Using Biofeedback and Neurofeedback to Treat Anxiety and Stress
Biofeedback training is designed to help you recognize and ultimately gain some control over the way your body deals with both physiological and emotional stressors. At a time in which we are constantly surrounded with stress, whether it be from work, family life, a health crisis, or events in the news, biofeedback and/or neurofeedback training can guide you towards a more controlled and appropriate state of being.
Biofeedback was initially developed in the 1960s and 70s and has become a mainstream methodology for treating certain medical conditions and improving human performance. This evolution has been driven by years of scientific research demonstrating that the mind and body are connected, and that people can be taught to harness the power of this connection to change physical activity and improve health and function. Precise instruments measure physiological activity such as brainwaves, heart function, breathing, muscle activity, and skin temperature. These instruments rapidly and accurately "feedback" information to the user. The presentation of this information — often in conjunction with changes in thinking, emotions, and behavior — supports desired physiological changes. Over time, these changes can endure without continued use of an instrument. Much like physical therapy, biofeedback training requires active participation on the part of patients and often regular practice between training sessions.
Types of biofeedback
Your therapist might use a variety of biofeedback methods depending on your health problems and goals. Biofeedback types include:
Brain waves. This type uses scalp sensors to monitor your brain waves using an electroencephalograph (EEG).
Breathing. During respiratory biofeedback, bands are placed around your abdomen and chest to monitor your breathing patterns and respiration rate.
Heart rate. This type uses finger or earlobe sensors with a device used to detect blood volume changes (photoplethysmograph). Or sensors placed on your chest, lower torso or wrists use an electrocardiograph (ECG) to measure your heart rate and how your heart rate varies.
Muscle tension. This type involves placing sensors over your skeletal muscles with an electromyograph (EMG) to monitor the electrical activity that causes muscle contraction.
Sweat gland activity. Sensors attached around your fingers or on your palm or wrist with an electrodermograph (EDG) measure the activity of your sweat glands and the amount of perspiration on your skin, alerting you to anxiety.
Temperature. Sensors attached to your fingers or feet measure blood flow to your skin. Because your temperature often drops when you're under stress, a low reading can prompt you to begin relaxation techniques.
Biofeedback and has been shown to be an effective treatment for migraine and tension type headache, anxiety, stress, high blood pressure, chronic pain, and a number of other conditions. A growing body of research indicates that neurofeedback, (also known as EEG biofeedback) is also an effective treatment for not only anxiety and stress, but also for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autistic spectrum disorders, brain injury, posttraumatic stress, seizures, and depression. In addition to its efficacy for daily management of symptoms, biofeedback is also appealing to a lot of people because it is noninvasive, it might reduce or eliminate the need for medications, can actually enhance the efficacy of medications, it can provide relief for those who are unable to take medications, and it helps people feel more in control of their health.