Antidepressants Vs Light Therapy Essay

Across America, there are around sixteen million people who struggle or who have struggled with depression (“Major Depressive”). Approximately two million, or six percent of the US population, of those people suffering from depression also have seasonal depression (Targum). Many of them have been prescribed antidepressants such as Prozac, Celexa, and Zoloft. However, these drugs are potentially dangerous and are very costly. Doctors have been circling the idea of light therapy for patients with seasonal depression. Light therapy is when a patient sits in front of light that delivers around ten-thousand lux (the SI unit of illumination), which helps to balance out vitamin D levels, the vitamin that the SAD patients lack. Additionally, light

Personally, I do believe that it could work. I love how it is natural and how it supplies the same amount of healing and balance for a person with SAD. However, the best possible solution for a person, I believe, is to use a combination of antidepressants and light therapy. Many of my family members have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and SAD. 3 out of my 5 relatives that are on medication for their diseases have been using light therapy and antidepressants and have noticed an amazing balance with their moods. Not only has this theory been supported in my family, but studies also support it as

Especially for people who have insufficient funds to pay a yearly fee for expensive pills, that have a high risk of ill side effects. Unfortunately, because light therapy is still developing, doctors and professionals recommend that patients with SAD use both antidepressants and light therapy. In the future, it would be amazing to have people rely on just light therapy. Eventually, I believe light therapy can grow into a reliable, and convenient remedy to those with SAD. However, until that day comes, we can still use it, study it, and see where light therapy can