Are there any side-effects from using bright light systems?
Using a properly constructed bright light therapy system as recommended is considered very safe, and few people have to desist use because of side effects. A few temporary side effects, such as slight nausea, tend to pass quickly as you get used to the high intensity of light. The majority of side effects, such as headache, eye strain, agitation, insomnia or difficulty getting to sleep, are caused by overdoing light therapy sessions. (In this case, it is possible to get “too much of a good thing.”) Such symptoms usually disappear when you decrease the “dosage” of light to your optimal level (usually in the 20 to 30 minute range). If you have clinically diagnosed SAD, you may experience other personal variances which should be assessed and monitored by your doctor.
