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I also work remote and have a SAD lamp mounted just an couple of inches above my employer-issued work laptop. (I custom designed and 3d printed a mount for it, in fact.) Basically exactly above and as close to my screen as possible.
It's quite bright (obviously) and does make seeing the screen a little harder, but I crank the monitor brightness up all the way. I don't know specifically that it's given me headaches, but I am prone to headaches. I'll have to pay more attention and see if there is any correlation between headaches and SAD lamp usage for me.
I leave it on at the brightest and whitest setting from 9:00am to 5:00pm (with a break for lunch.)
I will say it's not quite enough. This time of year, even with the SAD lamp, my (self-diagnosed, mild-ish) SAD benefits from sitting out in the sun for 10 minutes or so in the morning before work. But a SAD lamp and no sun is a lot better than no SAD lamp and no sun. I think even when it's overcast (which it is pretty much all the time where I am as well of late) I get benefit from sitting out and getting a little ambient, cloud-filtered light.
This is the specific model of SAD lamp I use. (I've got two of that same model, in fact. One of the AC adapters crapped out not long ago and I ordered a replacement AC adapter from Verilux for way more than what I'd consider reasonable. Works fine again now.) The one I have mounted over my work laptop is mounted in "landscape mode." (Sideways.) I figured that would be better than upright.
Hopefully this is all at least a little bit helpful. I have no idea if you have access to any 3d printers, but if you're interested in my SAD lamp mount models, I'm happy to share.
I would bet the direct light on your face from the monitor and the lamp contributing to your headaches. That is a very high amount of strain on your eyes. Please turn your monitor brightness down, and other people are saying you don't need to have it directly at you for 8 hours. That seems very excessive, and you even said it's not enough, so you may want to just look at alternatives and curbing the headaches. Have you considered going to therapy or seeing a psychiatrist about this?
Disclaimer: none of this is medical advice and you should seek profession opinion
That's not a SAD light. That's a HappyLight® Luxe Light Therapy Lamp.
I'll see myself out...
I have the same one, but I thought you were only supposed to use it for like 30 minutes at a time. I guess I'm using it wrong.
Just a word of caution for anyone with bipolar, using it for longer than recommended can trigger mania.
I think it is advertised as 30 minutes is all you need. But it is more or less simulating sunshine. And you can have more than 30 minutes of that so...
That makes sense