Holiday LED Christmas Lights

By HeyJude Saturday, November 20, 2010

- A
- A
- A

With the holidays upon us, it seems people are using Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights more and more every year. I jumped on the bandwagon and bought 4 strings of cute round LED mini-lights at Target, and hung them in my 3-seasons room. They are so beautiful and Soooooo bright blue. After 4 days I took them down and plan to return them on Monday.

With my propensity toward manic episodes, I got to thinking about what effect these bright lights could have on my brain and mood level. Especially when I am in a mild to moderate and elevated phase of mania.

I'd like to know if they are safe for bipolars that might be getting into trouble. Could LEDs trigger something in our brain that is harmful to us?

It's certainly something to think about. I welcome your comments or personal experience. Thanks.

Judy

Holiday Stress...Coping

Comments (11) | Add comment

su1

11/20/10 3:37pm

I find the LED lights you're talking about do give me a lift, but not into mania. Yet I can understand if you are prone to mania, it might be a safer bet to go for the other types of LED lights - regular size, dulled brightness. They have a very calming effect on me compared to the bright mini-lights.

HeyJude

11/20/10 4:10pm

Thanks for your input. Monday it's back to Target to do an exchange. I'll take a look to see if they have larger, duller ones like you suggest.

Haven't been here on BPC in a while. Glad to see you here. Hope all is well.

Judy

su1

11/20/10 4:18pm

My BD is relatively stable (especially since starting lithium - wish I tried it sooner). The main challenge is benzo-withdrawal that continues even 6 months later off clonazepam. Major insomnia, muscle pain/twitching; shooting nerve pain. It's not been easy...

How are you?

HeyJude

11/20/10 4:37pm

Lithium works well for me. I started taking it in the early 80s and have pretty much taken it every since. Lithium has an interesting history - you can check it out online. Au natural, not manufactured, which I like.

Some sides effects I've experinced: very dry mouth (as with many other meds); a few headaches (and migraines for a year or so in the 90;s); a small tremor in one hand (I take inderol to counteract). That's about it. Lithium has been a miracle med for me. It has helped me live a reasonably normal life. Oh, I forgot, we bipolars can't be NORMAL! Nobody is.

If you have my email, I'd love to hear from you. If not, let me know.....Judy

Stephanie

11/21/10 9:25am

That is a very interesting question you asked. I have never had any LED lights before, but its funny you asked that question because we are in the process of working on our tree, which is pre-lit and not working :( My husband suggested last night that we go out and buy some LED lights so we don't have to worry every year that we get the tree out if they lights are going to work or not. Now that I have read your post, I am second guessing those LED lights. Thanks for posting... :)

www.mybipolarlife.com

Stephanie

HeyJude

11/21/10 3:34pm

Appreciate your comments. The LEDs, specifically the blues and whites, are offensive to me. Almost psychedelic. Like you're ready for a band and a dance party.

My son suggested the multi-color variety rather than a solid color. And su1 (above) suggests larger duller LEDs.

I've read that they are not harmful to your eyes. They do, however, deplete melatonin, which can interfere with sleep. This type of light is sometimes used to treat SAD.

I can find no web info concerning LED lights and their possible effect on bipolar mania.

My sharepost has little factual content, rather my personal observations. Thought it was worth discussing.

Perhaps my particular LEDs are brighter than others. Many businesses that sell them have lit samples on display. And they can easily be returned if they do not work out.

They sure are pretty! I'll try some that are less intense and see how that works, probably the multicolor LEDs. Have fun shopping.......Judy

Stephanie

11/21/10 4:08pm

Well..... we just got back from buying some. My husband said there was like two different types, like C3 and C5 I believe it is. He said the C3 twinkle at like 60 times a second, so the naked eye is capable of catching onto the twinkle some, but the C5 is like 120 twinkle per second and is not visible to the human eye. I believe I got all that right, lol, anyways.... so he suggested we try the C5 so that maybe it won't cause any problems. I truly do believe lights do affect our brains in such a way, so I believe there is some truth to what you have experienced. I will just try not to stare at the tree as I usually do :) lol I will let you know if I notice any difference myself, as this will be my first experience with any LED lights. Oh, and we got the clear ones. Thanks for replying!

www.mybipolarlife.com

Stephanie :)

HeyJude

11/21/10 5:13pm

Your husband is a genius. Tomorrow I will certainly ask about C5s. It may completely resolve my dilemma. Will be checking out your attached website tonight. Thanks

Stephanie

11/21/10 5:49pm

Thanks HeyJude :) He likes to think he is a genius anyways... lol, so I just let him think it.

HeyJude

11/23/10 12:32am

Stephanie...Finally, I think I've solved my LED dilemma. I put a small table lamp in the room and keep in on after dark. A little ambient light fixes the problem.

So I'm keeping them. Sure are pretty.

Don't know if my lights are C3, C5 or something else. It's not indicated on the box......Judy

Stephanie

11/23/10 7:59am

Awesome Jude! I am glad to hear you have solved your problem and get to keep your lights! :) I have a small lamp I keep on all night in the living room myself.

Enjoy the beauty of your LED's. :)

www.mybipolarlife.com

Stephanie

Holiday LED Christmas Lights

Ask a Question