Have you ever had trouble remembering a particular fact? Perhaps you lose focus and can’t concentrate on specific tasks. Or maybe you want to try a therapy that doesn’t involve traditional approaches such as psychodynamics or talk therapy. If you’re curious if any other treatments can help, this article is for you.
Neurofeedback may be just the therapy for you. If you’re interested in learning more, BetterHelp has hundreds of licensed professionals who practice neurofeedback therapy and many other therapies.
Before we dive into its benefits, we first need to break down what neurofeedback therapy is and how it can help.
Table of Contents
What is Neurofeedback Therapy?
Neurofeedback therapy, also called biofeedback and neurotherapy, is a type of therapy that allows the brain to retrain itself to achieve more favorable circumstances.
Neurofeedback therapy uses an EEG or electroencephalogram to track the brain’s electrical activity. Therapists hook up wires to your head, and you will watch something on a computer screen like a movie or music video. As the EEG tracks your electrical activity in real-time, the therapist will track brain activity related to what the patient wishes to change.
For example, a person who wants to feel less anxious or nervous will work with the therapist to discuss their needs. The therapist will then track the electrical signals associated with anxiety. As you feel anxious or worried, the screen’s image will fade or alter itself. In theory, the brain will adjust its brain waves until the picture is vivid again.
Neurofeedback is centralized on two principles regarding the brain. The first one is neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself based on different circumstances. The second principle is operant conditioning. This principle states that consequences can reinforce or weaken behaviors with rewards and punishments.
To sum it up, neurofeedback therapy is like Pavlov’s dogs but for the human brain. The treatment involves live feedback of your brain activity, and its activity is either rewarded or punished with visual stimuli. This technique helps the brain adjust itself unconsciously to receive the reward.
Also, read about Thinking Rationally: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Who does Neurofeedback Therapy help?
Neurofeedback therapy can help people with psychophysical symptoms caused by emotional issues. Some studies show that neurofeedback therapy has helped people with OCD, ADHD, learning disabilities, anxiety, sleep disorders, seizures, and autism.
However, neurofeedback isn’t just for people with disabilities or disorders. The therapy has also been used for athletes, artists, business people, and even students. Many people can benefit from neurofeedback therapy who are otherwise without any major disorder or disability.
Neurofeedback is fitness for your brain. In theory, everyone can benefit from neurofeedback therapy in some way.
Does Neurofeedback Therapy work?
While studies have shown improvement among patients, the verdict is still out. Many studies had reproducibility problems, and more research is still required to gauge its efficacy.
Many people have claimed neurofeedback changed their life. The cause may or may not be neurofeedback therapy, as the placebo effect has also affected study findings.
The good news is that neurofeedback therapy does not have known side effects and is generally safe for everyone.
Benefits of Neurofeedback Therapy
Neurofeedback therapy has many benefits that can lead to lasting change. Here are some of the benefits below
Improved Attention
Neurofeedback Therapy has been shown to help patients with attention deficit disorder by helping the brain retrain itself to improve the neural pathways associated with concentration and focus. This benefit could help people with ADHD and ADD and may also help students or employees who feel their attention weakens throughout the day.
Increased Mental Endurance
Patients can also develop their mental endurance and resilience to work better under stressful circumstances and deliver better results and focus. Whether they’re in the workforce, school, or in their art, mental endurance can give patients an edge in their field.
Eliminates Mood Problems
Neurofeedback therapy can target specific brain patterns that deal with moods and emotions and cause the brain to change itself to prevent these moods from occurring. For example, an EEG can pick up when the patient feels anxious or depressed. When this happens, the screen’s image may fade, forcing the brain to change its electrical activity and adjust itself.
Regulates Sleep Patterns
Irregular sleep patterns like insomnia or sleep apnea may result from anxiety. Neurofeedback therapy may help rid stress and allow the brain to reprogram itself to promote better sleep patterns.
Reduces symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and others
If you have depression or anxiety, Neurofeedback therapy has shown to dampen symptoms associated with anxiety-based disorders. People who have PTSD can also use neurofeedback therapy as an added therapy paired with EMDR or talk therapy.
Final Thoughts
If you think you can benefit from Neurofeedback therapy, consult with a licensed therapist today to see if this therapy is a good fit for you.
Marie Miguel Biography
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
About Carson Derrow
