Can light therapy help turn a night owl into a morning person?
I am so not a morning person. So I was wondering if light therapy is good for adjusting your circadian rhythms? I often have trouble getting up early in the morning, and when I do I’m half awake, half asleep for a few hours, and I’m often depressed. I’m a night owl, not a morning person. This seems to run in my family and I’ve seen studies that show this is largely genetic. It is also difficult for me to fall asleep early. However, I’ve read that light therapy with a full spectrum light(with some UV to mimic the sun) early in the morning can be used to "treat" this condition, and reset the circadian rhythm and possibly turn a night owl into a morning person. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks.
I occasionally do take melatonin supplements. It seems melatonin supplements reduce the pineal gland’s ability to make its own melatonin, and while melatonin supplements have helped me fall asleep, they aren’t very helpful when it comes to waking up.
Filed under: Anxiety And Panic Alternative Remedies
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It can help. It really can. It might work, it might kinda work. I’m probably second shift by nature. I can’t think before 11am. Well, I thought that meant I’d be ok on third shift.
Yeah…..nope. I suck at it. Royally. Aweful. I spent 4 months of my life trying to adjust. Our sleep doc finally told us to wear sunglasses and keep it dark before bed, and go out side or turn on all the lights when we wake up. The UV thing is the only really good way to go.
It’s helped a lot. I can function now!
It would probably be more effective to take melatonin supplements before going to bed. Melatonin has been shown to be somewhat effective in adjusting the circadian cycle. It is released by the pineal gland when you are about to fall asleep. It will help you both fall asleep faster and wake up the next morning.
I don’t see any reason why this wouldn’t work it’s finding where to get it done. It would be a really great grant award for someone though. Just make sure that if you take any medication or have any physical problem that might weigh in such as narcolepsy or medications that are also used in sleeping aids. Good luck on this.
It’s supposed to, but I don’t know because I can’t get my butt up in the morning to sit in front of the light. But on the rare occasions that I do, I do feel I have a little more energy.