert in the morning due to induced sleepiness from the narcolepsy. When I couldn't sleep at nights, I used it for about 20 minutes and then would shut it off. Surprisingly I did fall asleep almost immediately afterwards most of the time.
Talk to your sleep specialist about how to use the sleep light, and hours of the day it would be most beneficial to use it.
After I had used it for a while I found that my body had become used to the lights even without the phototherapy light. I now have to slowly dim the lights in the house at night to go to sleep. If I don't I will find myself staying awake. Frequently this also includes the light from the tv or other sources.
In the mornings I have to have lights on all around me in order to awaken and even then I often don't until awakened by my husband.
Some hospitals prescribe it as treatment for depression and have what they call "light therapy rooms."
Remember you do not have to look directly into the light, but simply have it within 2-3 feet of you and glance up at it from time to time.
There are circadian rhythm sites on the net which have even more information.
Good Luck. BRaymond

PS Until you get it adjusted to meet your needs keep a log of when you use it, how long, etc. so you may review with your doctor.

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