How do I choose biofeedback equipment

How Food Choices Can Help Guard Against Memory Loss

One of the most unfortunate facts of existence is the fact that our memory is commonly reduced as we grow older. You will find a number of physiological reasons that the entire process of loss of memory happens, but regardless of what the reason, the end result continues to be same. Habits we’ve written a listing covering four of the greatest meals for enhancing your memory, together with the primary explanations why the items continues to be incorporated.

Seafood

When searching at meals that improve memory, sea food is a superb starting point. Meals like shrimp have high amounts of b12 that is vital for healthy cognitive abilities and nerves. Research has proven that B12 might help prevent memory decline. Seafood and seafood will also be wealthy in omega-3 essential fatty acids that have been associated with enhancing memory function and combating the results of getting older around the mind. Seafood like tuna, Spanish mackerel, and other fish also contain DHA, which is essential for that normal functioning of nerves within the brain.

Whole Eggs

Despite a current push for individuals to consume only the egg-whites, it works out it’s the yolk that really puts eggs on the listing of meals that improve memory. Egg yolks are wealthy in choline, which is a nutrient within the vitamin b complex family. Choline might help eliminate the bloodstream of harmful proteins, associated with leading to cancer and dementia. Additionally, it helps in the making of acetylcholine, which functions as our memory neurotransmitter. While egg yolks do also contain cholesterol, when eaten moderately whole eggs really are a very healthy choice for you and mind.

Leafy Eco-friendly Veggies

It isn't surprising the veggies result in the listing of meals that improve memory. We’ve always known that vegetables are healthy, but we're really still learning precisely why that's. Dark leafy eco-friendly veggies like green spinach, kale, broccoli and collard vegetables are not only seen good causes of e vitamin, they also contain vitamin B9, also known as folate or folate. B9 is essential for correct thinking processes, and plays a vital role in emotional and mental health. It helps in producing the genetic material, DNA and RNA, and it is especially needed when cells and tissue are increasing quickly, such as with infancy, adolescence, and pregnancy. Experts believe B9 enhances mental function by lowering amounts of proteins recognized to trigger nerve cell dying within the brain.

Meals Full of E Vitamin

Meals naturally full of e vitamin and “healthy” fats have amazing benefits for the brain, which makes them our final feature for meals that improve memory. This category includes nuts and nut butters, seed products, avocado, and oils for example essential olive oil, sunflower oil, and grape seed oil. Studies have proven that e vitamin assists in keeping both heart and brain healthy and functional.  It's a potent antioxidant, helping to safeguard the brain’s nerves and nerve cells. Based on research at Chicago’s Hurry College, the memory improving benefits result with e vitamin wealthy meals, although not with e vitamin supplements.

Apart from being meals that improve memory generally, these meals also have proven particular promise in reducing your chance of developing cognitive illnesses like Alzheimer’s. In Alzheimer's, nerves in a few areas of the mind begin to die, which jump-begins the cascade of occasions resulting in cognitive degeneration. A long term diet full of e vitamin wealthy meals might help safeguard your nerves from falling prey towards the disease later in existence.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: NEUROFEEDBACK FOR MEMORY LOSS

Determining The Best Course of Action for Your Child’s ADD/ADHD

When searching at Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment for a child, lots of people go right to prescription medicines. These pills could be advantageous in curbing ADHD and helping with the ability to concentrate and work, and they've enjoyed the support from the mainstream medical establishment. Regrettably, this support has brought to stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin being grossly over-recommended by doctors today.

You should keep in mind that despite their prevalence, stimulants are serious medicines. These drugs work by effecting chemicals within the brain. They are able to also include major unwanted effects, including: chance of dependence, mood changes, depression and potential withdrawal signs and symptoms. Make certain to think about the advantages and risks before putting your son or daughter on these medications.

Natural Remedies

For individuals searching for a way to stay away of medications, there also numerous natural and side-effect free ADHD treatments available. These remedies can function without resorting to medicines, or could be coupled with medicines to improve their effect. Probably the most effective natural Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder remedies include:

• Proper Diet - You will find a number of nutritional components that considerably affect Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder signs and symptoms. For instance, protein plays an important role in the way the brain processes chemical messengers to manage the sleep/wake cycle. Research has proven that individuals with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder function better on reduced carb, high protein diets. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder sufferers also are usually oversensitive to chemicals in food, so eating non-processed, organic meals can improve signs and symptoms too.

• Behavior Therapy - This type of therapy seeks to train children social, behavior, and academic abilities to assist them to manage the signs and symptoms of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Behavior therapy addresses specific problems in behavior and seeks to restructure a patient’s responses. So as to, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder sufferers can develop more foreseeable and positive programs.

• Neurofeedback Therapy - This therapy continues to be proven to work in dealing with numerous nerve conditions. It functions by using computer led training to redirect wayward brainwaves. This enables the mind to consider in healthy, organized designs producing a more stable and functional cognitive activity. This therapy might help curb numerous signs and symptoms and it has had success in dealing with many patients with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Discover more about how exactly neurofeedback might help here.

What's the Smartest Choice in my Child?

How do we choose the best Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder strategy to your son or daughter? In the finish during the day, only your loved ones as well as your physician can figure out what treatment works well for the child’s particular signs and symptoms. It ought to be noted that although many prescription medicines can suppress the signs and symptoms of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, they don't cure them. Thus it is crucial that you explore all the options, and thoroughly evaluating your child’s response, before selecting a particular protocol.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ADHD

Using Biofeedback for Anxiety

Anti-anxiety medicines include many adverse unwanted effects, but biofeedback for anxiety provides a natural and noninvasive treatment alternative. Prior to deciding to begin a prescription medicine, you need to explore all of the available alternatives. This will help you to determine the very best strategy for you, without taking on unnecessary risks along the way. Biofeedback can offer effective relief for signs and symptoms of tension, while being gentle in your mind and body.

So How Exactly Does Biofeedback Work?

Biofeedback functions by teaching patients to consider in nondestructive ways. By teaching the individual how you can correctly react to their anxiety, biofeedback might help sufferers of anxiety to manage their signs and symptoms without medication. Biofeedback functions by giving the individual the opportunity to view their physiological reactions to worry. Probably the most noticeable and customary signs and symptoms of tension that biofeedback therapy trains patients to acknowledge include:

·         Cold Sticky Hands

·         Alterations in Skin Temperature

·         Shallow and/or Rapid Breathing

·         Muscle Tension

·         Elevated Heartbeat

·         Alterations in Brainwaves

So How Exactly Does Biofeedback Affect Anxiety?

Numerous research has proven great enhancements in patients receiving treatment with biofeedback for anxiety. It's been proven to aid in dealing with both chronic and episodic panic attacks. Doctors have seen that biofeedback helps patients with controlling an array of anxiety signs and symptoms for example racing heartbeat, breathlessness, and muscle tension.

The outcomes were sustained publish treatment, with lower self-reported anxiety maintained after 6 days. Neurofeedback is really a revolutionary type of biofeedback that particularly concentrates on redirecting brainwaves that might be leading to anxiety, together with many other nerve conditions like chronic discomfort and stress attacks. It may be particularly helpful for training the mind to consider in healthy normal designs, and steer clear of falling into designs that cause anxiety. Follow the linked text to understand more about neurofeedback.

Is Biofeedback Suitable for Me?

With the information provided it can help to determine whether biofeedback for anxiety can help you together with your signs and symptoms. The good thing is biofeedback has proven no unwanted effects, so giving it a go has fairly little downside. Embracing dangerous anti-anxiety medicines isn't your main option, and you ought to consider natural remedies before putting yourself in danger.

There's not just one easy cure-all for the disorder, but you will find steps you can take to create coping with anxiety simpler. Anxiety patients often discover that by exploring all of the treatments, they're able to better find relief for his or her signs and symptoms and their anxiety in a workable level. Coping with anxiety does not have to feel impossible, be positive regarding your treatment and you may learn how to seize control of the disorder.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ANXIETY

The Effects of PTSD on the Brain

How PTSD Changes the Brain

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is primarily considered a psychological disorder and that leads many to the unfortunate misconception that for sufferers, it's "all in their head." In a manner of speaking, that's true: it is all in their head, but not in the way naysayers or ignorant people think. In fact, exposure to a traumatic event actually changes the chemicals in an individual’s brain. These chemicals regulate things like mood, impulsivity, contentment, happiness, fight-or-flight responses, and much, much more.

Here is a quick guide to the neurological effects of PTSD:

1.       The brain starts over producing cortisol. This is one of the most powerful stress hormones that the brain releases; it comes from the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls the autonomic nervous system and other functions, like thirst, hunger, sleep, and emotional responses. An excess of cortisol can slow the body's ability to heal itself, interfere with sleep, slow down the sex drive, and cause constant anxiety.

2.       The brain's "fight or flight" system goes haywire. In folks with regularly functioning brains, the "fight or flight" system is fairly well regulated. Upon seeing something potentially dangerous, the amygdala gears up to start our instinctual "fight or flight" reaction, and it does this all the time in response to any perceived danger or threat. In most people, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex then goes to work rationalizing the situation, and the hippocampus provides context, which, if the situation doesn't turn out to be dangerous, ends up overriding the panic response and just gives us a little "thrill." However, PTSD disrupts the balance of these areas of the brain, giving the amygdala free reign to respond with "fight or flight" reactions to slight or perceived, threats. This is likely at the heart of signature PTSD symptoms like night terrors and "shutting down" in the face of normal, everyday stressors.

3.       The hippocampus doesn't work as well as it should. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that provides context for a situation in the "fight or flight" response by regulating memory. However, PTSD affects the operation of the hippocampus, causing memory loss or difficulty retrieving memories in appropriate situations. The science isn't conclusive on how this works; however, chronic sufferers of PTSD definitely have smaller hypothalamuses, but researchers aren't sure why. It's possible that the overproduction of cortisol actually shrinks the hypothalamus, thus affecting memory creation and access over time, or it could be that people with genetically smaller hypothalamuses are more prone to PTSD than others.

LEARN ABOUT NEUROFEEDBACK FOR PTSD

Catching Symptoms of ADD in Children Early

The Importance of Identifying Symptoms of ADD in Children

Most of us are familiar with the symptoms of ADD in children: inattentiveness, occasional hyperactivity, and a proclivity for losing personal items or struggling with organization. ADD is a prevalent learning disorder, affecting 3% to 5% of the population, and it can dramatically decrease a sufferer's chance at academic and professional success, as well as interfere with the formation and maintenance of personal and romantic relationships. However, there is another, even more pressing reason to quickly identify the symptoms of ADD in children. It is a concept called comorbidity, and it means that with some disorders, there is a high likelihood that other related disorders will also develop.

Symptoms of ADD in children are often comorbid with symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. This isn't surprising when you realize that all three ailments affect the executive function of the brain. ADD, on its own, is a relatively easy disorder to treat and manage throughout one's life. Depression and anxiety, on the other hand, are very frightening illnesses.

Those who suffer from depression and anxiety are more likely to use tobacco products, abuse alcohol and other illegal substances, and struggle throughout their lives with various sleep disorders, which make them more likely to get sick and more prone to accidents, both on the road and on the job. Depression also greatly increases the risk of suicide, and a new study has even found that it increases the risk of heart failure by 40%. Depression and anxiety also greatly impact a person's quality of life. Since they often occur when symptoms of ADD in children go untreated, it's of the utmost importance to start therapy with a counselor, or to begin using natural approaches like diet changes and biofeedback, as soon as possible for children who are diagnosed with the disorder.

Another reason to identify symptoms of ADD in children early is that when a child is treated as soon as possible, they don't struggle with other behavioral and psychological effects that come along with the disorder. There is a large, pervasive social stigma around many of the behaviors of ADD, and an untreated child may develop major issues with their self-esteem and social skills because they believe that they are unable to function like everyone else and that there is something "wrong" with them. One ADD sufferer described her disorder as "being forced to crawl when everyone else is able to walk." A child that doesn't know they have a disorder grows into an adult who thinks they're just not as good as everyone else, and this will severely limit their potential for success, happiness, and positive social adjustment.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ADD

Should You Worry About Sudden Memory Loss?

When is Sudden Memory Loss Serious?

As the years pass and we grow older, it's normal for some of our memories to fade. The brain has a tendency to prioritize things that are relevant to our immediate, present situation, so a bit of trouble remembering details, dates, or faces isn't a medical problem – it's just a fact of life. However, some people (no matter their age) experience a phenomenon known as sudden memory loss, and it can be a frightening experience. Whole swaths of a person's memories become suddenly irretrievable, and sometimes there is no immediate or obvious proximate cause or explanation.

Sudden memory loss sometimes has benign origins, and is a temporary side effect of a temporary condition that will resolve itself on its own. Sudden memory loss can be caused by:

1.       Medication. Certain drugs, such as antidepressants, can cause short-term sudden memory loss.

2.       Alcohol. Abusing alcohol can lead to sudden memory loss in a small window of time (this is often called blacking out).

3.       Transient Global Amnesia. This is a rare but frightening experience in which someone suddenly wakes up without any idea of how they got where they are or what they're doing there. Luckily, it's harmless and usually not an indication that there is something else wrong with the brain.

There are serious ailments that can cause sudden memory loss, as well – and in these cases, it's important to get medical attention right away.

1.       Transient ischemic attack. Just about everyone knows that someone who suffers a stroke experiences sudden memory loss, but there are also episodes called warning strokes or mild strokes that, in medical terminology, are known as transient ischemic attacks. These cause stroke-like symptoms, including sudden memory loss, but don't permanently damage anything. If you experience something like this, it's important to seek medical help right away.

2.       Emotional trauma. Sometimes horrible experiences, such as those that stem from war or acute physical or emotional abuse, can cause the brain to repress memories – mimicking the effects of sudden memory loss. In modern parlance, we would consider this an effect of post-traumatic stress disorder. While many people have suffered memory loss from emotional trauma, few seek the help of a therapist or other psychiatric professional to deal with the other effects of trauma, such as resultant mental illness.

3.       Epilepsy. When a person has a seizure (especially a grand mal seizure) their brain temporarily stops making memories, so there is usually a large gap in their memory during the time period surrounding the seizure. Due to oxygen deprivation, epilepsy can also cause retrograde or anterograde amnesia – meaning it can cause sudden memory loss about other time periods, as well.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR MEMORY LOSS

The Ways That Therapists Help Patients

How Therapists Can Help

Therapists use a variety of approaches to help people who are struggling with hard times, or with chronic mental illness, to overcome difficulty and to create a sustainable, lasting plan for positive change. In the case of mental illness, they usually work in concert with a pharmaceutical treatment (medication designed for the particular disorder) or a natural therapy like biofeedback.

Here is a quick rundown of the most common approaches therapists take when attempting to help patients, and a little information about each of them:

1.       Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This therapy has proven to be very effective for people who are suffering from depression. It consists of two major components: cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation. Cognitive restructuring helps a patient to change negative patterns of thinking that their disorder sometimes "traps" them into, helping them to force a more positive perspective and prevent themselves from spiraling into depression. Behavioral activation is centered on using activities that an individual enjoys in order to help them learn how to overcome emotional and mental difficulties in their life.

2.       Functional Analytic Psychotherapy. This is often used on its own or in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy. It has shown to be particularly effective for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapists start with what they perceive as clinically relevant behavior, such as the problem the patient presents while in session with them, and through a variety of methods, works to form a strong therapeutic alliance with the patient. The patient usually learns verbal processes to help them develop a new or more stable concept of themselves, and through behavioral analysis, learn why they feel compelled to behave in certain negative or destructive manners, and how they can curb or curtail those behaviors in the future.

3.       Jungian Psychotherapy. Also known as analytical psychology, this is a school that one of Freud's students, Carl Jung, developed in the 20^th century. It focuses on helping a patient live a meaningful life through personality development, self-awareness, transformation, and self-actualization. By helping patients change their views, understand their environments and their relationships to it, as well as their perspective or attitude, the patients gain the ability to take satisfaction from contributing to society. Jungian psychotherapy is heavily associated with mythology and symbolism, and the popular Myers-Briggs personality type test is based on Jungian principles.

4.       Process Psychology. This is described as a transpersonal psychology that often emphasizes mystical and spiritual concerns in patients who are seeking help. Process psychology is heavily influenced by Jungian psychology and the principles of systems thinking, a theory that states thought is a product of a system, so all parts of the system must be in good working order to produce positive mental health. 

NEUROFEEDBACK THERAPY FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

How to Treat Insomnia without Medication

How to Treat Insomnia the Natural Way

If you are suffering from a sleep disorder, you are not alone. Medical research has shown that one-third of all Americans develop a condition at some point in their lives that makes sleep difficult – or nearly impossible. No wonder there are so many people on the Internet searching for how to treat insomnia!

There is one thing for sure: prescription medications should not be used to treat insomnia, unless you have exhausted all of the natural options available. Prescription medications often come with nasty side effects, and they only help people fall asleep a little quicker, they don’t actually help people stay asleep or increase the quality of their sleep. Some of them even have some really scary adverse reactions in people, like psychosis or the introduction of suicidal ideations. It's much better to go the natural route if possible.

That said, here is a quick guide on how to treat insomnia with natural remedies:

1.       Improve your sleep hygiene. Many folks don't have good habits and rituals surrounding sleep. They take naps in the middle of the day, making it difficult for their brains to regulate the chemicals necessary to make them tired (or feel alert.) Also, the blue light from smartphones, tablets, and laptops interfere with the production of melatonin, which is one of the natural chemicals your body produces to help you get to sleep. Having a different bedtime every night can also make your brain go a little haywire. If you have any of these deficiencies in your own sleep hygiene regimen, start working on them. You should see improvement in your symptoms within a week or two.

2.       Try natural supplements before medication. Herbs and natural treatments have been helping people fall asleep for thousands of years before the drug companies invented Ambien and other prescriptions medications for insomnia. You can purchase natural supplements such as melatonin, as well as teas like chamomile and valerian root, which unlike prescription medication, helps you fall asleep faster and improves the quality of your sleep. 

3.       Get some exercise. Every medical and health website out there is repeating this bit of information, but many folks never take it to heart. They think they are too busy, too stressed, or just don't want to put any effort into researching their exercise options. The truth is, you are losing far more of the hours in each day to insomnia than you would to exercise – which takes 20-30 minutes. If you get that workout in, you'll not only fall asleep faster, but get a much better quality of sleep, and as a result, you'll wake up feeling refreshed, be more productive at work, and a lot less likely to get into an accident on-the-job or in your car.

There you have it – three suggestions for how to treat insomnia the natural way. Don't wait any longer – put them into effect right now, and you'll notice improvements in no time at all. 

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR INSOMNIA

Dispelling the Myths about High Functioning Asperger Syndrome

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This is an area of study that is changing and advancing rapidly, but the public has not yet caught up to the general consensus within the psychiatric community. Today, we're going to clear up some of the broad, widely-held misconceptions about the disorder formerly known as high functioning Asperger’s Syndrome.

1.       Though certain patients with particular symptoms are often referred to as having high functioning Asperger, the condition was actually formally known as Asperger's Syndrome, named after an Austrian pediatrician named Hans Asperger who first identified the syndrome back in the 1940s. Now, let's fast forward to 2013, when the psychiatric community elected to remove Asperger's Syndrome from the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) because it is technically an affliction on the autism spectrum, and shouldn't necessarily be treated differently. However, Asperger's generally describes a less severe case that still allows individuals to autonomously work, maintain a social life, and support themselves within our society's framework without unreasonable accommodation. So from here forward, when this article refers to someone who displays the traits or symptoms of high functioning Asperger, we will do so by the current medical terminology: Autism.

2.       Here is a quick list of the most common symptoms found in patients suffering from a relatively mild autism spectrum disorder:

·         Difficulty noticing, interpreting, and responding to subtle social cues

·         Difficulty reading body language, starting or maintaining a conversation, or refraining from interrupting others who are speaking

·         Difficulty feeling or expressing empathy, especially in appropriate social situations

·         Difficulty understanding or expressing differences in people's tone, pitch, or accent (for instance, having trouble recognizing sarcasm)

·         Constant verbalization of internal thought process

·         Abnormal eye contact – either very little, or too much

·         Deep, intense interest in one or a few different subjects, about which they sometimes speak at great length (often carrying on a one-sided conversation) and which they have a multifaceted, extensive knowledge about.

3.       Many people who are searching for information about high functioning Asperger’s are actually searching for information on high functioning autism. Though they sound like they should be the same thing, the psychiatric community is still working to fold the previous diagnosis of Asperger's into the autism spectrum (on a scale of severity). High functioning autism used to mean patients who suffered from an autism spectrum disorder, and had an IQ of more than 70. High functioning autism, like high functioning Asperger, does not appear at all in the DSM-V. This is likely due to the psychiatric community's increasing reluctance to utilize IQ as an appropriate measure of intelligence, since both the concept and the method of testing have proven to be faulty in many areas.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR HIGH FUNCTIONING ASPERGER'S

An Overview of the History of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Looking into the history of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is complicated, and we're truly still finding and understanding a complete detox from the disease. It’s a comparatively new term for a disorder that has influenced soldiers for 1000's of years. Signs and symptoms demonstrative from the going debilitating mental results of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder happen to be recorded throughout the history of warfare.

A brief history of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder takes us back completely to reports from Ancient Greece. In documents through the Greek historian Herodotus, he writes about signs and symptoms including conversion responses along with other common mental signs and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which are well recorded in the current soldiers suffering from PTSD today. For instance, in one record of the Spartan commander Leonidas he mentions he needed to refuse warriors that wanted to the fight because he would often see these men were psychologically exhausted in the previous battle.

We know by searching in the annals of history for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that this condition hasn't only affected soldiers. In documents concerning the Great Fire based in London of 1666, one Englishman describes inability to be asleep or awake with no anxiety about fire consuming him. These signs and symptoms endured for several weeks and led to him falling into deep despair and anger. Many modern Post Traumatic Stress Disorder sufferers can also understand and will often present with these signs and symptoms.

Recognition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder made large strides in 1678, when Swiss military doctors formally recognized and named the audience of signs and symptoms associated with the disorder. They called the condition “Nostalgia”. Around the same time frame, German doctors were figuring out exactly the same signs and symptoms within their troops, and created the word “heimweh”, which means homesickness. Afterwards the Spanish language modified a phrase just a little nearer to striking the emotional experience with Post traumatic stress disorder, calling it “estar roto”, meaning literally to become damaged or broken.

Regardless of the knowledge of the existence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder spanning to ancient cultures, Western doctors and leaders in modern wars happen to be unwilling to address and acknowledge the disorder. From the over 800,000 US troops that were in the actual fighting in World War 2, nearly 40% of these experienced from such severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that they were released permanently. The intense mental damage was blown off as “battle fatigue”. Following the Korean War, roughly one 4th of soldiers in combat experienced Post traumatic stress disorder. Nearly 1 out of 3 of Vietnam veterans have displayed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder signs and symptoms.

In 1980, the American Psychological Association finally created the descriptive phrase, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and recognized it as being the official mental disorder that is known today as PTSD. Scientific studies are still unclear but it's believed that approximately 25-50% from the American troops coming back in the Middle East suffer or are affected by Post traumatic stress disorder.

While it’s good to look at history for examples of Post traumatic stress disorder, we have to also take a look at its future. The signs and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are extremely serious, and may have a major effect on an individual's existence and quality of life in the long term.

The most typical signs and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder include:

·         Re-experience with a distressing event

·         Depression, insufficient hope

·         Elevated anxiety, fear, and emotional reactions

·         Avoidance of memory joggers of event

·         Suicidal ideas or feeling

Should you or somebody is struggling with Post traumatic stress disorder, there's help available. Lots of people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder show an incredible reaction to treatment, but it's regrettably common for sufferers to not look for help.

You will find some good treatments available, including:

·         Psychotherapy -With psychotherapy a counselor helps the individual learn how to change how he considers the trauma and it is aftermath. By understanding how to change and prevent destructive thought designs, the individual has the capacity to react more normally to stimuli.

·         Exposure Therapy - With exposure therapy, by speaking having a counselor about ideas and feelings concerning the trauma, the individual has the capacity to stop fearing them. The individual has the capacity to securely face their fears and discover to beat them.

·         Neurofeedback Therapy - This therapy uses computer systems for brain-training exercises to redirect wayward brainwaves to a structured, healthy pattern. Using this method, the mind gets to be more stable and efficient. Research has proven so that it is good at dealing with an array of nerve conditions. See more about neurofeedback

·         Medication - A physician will sometimes prescribe antidepressants, anti-psychotics, or anti-anxiety medicines. However, such medicines ought to be carefully supervised because of serious unwanted effects and chance of dependence.

NEUROFEEDBACK THERAPY FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

A Mystery: Is ADHD Curable?

Is ADHD Curable? No, But It Is Treatable

Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) affects more than 1 in 10 children and often carries on into adulthood. Its symptoms include hyperactivity, trouble focusing, being easily distracted, and struggling with time management. The disorder can have a major detrimental effect on both a person's relationships and career prospects; therefore it should be treated as soon as it’s detected.

There are a lot of people that want to know: is ADHD curable? Unfortunately, scientists are not even sure what causes ADHD, much less how to cure it. However, the good news is that although there is no cure, there are several treatment options that can alleviate its symptoms. Here are the most effective treatments for people suffering from ADHD:

1.       Stimulants. Many patients with ADHD are given drugs from the amphetamine family. What’s interesting is that these stimulants actually increase a person’s hyperactivity, but help them to channel it into productive tasks by increasing their focus. Stimulants include Adderall, Ritalin, dextroamphetamine, and Focalin.

2.       Non-stimulant medication. Some medications, like Desipramine and Amitriptyline, are non-stimulant antidepressants that some people have found success with (depression, like ADHD, affects the executive function of the brain.) Another medicine doctors are using is Clonidine, which is usually used to treat high blood pressure and aggression.

3.       Biofeedback. A safe, non-medication therapy wherein a therapist uses a machine to display a patient's brain waves back to them, then uses that information to teach the patient how to control their own behavior in response to mental and physical stimuli. Usually presented in the form of a game, in some patients biofeedback has been shown to be every bit as effective as a daily regimen of 30mg of Ritalin.

4.       Diet. The current wisdom in the modern medical industry is that there is no established causal link between diet and ADHD, but many doctors are beginning to sit up and take notice of multiple studies showing that some food additives have the potential to exacerbate the condition. People who eat refined foods and foods with dyes and preservatives report more trouble with their ADHD than those without. Parents who have begun supplementing their children's diets with fish oil and B-vitamins also report that their ADHD children experience better mood stability and focus.

Someday when we ask the question, "Is ADHD curable?" we will be able to answer, "Yes!" Until then, it remains a troubling disorder that affects millions of people. Luckily, it is treatable – both with and without medication.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ADHD

What are Biofeedback Machines?

Biofeedback is a revolutionary therapy tool that assists people suffering from a variety of afflictions, including anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, and stress.  Here is how it works:  by measuring physiological signals in your body, such as your sweat glands, skin temperature, or brain waves, biofeedback machines then give you a custom-tailored report on what is out of balance in your body, and the actions you can take to fix it.

Biofeedback is widely used and medically accepted – in fact, one biofeedback machine, the Stress Eraser, has even received approval and regulation from the Food and Drug Administration.  In essence, it helps patients gain voluntary control over subtle psychological and physiological processes that are exacerbating, or even causing, life-affecting conditions.  Biofeedback has even been shown to help drug addicts get clean and victims of seizures lead healthier, more normal lives.

Biofeedback machines are available in many shapes and sizes, but there are three general categories that they fall into:

1.       Professional-grade biofeedback machines - These machines are typically found in hospitals and clinical environments, and tend to be larger and more sophisticated than machines found in households.  They are used to treat a variety of afflictions, and usually have more advanced (and much more expensive) technology to create higher quality, more complex games and training regimens.  They also come in specialized varieties to treat advanced conditions that patients should not try to treat themselves.

2.       Handheld biofeedback machines - You may find these in a professional therapeutic setting as well, but these are also available for patients to use at home.  The machine mentioned earlier – the Stress Eraser – falls into this category.  There are hundreds of different devices from a slew of manufacturers in this segment, all with different targeted conditions and functionality; however, all conditions that respond to biofeedback machines may not be addressed by handheld equipment. For instance, EEG neurofeedback to treat anxiety and attention deficit disorder (ADD) does not come in a home-use, handheld device.  Handheld biofeedback machines tend to focus on stress reduction, though they can be helpful with other afflictions, as well.

3.       Smartphone apps - The last category of biofeedback machines doesn't actually contain a machine, unless you are counting your iPhone or Android smartphone.  These apps use smartphone functionality, such as the camera, to collect information about your physiological processes. These tend to be far less accurate than medical-grade biofeedback machines, but they are also substantially less expensive and convenient, because you do not have to purchase and account for yet another electronic device.

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The Science Behind the Stress Eraser

Measuring, Monitoring and Controlling Stress with the Stress Eraser

                Stress is a good thing.  It helps us to perform when important things are on the line, and it helps to motivate us to do our best.  We do not commend our fellow human beings for "grace under fire" for nothing. 

                Unfortunately, due to the ever-increasing demands that modern life places on our time and our lives, we are under more stress than ever.  Some folks are so stressed so often that it has become a way of life for them – and they are paying the price with their health.  There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch – and this is especially true of the great toll that stress exacts on our physical and mental well-being.

Overdosing on stress hormones is a major problem for a lot of people – and increasingly, doctors and therapists have been trying to find effective treatments to help people deal with the effects.  Sadly, they are just going after the symptoms, not the cause.  Sedatives sleep aids and anti-anxiety drugs do not remove the real source of stress in people's lives.

Of course, there is no treatment that can balance a job, a relationship, kids, errands and everything else that orbits our hectic lives.  But psychiatrists have recently learned what yogis and mystics have known for a long time – it is not the stressors in our life that damage us, or even the stress that is placed upon us.  It is our reaction to the stress.

Enter the Stress Eraser.  This simple biofeedback machine, which has been regulated and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, measures your mental and physiological reactions to stress and teaches you how to activate your body's natural defenses within minutes.  No medication, no uncomfortable questions about your parents from your therapists – just handheld medical technology that does its magic through finger sensors and a screen that simulates your stress levels in waves. 

The Stress Eraser measures and monitors stress levels using a technique that interprets your heart rate variability – that is, the beat-to-beat variation in your pulse.  This gives the Stress Eraser information about your nerve activity, which it then interprets for you, along with helpful information on what you can physically do to control your stress levels. 

Biofeedback devices like the Stress Eraser are not just a godsend for the stressed out.  The technology behind it has proven effective for afflictions like anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, hypertension, drug abuse and attention deficit disorder. 

To learn more, visit the Stress Eraser website here.
NEUROFEEDBACK FOR STRESS

What are the Best Vitamins for Fibromyalgia?

Are There Any Vitamins for Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a terrible condition to have – one that causes generalized pain and sensitivity all over a sufferer's body. Worse, it's not fully understood by doctors, so there are few treatment options available.

If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, you may be researching potential alternative treatments that can help to alleviate some of your symptoms. Though there aren't rigorous scientific studies on any of these, anecdotal and experiential evidence suggests that many sufferers are finding some relief by taking one or a combination of the following supplements and vitamins for fibromyalgia:

1.       5-HTP-This is a chemical synthesized from tryptophan, the substance found in foods such as turkey and milk. It is thought to help increase the amount of serotonin produced in the brain, which in turn helps alleviate some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

2.       Capsicum-Many people know of capsaicin, a chemical found in red chili peppers that makes food spicy and may promote weight loss, but the fruit of the red pepper plant can also be used to create capsicum, and may be effective in treating muscle pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms.

3.       Magnesium-This is a mineral that everyone's body needs. It's present in large amounts in our internal systems, and it is vital to hundreds of chemical reactions our bodies perform every day. If you have normal magnesium levels, you may not find this particularly effective, but there is some research that suggests fibromyalgia is worsened by a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiencies are actually quite common in Americans, especially among the elderly and the African-American populations.

4.       SAMe-This is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that is used to treat osteoarthritis, arthritis, migraines, and more. Around the world, many countries require a prescription for SAMe, but in the U.S., it is one of the most commonly purchased vitamins for fibromyalgia, and it is available over the counter.

5.       Vitamin D-A recent study in Austria found that people suffering from chronic pain due to fibromyalgia may get some relief by taking Vitamin D. Researchers found an association between decreased pain levels and this particular supplementation; however, they couldn't establish a cause-and-effect link, so more scientific study is necessary. Vitamin D is one of the most common and inexpensive vitamins for fibromyalgia, and it's nearly impossible to get too much (so long as you don't exceed 2,000 IUs per day for adults and 1,000 IU per day for infants.)

There are many more supplements and vitamins for fibromyalgia currently undergoing scientific study and review. Those listed above, in combination with treatments prescribed by your doctor, may help you find some relief. 

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR FIBROMYALGIA AND CHRONIC PAIN

Who Should Take a Social Anxiety Disorder Test?

Is There a Social Anxiety Disorder Test?

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To those that don't live with social anxiety disorder, it's impossible to explain how this disorder affects those that suffer from it. It's not well understood by the world at large – to say nothing of the medical world – but it can significantly reduce a person's quality of life by causing anxiety and fear in social situations, and causing individuals to sometimes avoid social contact altogether.

If you have been described as "painfully shy" or you have been known to actively avoid social engagements because of fear or anxiety, you may have this malady. Luckily, there is a quick and simple social anxiety disorder test you can take to find out whether you present with the most common symptoms.

Please note that onlya doctor can make a diagnosis. If you believe you may have social anxietydisorder, talk to your doctor or another health care professional.

Each of the questions on this social anxiety disorder test are "yes" or "no." At the end of the test, tally your scores for your results.

1.       You feel shy or awkward about talking on your cell phone in public. This sometimes presents as a creeping fear that other people are listening to what you say and judging you.

2.       You have difficulty getting up the motivation to go to normal social functions. Of course, many people are naturally introverted and avoid loud parties and big crowds because they simply don't like them. However, if the idea of attending social functions, such as small celebrations for family and friends, or celebratory events at work or church, fills you with dread, you may be experiencing social anxiety.

3.       You have difficulty accepting criticism, even if it's constructive. Are you highly sensitive to evaluations of your professional performance, suggestions for how you can improve at work or in other endeavors, or constructive criticism from friends and family? Do you avoid competitions or other activities where you feel you could be judged? Do you subject yourself to intense self-criticism or experience depression and guilt over perceived failures?

4.       You hate being the center of attention. This is one of the most common symptoms of social anxiety disorder – the thought of being at the center of it all. If you are uncomfortable with a large group of people focusing on you, even when giving a presentation at work or at your own birthday party, you may be experiencing social anxiety.

5.       You feel painfully self-conscious. If you are constantly aware of what you are doing, how you are acting and how others perceive you, you may have social anxiety. A little self-consciousness is normal, but if you feel it every day, or at least in social situations, mark this question as a "yes."

That's the end of this social anxiety disorder test! If you answered, "yes" to:

0-1 questions: You probably experience a normal level of anxiety that all people feel from time to time, or it is slightly higher than the general population.

2-3 questions: You are more self-conscious or anxious about social situations than the general population. If you feel that your social anxiety affects your life in an inordinately negative manner, talk to a doctor.

4-5 questions: Your social anxiety is probably negatively affecting the quality of your life in a big way. Speak with your doctor about a professional social anxiety disorder test.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ANXIETY