Winter can be a long, sad time of the year for some people in Minnesota. Sun lamps, also called SAD lamps or light boxes, aim to help fight seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression which revolves around the cycle of the seasons. Typically, people start to experience symptoms of SAD in the fall and winter. SAD is most common in the colder months because there is a lack of sunlight. The light from the sun lamp is thought to have positive effects on serotonin and melatonin levels, which is important since these two chemicals control circadian rhythms of sleep. People who suffer from seasonal depression often lack serotonin and produce either too little or too much melatonin. This imbalance of chemicals inside of the brain may cause difficulty sleeping or staying awake. The lack of serotonin also leads the brain to make the body feel fatigued constantly, and when this is mixed with either too much or too little sleep, days can become unbearable, leading to many other negative side effects.

Sun lamps have many positive qualities that are extremely beneficial to mental health. First, using a sunlamp helps boost the activity of serotonin inside the brain. Melatonin production is also increased with the use of these lights. Circadian rhythms will be restored by these chemicals and sleep will improve. This improved sleep will decrease exhaustion and, in turn, feelings of hopelessness. These lights are not a huge commitment as are using medicines to combat SAD.They have no negative effects on health. 

Using a sun lamp is very simple. Sun lamps are to be used for 20-30 minutes everyday. It is important to try and use it at relatively the same time each day. It is recommended to get  light in during the morning when it’s dark out and as it can help to start the day in a positive way. The light should be placed about two feet away and should not be looked at directly. These simple steps could provide relief within the first 20 minutes of use. Winter can be hard, but sun lamps are here to help. For more information on this topic, check out https://www.healthline.com/health/sun-lamp#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1