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Winter blues? Try boosting your mood with this top-rated light therapy lamp — it's 30% off
One shopper said, 'It has made such a huge difference for me.'
While some people joke about how miserable life is during cold weather months, others grapple with serious drops in mood and energy this time of year. According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately 5% of adults in the United States — that's nearly 13 million people FYI — experience seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD. Though the acronym is cute, living with SAD is no laughing matter.
Dr. Vanessa Cutler MD MPH, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at NYU Langone, explains SAD as "a depressive disorder where people struggle with lower moods, more fatigue and lower motivation during the darker months." She says most people who are affected by SAD tend to experience these symptoms between October and March, when there is less sunlight.
If you or someone you love experiences SAD, there's an easy, inexpensive at-home treatment: light therapy. According to Dr. Cutler, research suggests that light therapy lamps can "help regulate the levels of melatonin, a critical hormone in the sleep/wake cycle, as well as serotonin, a key neurotransmitter for mood, to improve depressive symptoms."
It only takes 20 to 30 minutes a day. Life is complex and tricky, but this is one issue that may have an easy solution.
Right now, one of the most popular light therapy lamps on Amazon, the "HappyLight," is on sale, down from $100 to just $63. It could be the ticket to feeling like your usual self, even during the darkest months.
More than 2,000 Amazon shoppers have given the Verilux HappyLight Lamp a five-star rating. You can change the color of the light and adjust the brightness to find the combo that works best for you.
Why is it a good deal?
The popular HappyLight typically retails for almost $100, but for a limited time only it's on sale for just $63. That's more than 30% off, and the lowest recorded price it's ever been on Amazon. And as you know, if you're a Prime member this lamp ships for free and will arrive in just two days.
Why do I need this?
If you're feeling off and you suspect it may be related to diminished sunlight, then a light therapy lamp like the HappyLight might provide relief fast. Dr. Cutler says people with SAD can start to feel an improvement in symptoms a few days after beginning light therapy.
If you're new to light therapy, you should know that some people do experience headaches or sensitivity to light therapy. Also, Dr. Cutler says that in very rare cases, light therapy may make someone's mood worse. In that situation, Dr. Cutler suggests talking to a mental health professional "to explore additional options, like medication or psychotherapy, which may also be helpful for SAD symptoms."
What reviewers say
With 4.6 out of 5 stars and thousands of five-star ratings, the HappyLight is a hit among Amazon shoppers. Here's what a few of them have to say:
"My therapist told me to purchase one of these happy lights. I was skeptical... It works! I love it," one customer raves. "I also purchased one for my husband. I like that you can choose the brightness of the light, as well as [the fact that it has] a timer."
Another shopper, who titled their review, "Seniors, you don’t know how much you need this!" said, "I’m 61 and have been struggling with low mood more and more frequently as I’ve aged. There are so many things we can add to our lives to age well, and this is one. It feels so good to sit in front of this light a few minutes a day. It will definitely lift your spirits! Try it. You’ll see!"
While the HappyLight itself is pretty slim and doesn't take up much space — it's about 7 by 12 inches — some shoppers do wish the charger was smaller.
"I really like the small size and portability of this device. It gets very bright for its size, and the ability to adjust color temperature is a nice touch," one shopper wrote. "The only buzzkill is the large, bulky power adapter, which takes up more than one outlet in a power strip. This lamp would be so much more appealing if it supported USB-PD for power delivery, so that I could use the same cable and power adapter that I already use to charge my electronic devices."
One pleased shopper said of the HappyLight, "It helped improve my mood during the low light days and really made me feel more awake and alert. This is great for early mornings or afternoons when I'm starting to crash."
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free speedy shipping on the HappyLight, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on this product, since it's over $25.)
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Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for the best Amazon Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In the Know, and hear from Autoblog’s car experts on must-shop auto-related Prime Day deals.
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not a member yet? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.