“The more you know, the less you fear” ~ Chris Hadfield
My personal experience with bright light therapy has demonstrated that regular morning use of this therapy greatly reduces any daytime sleepiness for me and it also improves my ability to fall asleep at night.
My experiences are supported by several research studies.
Bright light therapy can be achieved with the same lights that are used to treat SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
It is important to keep in mind that sunlight helps stimulate serotonin – the chemical associated with our happy feelings.At night, the darkness stimulates Melatonin – the body’s sleep hormone.
If you wake up early when it is still dark outside, the lack of sunlight contributes to Melatonin secretion which will cause you to feel sleepy and lethargic instead of lively and alert.
Solution: Bright Light Therapy which can be done in the comfort of your own home.
In the morning, if you sit in front of a SAD light, it can trick your brain into believing that it is daytime and you are receiving sunlight. This results in less sleepiness and fatigue.
“It is important that the body be exposed to a great deal of light when you first wake up, so your brain gets the signal to stop melatonin production,” says Barbara Matusiak, a professor of architecture at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
Sit in front of one of these lights when you wake up for about 20 to 30 minutes (as you check your email). Keep a distance of about 20 inches from the light. These lights can be ordered online without a prescription but you should always check with your doctor before starting any new treatments.
I wake up very early in the morning and this is the first thing I do when I awaken. This has helped me greatly. See the attached picture.
FYI – I purchased my light from the following website:
https://northernlighttechnologies.ca/product/boxelite-desk-lamp-os/
Namaste,
References:
https://traumaticbraininjury.net/2013/06/03/bright-light-therapy-relieves-tbi-sleep-problems/
