RRC Polytech says therapy lamps are in high demand this year
By: Brendan Labarre
Reservations for the bright light therapy lamps at the Exchange District and Notre Dame Campuses’ libraries have been filling up quickly this year.
“The fact that they all are booked out means there is a demand,” said Bettina Allen, a library coordinator for the college. “A lot of people ask about them. This is the first year they were all out.”
The lamps are available to rent and take home from the campuses’ libraries. The college has had to move lamps between the two campuses’ libraries to meet the demand, Allen said. She said this can be time-consuming.
“It might be an hour’s work for somebody to do that,” Allen said. “If we notice this trend continues, we would look into purchasing more because they’re not highly expensive.”
Bright light therapy lamps are used to combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression which is common in the winter months due to a decrease in daily sunlight.
The lamps do this by mimicking direct light from the sun, emitting over six times more light than a standard lightbulb.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) accounts for 10 per cent of all reported cases of depression, according to a Canadian Psychological Association article, and 15 per cent of all Canadians will report a mild case of SAD at some point in their lifetime.
Symptoms of SAD can include feelings of worthlessness or guilt, experiencing social withdrawal, and losing interest in hobbies, said Dr. Courtney Andrysiak, staff psychologist at Victoria Hospital.
“I like to call it inappropriate guilt because it’s usually guilt that’s not deserved,” she said.
People with SAD may experience extremes in sleeping or eating either too much or too little, she added.
Spending 20-30 minutes outside is a way to combat SAD, said Dr. Marissa Bowsfield an adult clinical psychologist at Victoria Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Manitoba.
“We know that exercise really helps produce those endorphins that make us feel better, improves our mood, and makes us feel accomplished,” she said.
Bowsfield says the lamps are mostly safe but recommends consulting a family doctor before use.
The lamps can cause symptoms including agitation, eye irritation, dizziness, and nausea, according to an article reviewed by Dr. Debra Rose Wilson of Austin Peay State University in Medical News Today.
