Neurofeedback and Anxiety

Problems of anxiety, panic attacks, and chronic stress abound in our modern world. The effects of stress and tension take a toll on our bodies and account for a sizable percentage of medical visits. Biofeedback is a non-invasive method of mirroring levels of tension and stress that contribute to high anxiety, panic and PTSD symptoms. Via the mirror of biofeedback we gain first awareness and then control over these physiological responses.

Dr. Eugene Peniston, in 1991, published a study he had done with Vietnam veterans who had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, twelve to fifteen years earlier. Post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition with such ongoing trauma as nightmares, panic attacks, anxieties, depression, phobias, and flashbacks. The experimental group in this study, who received brain wave training in addition to traditional therapies, tested within normal levels on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and their flashbacks, nightmares, and medication were significantly reduced. Moreover, the neurofeedback allowed the causal repressed events to surface to the conscious level and be processed out.
Other neurofeedback practitioners have seen a drop-off in frequency and severity of anxiety episodes and panic attacks until the condition normalizes. In fact, recent research finds show that treatment with drugs may be far less effective than retraining abnormal brain waves.
Over the years, protocols have been developed to address such conditions as anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD. Neurodiagnostic and neuropsychological tests including QEEG brain mapping pin- point areas of the brain and particular EEG patterns associated with anxiety.

Neurofeedback for Anxiety and Stress

Dr. Eugene Peniston, in 1991, published a study he had done with Vietnam veterans who had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, twelve to fifteen years earlier. Post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition with such ongoing trauma as nightmares, panic attacks, anxieties, depression, phobias, and flashbacks. The experimental group in this study, who received brain wave training in addition to traditional therapies, tested within normal levels on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and their flashbacks, nightmares, and medication were significantly reduced. Moreover, the neurofeedback allowed the causal repressed events to surface to the conscious level and be processed out.

Other neurofeedback practitioners have seen a drop-off in frequency and severity of anxiety episodes and panic attacks until the condition normalizes. In fact, recent research finds show that treatment with drugs may be far less effective than retraining abnormal brain waves.

Over the years, protocols have been developed to address such conditions as anxiety, panic, chronic stress and PTSD. Our initial EEG brain mapping and neuropsychological tests pinpoint the source of inefficient brainwaves that are often associated with this problem area. Most patients with anxiety received benefit within the first twenty sessions.

Neurofeedback and Depression

Problems associated with depression are not culturally bound or merely a part of the modern world. Episodes of depression may exist and then remit without any treatment or interventions. However, when persistent sadness, loss of self esteem and biological markers of depression persist and cause impairment a clinical depression requires some form of professional assessment and treatment. Neurotherapy assessment can often target state markers of depression when imbalances in certain frontal brainwave rhythms are observed.
Assessment starts with a diagnostic brain map also referred to as QEEG. A comparison is then available to identify how brain regions compare to a normal population and where the EEG and the brain’s communication system is low, normal or high on various dimensions all associated with human functions. Given the direction of the brain map effective neurotherapy protocols can target brain inefficiencies.
Our published treatment results show improvement in depressive symptoms within 20-40 sessions and follow-up surveys indicating long lasting effects, even at 3, 6 and 9 months after treatment. Periodic booster sessions may be helpful and needed especially where the mood disorder may be based in brain injury or damage.