If a child prefers not to turn on 2 lights in his room, is he bound to be depressed?

Question

My son has a lamp on all day and night, but my husband insists that he turns on the ceiling light also. He says depressed people are bound to like darkness, but I think a lamp is enough in the daytime. He sleeps with his lamp on. My husband is afraid of the dark and sleeps with a light on.

Answer 1

it's called SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. is a type of winter depression that affects an estimated half a million people every winter between September and April; in particular during December, January and February.

Light therapy has been shown to be effective in up to 85 per cent of diagnosed cases. That is, exposure, for up to four hours per day (average 1-2 hours) to very bright light, at least ten times the intensity of ordinary domestic lighting.

Ordinary light bulbs and fittings ARE NOT strong enough. Average domestic or office lighting emits an intensity of 200-500 lux but the minimum dose, necessary to treat SAD is 2500 lux, The intensity of a bright summer day can be 100,000 lux!

have a look at the website for more information.

Answer 2

sounds like your son is mimicking your husband. See if your husband can get help, change his ways, and see if the son follows that lead.

I've heard that sunlight brings people out of depression, but it could also be because in lots of sunlight people tend to do more activities. ...could your son be having vision problems and more light helps him see better? Or maybe your rooms and or color of the walls in the rooms or draperies are too dark and don't let in enough sunlight. Or maybe there is only one window and it's on the west side where he doesn't get the morning light in there.

Answer 3

Your husband sounds a little neurotic.
My son sleeps with a light on in the corner most of the time, too.
He's not depressed, nor is he afraid of the dark.

Answer 4

Father is "afraid" of the dark, son does not like too much light, father is thinking on the lines of "depression". Too many clues here. Lady, get your kid diagnosed, he may be sensitive to light like I am, and may have Aspergers Syndrome or some kind of Autistic Spectrum disorder.

Answer 5

Human beings need a few hours of darkness every day. Some researches have linked sleeping with the light on to cancer.

http://www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk/teens/life/news/archive/2005/march_31.html

Answer 6

I think your husband might be projecting his own fears, and maybe depression, onto your son.

Have you asked your son how he feels? If he is fine then just let him be. He'll turn off the light when he's good and ready.

Answer 7

it is actually best to sleep in total darkness especially when you are young. Sleeping in a lit room all the time can lead to eye sensitivity and poor eyesight.

Answer 8

If he isn't showing any sings of depression I don't think you have to worry he may of just share your husbands fear of the dark.

Answer 9

It means absolutely nothing. Your son just likes it that way. Your husband is just being paranoid.

Answer 10

i like the dark better then the light and i wouldnt conciter my self depressed. its jsut more comfortable.