Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
Many of us suffer from depression caused by hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism also lowers the levels of serotonin and melatonin, which regulate mood and the sleep cycle, respectively. Here are some links I came across on how bright light therapy (more commonly used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder in temperate climates) can be used to treat depression as well as raise serotonin and melatonin levels:
http://www.brightenyourlife.info/ch3.html
"A modest increase in lighting may help with a mild [depression] problem. A more severe problem may need much brighter lighting and a longer duration of bright lighting to overcome. The amounts of light needed should at least bring a depressed person above the average for daily light exposure. This can be achieved with as little as 30 minutes of very bright light near 10,000 lux (like sunshine) or with a couple hours of light of about 2500 lux (like a cloudy day or deep shade)."
http://www.endocrinesurgeon.co.uk/index.php/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad
"Bright light therapy (or phototherapy), where patients are exposed to bright light through the eyes for as little has half an hour a day does seem to have a beneficial effect. The mechanism for how this works is not yet known. It may indeed work be helping to reset the circadian rhythm of the body, possibly involving melatonin. It may also work by altering levels of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Low levels of serotonin have been associated with depressive illness for some time. Anti-depressant drugs such as Prozac act to increase brain serotonin levels. Exposure to light appears to raise serotonin levels."
http://www.brightenyourlife.info/ch3.html
"Bright light therapy has been researched and implemented in the United States and abroad since 1981. It involves exposure to intense levels of light that replace the light normally found in sunlight.
As light enters the eye, it hits the retina and is transmitted by nerve impulses to the pineal gland. The pineal gland controls melatonin and serotonin secretions. These set the body's internal clock or circadian rhythm."
I got myself a blue-light SAD lamp. Been using it for more than a month and it seems to be helping -- feel much better, sleep better and don't feel like crashing in the evening. Could also be due to the supplements I've been taking. Doesn't really matter to me as long as things are improving.
http://www.brightenyourlife.info/ch3.html
"A modest increase in lighting may help with a mild [depression] problem. A more severe problem may need much brighter lighting and a longer duration of bright lighting to overcome. The amounts of light needed should at least bring a depressed person above the average for daily light exposure. This can be achieved with as little as 30 minutes of very bright light near 10,000 lux (like sunshine) or with a couple hours of light of about 2500 lux (like a cloudy day or deep shade)."
http://www.endocrinesurgeon.co.uk/index.php/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad
"Bright light therapy (or phototherapy), where patients are exposed to bright light through the eyes for as little has half an hour a day does seem to have a beneficial effect. The mechanism for how this works is not yet known. It may indeed work be helping to reset the circadian rhythm of the body, possibly involving melatonin. It may also work by altering levels of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Low levels of serotonin have been associated with depressive illness for some time. Anti-depressant drugs such as Prozac act to increase brain serotonin levels. Exposure to light appears to raise serotonin levels."
http://www.brightenyourlife.info/ch3.html
"Bright light therapy has been researched and implemented in the United States and abroad since 1981. It involves exposure to intense levels of light that replace the light normally found in sunlight.
As light enters the eye, it hits the retina and is transmitted by nerve impulses to the pineal gland. The pineal gland controls melatonin and serotonin secretions. These set the body's internal clock or circadian rhythm."
I got myself a blue-light SAD lamp. Been using it for more than a month and it seems to be helping -- feel much better, sleep better and don't feel like crashing in the evening. Could also be due to the supplements I've been taking. Doesn't really matter to me as long as things are improving.
http://www.litebook.co.uk/Decreasing-TSH-Levels-in-Patients-with-Seasonal-Affective-Disorder-SAD
"CONCLUSIONS: During 1 week of bright light therapy the TSH levels in SAD patients were reduced, with the highest reduction in the group of patients responding to light therapy."
Thanks for sharing!
I remember you telling us about your success with bright light therapy.
Thanks so very much for creating this thread to provide details about your particular situation....and the excellent links/info you found through research.
This is the type of stuff that makes this forum great.
Thanks for being here!
Mary
Sure wish it worked for replenishing Vitamin D...so many suffer from that too and the lamps don't help it. For me the Vitamin D pills don't seem to bring mine up either....only the of sunshine in AZ helps me.