Catherine,
As a fellow horseman, I loved the story about light therapy in the barn. As for the use of sleep meds for 1-2 weeks I think you are dead on. Multiple studies on sleep architecture have shown that normalization of sleep requires several days to weeks to restore. Individuals suffering from any sleep disorder will require more than 1 or 2 nights sleep to normalize their sleep architecture as both the homeostatic and arousal/sleep load system readjust and normalize. Your clinical experience bears truth to these data.
A point to remember is that most SSRI disturb sleep architecture. Much of the “fatigue” credited to SSRI “sedation” is more likely the result of fractured sleep architecture than histaminic-like sedation. I suggest considering, when possible, other antidepressants not associated with disruption of sleep architiecture such as remeron, wellbutrin, escitalopram (the one SSRI not linked to sleep disturbance), and several others.
Also, the new NIH State of the Science Guidelines for sleep disorders is to move secondary sleep disorders, ie., insomnia secondary to depression, to “co-morbid” status, which means insomnia should be treated concurrently with other disorders. Long-term epidemiological studies have shown that insomnia predisposes individuals to depression and several studies have shown that treating insomnia alone can relieve depression. Thus, treating sleep should be a primary focus and a concurrent therapy when required.