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Summer blues are real! For some people, it is not only the cold and dark winter months that bring despondency but also the end of the bright and sunny summer.
What are summer blues, and how can you combat them? This article will examine summer blues and explore how light therapy can help.
Overview of summer blues
Summer blues refers to a particular type of melancholy that grips some people as the Summer days wrap off and Fall begins.
Summer blues are better known as post-summer blues or end-of-summer blues. The reason is not far-fetched! They do not exactly occur during the bright and sunny Summer months. Rather, they occur just as the warm weather of Summer begins to give way to Fall.
Summer blues are real and grip many people! As you wave goodbye to your sunny holiday and all the fun summer activities you enjoyed, you cannot help but feel that you’re returning to a less exciting routine, which can lead to a low mood.
Other symptoms of light summer blues can include being sleepy during the day, difficulty concentrating, weight gain due to comfort eating, and decreased sex drive.
Note : it’s important to see a mental health professional if low mood becomes a major depressive disorder that starts affecting daily functioning.
Overview of light therapy
Light therapy involves exposure to direct sunlight or sunlight-mimicking artificial light to treat conditions that may be caused by reduced sunlight exposure.
The practice of using light to heal is traceable to the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In those early times, healers recommended and used exposure to sunlight to treat various conditions.
However, using natural sunlight whenever light therapy is required is impractical.
First, you may not get enough sunshine sometimes because the intensity of sunlight varies depending on the time of day and season. Secondly, spending time outdoors to get enough sunlight for the therapy can be inconvenient. Lastly, direct sunlight can be harmful because it includes UV rays.
For these reasons, modern applications of light for healing use specialised devices that mimic natural sunlight. These devices (called light therapy lamps/devices) are designed to offer the positives of natural sunlight but without its negatives. That is, they emit bright light of the same intensity as sunlight but without harmful UV rays.
Also read: Understanding Light Therapy: What It is and Its Health Benefits
How does light therapy work?
Light therapy works by triggering the body’s reaction to natural sunlight exposure—stimulating the production of the mood-boosting hormone serotonin.
In modern applications of bright light therapy, an individual is exposed to bright light from a light box that emits about 10,000 lux of light (the intensity you’d get from sunlight).
When this bright light enters the eyes, the body interprets it as natural sunlight, and this makes it do what it does when it receives natural sunlight. Specifically, the light entering your eyes stimulates photoreceptors in your retina, and these photoreceptors send a message to your brain to produce serotonin. Serotonin is a feel-good hormone that helps boost your mood.
There are different specialised devices used for light therapy. But they all follow the same basic concept - emitting bright light that mimics natural sunlight to make your body react by producing more serotonin.
The main types of light therapy devices are:
Panel-style light therapy lamps : These are large light therapy lamps with large light-emitting surfaces.
Compact light therapy lamps : These are relatively smaller and lightweight light therapy lamps with smaller light-emitting surfaces. They are designed to be portable and easy to move around.
Light therapy glasses : These are light therapy lamps designed to be worn as regular glasses. They allow individuals to have light therapy sessions while they perform their normal activities.
You may also like: Best Light Therapy Lamps: How To Choose.
Advantages of light therapy for summer blues
Remember that what causes Summer blues is the sudden decrease in sunshine as Summer gives way to Fall. Since light therapy can compensate for reduced exposure to sunlight, it is effective in treating Summer blues.
Using light therapy devices for Summer blues can help you beat this depressive disorder that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. As summer packs up and sunshine drops drastically, a light therapy device feeds your eyes with a bright light that mimics sunlight, ensuring your body produces the same level of brain chemicals as it did during the sunny summer days.
Here are some of the benefits of light therapy for summer blues:
Improves mood
Bright light therapy boosts the production of serotonin, which is a hormone that modulates mood by influencing the regions of the brain that regulate emotions.
In fact, low serotonin levels are associated with low mood , mood swings, and even more worrying depressive symptoms. Conversely, high levels of serotonin promote feelings of happiness.
Promotes better sleep
Bright light therapy also affects the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls the body’s internal clock. Increased melatonin levels tell the body it’s time to sleep, while reduced levels tell the body it’s time to be awake.
Light entering the eyes stimulates the brain to reduce melatonin production. This drops the level of melatonin in the body, promoting wakefulness and alertness.
So, using bright light therapy for summer blues can promote wakefulness during the day, which can help you sleep better at night.
Also read: How Can I Wake Up Feeling Refreshed Every Morning: Tips and Techniques.
Boosts energy
Treating summer blues with light therapy can also boost energy levels. By regulating melatonin production, light therapy helps you remain alert and shake off lethargy during the day. Low serotonin levels have been linked to fatigue. Light therapy can also help you feel less tired and more energised By boosting serotonin levels.
Studies have shown that light therapy reduces fatigue levels and increases the energy levels of workers .
How to utilise light therapy for summer blues
Choose the right light therapy lamps
An effective light therapy box or lamp should emit 10,000 lux of light and have a UV filter to prevent harmful UV light from affecting your eyes.
If you do not want your normal routine to disrupt your therapy session or the therapy session to disrupt your routine, you’ll be better served with light therapy glasses. The best light therapy glasses you’ll find are the Luminette 3. You can wear Luminette 3 like regular eyeglasses and enjoy your light therapy session anytime and anywhere.
Duration and timing
Light therapy for summer blues is best administered in the morning, ideally in the first few hours after waking. Each session should last between 20 to 60 minutes.
Exposure to bright light in the morning promotes wakefulness and boosts energy levels throughout the day, helping you beat the blues.
Consistency
Effective light therapy for summer blues must be administered consistently. Establish a routine by ensuring you have your therapy at the same time every day.
Takeaway: Beat summer blues with Luminette 3 light therapy glasses
If you’re thinking of how to beat the end of summer blues, consider light therapy. Light therapy is effective for treating summer blues because it compensates for the sudden decrease of sunshine at the end of summer, which usually causes the condition.
Luminette 3 light therapy is the best light therapy device for Summer blues. These special glasses shoot the right intensity of light into your eyes. It is perfectly safe and does not strain the eyes. Plus, it does not disrupt your daily routine.
Ready to give your body the goodness of summer all year round? Order the Luminette 3 light therapy glasses today!
FAQ
How often should I use light therapy to see results?
To see positive results when using light therapy to treat summer blues, it’s important to use the light therapy lamp every day for a few weeks (4-5 weeks).
Are there any side effects of using light therapy for summer blues?
There are no significant side effects of using light therapy for summer blues. However, some people (especially those whose eyes are sensitive to light) may experience eye strain and headaches.
Can I use light therapy if I have sensitive skin or eyes?
Light therapy is unsuitable for people with sensitive eyes because exposure to light can cause discomfort, severe pain, and even eye damage. However, people who have sensitive skin may be able to use light therapy with light therapy glasses because these specialised devices shoot the bright light directly into the eyes.
What type of light therapy is best for treating summer blues?
Light therapy, which shoots about 10,000 lux of light into the eyes for 20 - 30 minutes in the early hours of the morning after waking up, is the best treatment for treating summer blues.
How long does it take to feel the benefits of light therapy?
How long it takes to feel the benefits of light therapy depends on several factors, including the condition you’re treating, your faithfulness to the administration, and your lifestyle (such as eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, etc.). When treating summer blues, you can see results in 2 to 3 weeks.
