Published on 12, July, 2020
Lights used in my workplace are fluorescent lights but they always were the warm yellow fluorescent lights. The place was a bit dim (there are no windows) but it was nice. I liked it that way.
Few days ago few lightbulbs burned out and today they were replaced. By new ones which give strong cool white light. They are really bright, too bright.
Most people said they’re too bright, complained a bit, joked a bit (“now I can see through you”) and then went back to work.
I complained a bit about the new light as well, squinted a bit and then went back to work but after few minutes I’ve noticed that my heart beat is really fast and I’m hyperventilating.
Is it the light?
And if the light is causing my anxiety what can I do about it? They’re not going to change it back.
Hi, Ladybird. I struggle with this too - it sounds like the lights are causing sensory overload. I find bright, fluorescent lights really harsh and I get very stressed by them - I can't focus on anything else.
Does your workplace know you're autistic? You could actually speak with occupational health about the lighting; they should be able to accommodate changes if they're making you feel uncomfortable and stressed (e.g. they may be able to replace the bulbs, they could sit you further away from the lights, or they could allow you to wear sunglasses in the office). This would be classed as a reasonable adjustment.
I don't like these bright lights people put on their houses. I prefer some descrete lights in the garden so you can sit out on a warm summer evening, but those sobibor-searchlights, nah...
I briefly worked as a building services design engineer and part of that was designing lighting layouts. When I went to check a hospital some of the nurses said that the new lights were too bright. New lights tend to be LED and sometimes it isn't as pleasant as older types of bulbs so you are not alone but may get used to it. I wouldn't think they would cause anxiety though
Dear Ladybird, You are not imagining this.
True story: blueish (less yellow) light has been compared with caffeine for having more simulant / irritant effects. In the 1990s some banks replaced their lighting with bluer lights to make staff work more and keep awake longer. There are some offices in London where they did this. When i lived in London you could still see some blueish lights at a big bank HQ where I assume their trading floor is, haven't been there the last 10 years or so..
Scholarly article:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3838207/
An easy to read one, which i don't like as it views it as a positive, even though it is basically caffeinating individuals by irritating them awake:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081029105807.htm
There are bright lights behind my house from house security lights. Some changed from yellow to the more bright white, others have had new ones recently installed. We hadnt lived here long before these changes came along. They send a surge of anxiety through me, in particular if I am in a state of high anxiety, they make me worse. I think lack of control on the matter makes it worse too.