sunlight in the fall, winter and spring. light therapy may be recommended when sad symptoms are severe enough to affect patients’ daily lives. typically, patients must sit in front of a special light box for about 30 minutes a day from the early fall until spring when outdoor light becomes strong enough to boost mood naturally. most people with sad respond to this treatment best when they sit in front of their boxes as soon as they wake up in the morning. patients are instructed to sit close to the light box with their eyes open but not to look directly at the light. they can read, write or eat 