Reasons for Insomnia and How to Find Relief

The inability to sleep is one of the most vexing conditions in the human experience. It is written about in the Bible and in literature from around the world. Leonardo Da Vinci said, “A well-spent day brings happy sleep.” But does it really? For most people, not being able to fall asleep sets their world on edge, at least temporarily during some point in their lives.

What, exactly, is the reason so many people struggle to sleep well? An investigation into the reasons for insomnia begins with an explanation of the common types of sleeplessness. Some people struggle to fall asleep. They may lay awake well into the night, or if they are shift workers, during the daytime when they should be sleeping. Others will fall asleep quickly, but then will wake up several times during the night. Still others may be awakened by noises or other environmental factors and then be unable to go back to sleep, or they may wake up too early.

Whatever form insomnia takes, it has an impact on health, emotions, and productivity unless a remedy is found. What are the reasons for sleeplessness? The most common reasons for insomnia are:

·         Poor sleep habits

·         Overuse of caffeine and other stimulants

·         Chronic pain

·         Drug or alcohol addiction

·         Emotional disturbance, like anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder

·         Side effects of medication

·         Physical conditions such as apnea, COPD, or acid reflux

These are not all the reasons a person might have trouble sleeping. Chronic, long-term insomnia can be the result of a serious medical condition that requires consulting a physician; however, for most people there are changes that can be made that will allow them to sleep well. For example, they can change habits like watching television in bed (overstimulation) or not keeping a regular sleep schedule. The body’s circadian rhythms may be trying to move them to a sleepy state, but if they stay up late one night, go to bed immediately following dinner the next, and so forth without a regular bedtime that rhythm may be out of sync.

Another important change that can be made to promote sleep is avoiding caffeine in coffee or energy drinks in the evening. Illicit stimulant drugs like methamphetamines will disrupt the sleep cycle for days at a time. Some prescription medications also have the unfortunate side effect of insomnia. A doctor can recommend an alternate medication if necessary.

Two more reasons for insomnia are physical or emotional illness. It is well documented that conditions like anxiety and depression cause sleep disruption. If one of these is suspected, a doctor or therapist can provide help with therapy, alternate treatments like biofeedback training or, if necessary, medication. Some physical conditions like asthma and apnea cause the sufferer to wake suddenly when the body isn’t getting enough oxygen. This is a serious symptom that needs medical attention.

And, finally, the chronic pain of such illnesses as cancer or rheumatoid arthritis can disrupt the sleep cycle. If that is the case, the patient can ask their health care provider for a remedy with the least side effects.

Thomas Dekker said, “Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” This is wisdom, indeed, as no one can function well without adequate sleep. By first making environmental changes and then consulting their health care provider if the insomnia persists, the balance of sleep and wakefulness can be restored.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR INSOMNIA AND SLEEP DISORDERS

Gentle Relief with EMDR Therapy

Treatment of patients traumatized by painful memories can be a lengthy process. Fortunately, the introduction of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has dramatically reduced the time required to assist patients in processing trauma and moving forward to emotional recovery.

EMDR therapy is based on the results of years of credible research and is approved as therapeutic for treating traumatized patients by such organizations as the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Therapists trained in EMDR techniques lead their patients through remembering the traumatic event and then allowing the mind to reframe it in a healthy, positive way. As this multi-step process is being followed, the patient is also taught eye movement techniques that encourage the release of the painful memories being stored in the memory areas of the brain.

The above is a very simple explanation for a complex process that occurs within the brain. To better understand the startling success rate of EMDR therapy, consider that during dreaming, when the brain is processing old memories and recent events, the eyes are in constant movement known as REM (rapid eye movement.) The development of EMDR is, in some ways, an extension of that natural process.

Careful training is required for clinicians to assist the person suffering from the after effects of trauma to break free from destructive behaviors, depression, frozen emotions, and anxiety. The careful coordination of eye movements (or in some cases other stimuli) with this process is crucial. For that reason, this training is restricted to licensed medical or social work professionals with advanced education in the provision of mental health services.

From the patient’s viewpoint, EMDR therapy can allow them to make great strides in a shorter time period. With proper preparation and guidance, they can recall the painful events triggering their emotional disturbance and then learn to see them in a different way. The gentle, non-invasive relief that EMDR offers can release them from the troubling symptoms that caused them to seek help in the first place.

EMDR therapy has been beneficial to thousands of patients in relieving the long-term effects of trauma. It does not involve medication and is practiced by well-trained, licensed professionals. The significance of the mind/body connection that is the basis for this form of treatment is still being explored and may offer hope for even more forms of emotional dysfunction in the future.

ATERNATIVE MEDICINE: NEUROFEEDBACK THERAPY FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

Are Biofeedback Devices Safe?

When a doctor or therapist suggests that biofeedback therapy might help in alleviating persistent symptoms, there are a number of questions the patient might have. They may be wondering what type of equipment will be used, and they may have questions about what the devices actually do to relieve symptoms. But the question on the minds of most patients is this – are biofeedback devices safe?

To answer these questions, let’s begin with an explanation of the equipment used. Biofeedback devices commonly include an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine and electrodes that are attached to the scalp and other parts of the body. The equipment also includes a computer monitor through which feedback on brainwave activity and body functions, such as heart rate and skin temperature, is visible.

The process by which relief of symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, and high blood pressure occurs, involves walking the patient through relaxation exercises while he is attached to the biofeedback device. Because he is given audible or visual cues when the troubling symptom stabilizes, he is able to quickly see the results of his own efforts.

While biofeedback training is not a cure for these conditions, it can bring relief from symptoms and reduce or eliminate the need for more aggressive therapies. The number of sessions needed to fully train the patient in these techniques varies based on the patient’s own level of motivation and ability to learn, as well as the severity of the symptoms.

And now to the question of whether or not biofeedback devices are safe. The simple answer is, “Yes.” None of the equipment used is invasive; therefore, there is no risk of infection or injury. The electrodes used to provide feedback on bodily functions do not deliver any kind of current back to the patient. The relaxation techniques being taught during the sessions are no more dangerous than the practice of meditation.

Undertaking biofeedback training is safe, non-invasive, and effective in alleviating the symptoms of a number of medical conditions. The person for whom biofeedback training is prescribed can approach this type of therapy with confidence. 

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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

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

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)

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

Panic Attacks in Children

Panic attacks are a fairly common and treatable condition, but panic attacks in children can be especially alarming. They can also be more difficult to diagnose than panic attacks in adolescents and adults, since children aren’t always able to accurately describe the emotional components of a panic attack.

                                                                                         

What Are the Symptoms of Panic Attacks in Children?

Panic attacks in children involve the same symptoms as panic attacks in adults, which include:

·         Pounding or racing heartbeat

·         Intense feelings of fear

·         Fear of dying or losing control

·         Sense of unreality

·         Trembling and shaking

·         Sensations of shortness of breath

·         Dizziness or lightheadedness

·         Feelings of choking, being smothered, or tightness in throat

Because the symptoms are largely physical, a panic attack can easily be mistaken for a more severe medical emergency, such as a cardiac event. Fortunately, panic attacks are not dangerous or life-threatening, even though they are highly unpleasant.

What Causes Panic Attacks inChildren?

A panic attack is a heightened response to feelings of anxiety and fear. It is essentially a runaway fight-or-flight reaction that spirals out of control. When a person is nervous or afraid, it engages the sympathetic system, causing changes in heart rate and alertness that have to do with the release of adrenaline. When anxiety is intense and overwhelming, this can escalate into a panic attack. Some people may be more prone to panic attacks, a tendency which usually runs in families.

Panic attacks are usually symptomatic of an underlying anxiety disorder. Children, like adults, can develop symptoms of anxiety. Individuals with an anxiety disorder often feel nervous or fearful, and are likely to become excessively or irrationally worried about things in their life.

·         Generalized Anxiety Disorder is the most common anxiety disorder.

·         Panic Disorder is characterized by frequent, recurrent panic attacks, and excessive anxiety about the possibility of having another panic attack.

·         Social Anxiety Disorder involves excessive anxiety in response to social situations and fear of social embarrassment or rejection.

·         Specific phobias are characterized by anxiety in response to a particular fear, such as spiders, heights, or snakes.

Treating Panic Attacks inChildren

Panic attacks in adults are often treated with medications such as SSRIs (Zoloft, Prozac) or benzodiazepines (Xanax); however, these medications are not generally recommended for the treatment of children.

Methods of treating anxiety disorders and panic attacks in children include:

·         Counseling or psychotherapy can help reveal the source of a child’s anxiety, as well as reassuring the child that panic attacks and anxious feelings are not his or her fault because they may suffer from guilt and self-blame.

·         Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches children skills for dealing with panic attacks and the anxiety that causes them. This includes learning better strategies for dealing with situations that are likely to cause anxiety, which can help prevent panic attacks from occurring in the first place. It can also teach new ways of thinking about stressful or scary situations that can evoke anxiety.

·         Parent guidance can help parents learn about their child’s anxiety and cope effectively with future panic attacks. 

When a child is experiencing a panic attack, it is important for the parent or other accompanying adult to be calm and reassuring. A comforting presence can be extremely helpful during a panic attack. A parent can also help the child with relaxation and breathing techniques. With the help of dedicated professionals and supportive caretakers, children can overcome anxiety and reduce the frequency and severity of panic attacks.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ANXIETY

What Are Complex PTSD Symptoms?

Complex PTSD is similar to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. However, while PTSD is associated with acute trauma, complex PTSD is the result of repetitive, chronic patterns of interpersonal trauma, such as child or domestic abuse. It is marked by problems with emotional regulation, sense of self, and attachment to other people.

Currently, Complex PTSD is not formally recognized as a discrete diagnosis separate from PTSD. However, many clinicians and researchers have made a case for complex PTSD as a disorder in and of itself. They have proposed lists of Complex PTSD symptoms for use in diagnosing the disorder.

A Set of Complex PTSD Symptoms

On their website, the Centre for Addition and Mental Health (CAMH) proposes the following set of criteria for diagnosing complex PTSD:

I.                    Alteration in Regulation of Affect and Impulses

a.       Affect regulation

b.      Modulation of anger

c.       Self-destructive behavior

d.      Suicidal preoccupation

e.      Difficulty modulating sexual involvement

f.        Excessive risk-taking

II.                  Alterations in Attention or Consciousness

a.       Amnesia

b.      Transient dissociative episodes and depersonalization

III.                Alterations in Self-Perception

a.       Ineffectiveness

b.      Permanent damage

c.       Guilt and responsibility

d.      Shame

e.      Nobody can understand

f.        Minimizing

IV.                Alterations in Relationships with Others

a.       Inability to trust

b.      Re-victimization

c.       Victimizing others

V.                  Somatization

a.       Problems with the digestive system

b.      Chronic pain

c.       Cardiopulmonary symptoms

d.      Conversion symptoms

e.      Sexual symptoms

VI.                Alterations in Systems of Meaning

a.       Despair or hopelessness

b.      Loss of previously sustaining beliefs

These criteria encompass the basic symptoms that distinguish complex PTSD.

Complex PTSD Symptoms in Children versus Adults

Some psychologists propose making a distinction in diagnostic criteria in cases of Complex PTSD in children, versus Complex PTSD in adults.

A “Child and Adolescent Symptom Cluster” for Complex PTSD has been proposed, encompassing seven domains:

·         Attachment

·         Biology

·         Affect or emotional dysregulation

·         Dissociation

·         Behavioral control

·         Cognition

·         Self-concept

An “Adult Symptom Cluster” for Complex PTSD symptoms would include:

·         Difficulty regulation emotions

·         Variations in consciousness, including psychogenic amnesia, dissociation, or intrusive flashbacks of traumatic episodes

·         Changes in self-perception; this often involves a chronic sense of helplessness, along with irrational self-blame and feelings of shame and guilt

·         Varying changes in perception of the person perpetrating the abuse; this may involve attributing too much power to that person, being preoccupied with revenge, or even idealizing that person

·         Alterations in relationships with others; this may take the form of isolation and withdrawal, inability to trust, or reliance on the idea of a “rescuer”

·         Loss of faith, or overwhelming sense of despair

There is not yet a formally accepted set of Complex PTSD symptoms to be used as diagnostic guidelines. The DSM-IV and DSM-V, as well as the ICD-10, do not include Complex PTSD as its own separate disorder. However, symptoms have been identified and listed by clinicians and researchers. Complex PTSD is the result of prolonged trauma, often in the form of interpersonal abuse, and impacts the victim’s sense of self and attachment patterns in interpersonal relationships in a way that is not necessarily reflected in the accepted diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR COMPLEX PTSD

Weighing Alternative Treatments for ADHD

Sifting Through the ADHD Treatment Muck

With medication and therapy coming at high costs – monetarily and health-wise – many people are wondering if alternative treatments for ADHD are viable options that can actually help treat and control the problem. Though many of these treatments have been written off as hokey or impractical, they have actually experienced some degree of success if administered correctly. At the very least, they are at least worth looking into and considering.

Dietary Changes Lack Proof

When speaking about alternative treatments for ADHD, one of the first things that comes to mind is dietary modification. Historically, there was always thought to be a link between ADHD and sugar intake. This hypothesis has been researched extensively over the last several decades, and it has never once been conclusively shown to be true. Alternatively, in recent years, the thinking has shifted to adding more high-fiber and whole foods into a child’s diet may subdue ADHD symptoms or defeat the disorder altogether. While promoting a healthy and balanced diet in the lives of our children is certainly of paramount important, unfortunately research has again debunked this as a worthwhile combatant for ADHD.

Is the Answer in Your Back?

One really interesting theory that has surfaced amongst alternative treatments for ADHD has been that the disorder can be controlled through chiropractic medicine. Doctors have utilized several methodologies, including the correction of spinal imbalances and the realigning of cranial bones. Where the first method might have a little validity (although research has been inconclusive), the second one has been laughed off by most doctors, who are quick to point out that cranial bones do not move and therefore cannot be realigned.

Neurofeedback: The Last Treatment Standing

While most of the alternative treatments for ADHD have been debunked both here and elsewhere, there are some interesting new methods that actually are backed up by scientific research. One such method is called neurofeedback, a painless and noninvasive process in which the brain is taught to regulate dysfunctional patterns that may in fact be at the root of ADHD and its symptoms. After a comprehensive assessment, patients are taken through a series of guided brain exercises over the course of their treatment sessions. These exercises slowly but surely retrain the brain to vigilantly police its own activity, and thereby quelling the more problematic symptoms of ADHD.

Now that you have sorted through the various alternative treatments for ADHD, it is time to embrace BrainCore’s dynamic and transformative neurofeedback therapy; to learn more click here today.

Is EEG Biofeedback the Same as Neurofeedback?

Defining EEG Biofeedback 

As new and innovative medical treatments have gained notoriety over the last few years, many people have been confused about the distinction between EEG biofeedback and neurofeedback. Today we will put that misunderstanding to rest and then explain the treatment and how it works in depth. First off, there is no difference: EEG biofeedback and neurofeedback are different terms for an identical therapy. This is a pain-free and noninvasive procedure that delivers long-term results without the risk of any side effects – and no, it’s not too good to be true.

The concept behind EEG biofeedback is this: the human body is an amazing machine of functionality, and it wants to perform flawlessly. Having said this, things happen that can throw off our various body systems, and the brain is no exception. Where a normal brainwave pattern accomplishes its goals efficiently and without issue, when our brainwave patterns get off kilter, problems such as neurological disorders ensue. EEG biofeedback works to normalize these patterns, and to teach your body how to keep them normal for good. 

What Can Be Treated? 

EEG biofeedback has already been proven effective against an amazingly wide array of neurological disorders, including:

·         Anxiety

·         Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

·         Autism

·         Chronic Pain

·         Fibromyalgia

·         Insomnia

·         Memory Loss

·         Migraines/Tension Headaches

·         Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

·         Seizures

Embrace the Future of Medicine 

EEG biofeedback got its name because it relies on electrical signals delivered from your brain called EEG’s. Prior to beginning therapy, an assessment is performed and subsequently interpreted by doctors using high-tech reading devices. This information, in turn, is used to determine which brainwave patterns need to be corrected. Patients are guided through a series of brain exercises, usually in the form of a video or audio recording (the “feedback” part of EEG biofeedback), that teach the brain to self-regulate when brainwave patterns begin to deviate from the norm. After a certain amount of repetition, the brain will eventually learn how to perform these normalizing functions automatically, which should then help address the problem not only in the right now, but for the long-term. In this way, EEG biofeedback accomplishes what medication or therapy sets out to do without continually eating up your time, money, and patience.

To take the first step in changing your life forever with BrainCore’s incredible EEG biofeedback, click here today and get in touch with our team.