A reader asks:
Even after a good night’s sleep, I have trouble waking and getting out of bed in the dark, yet, regardless of the hour I retire, I can arise when it begins to get light out. My day demands that I get up before dawn and I am deeply disturbed over this long-term issue. I long to simulate the dawn; can your lights do that for me?
Answer:
Naturalistic dawn simulation is indeed designed for the purpose you describe, above and beyond its use as an antidepressant. A dawn simulation system comes in two parts: microprocessor controller and light fixture. The system used in our clinical trials is pictured on //www.cet.org. That site lists a commercial supplier. The lighting fixture used in our clinical trials is not currently commercially available. Instead, we recommend a lamp described at .
Warning
For this specialized application, do NOT use the separate dimmer cable that comes with the lamp. Instead, plug the lamp directly into the control box output receptacle. Position the downward-facing diffuser lens in the direction of your pillow from a distance of about 40 inches. Intensity of the dawn signal can be adjusted either by moving the lamp farther away or resetting the “percent output” level on the control box.