Tag Archives: adhd

The Effectiveness Of Neurofeedback Therapy in ADHD Treatment

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition that affects young children in particular. It is a disorder that can cause excessive hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors. This can lead to impaired learning and disruptive behaviors, as well as to many difficulties with focusing on tasks for a longer period of time. 

 

Unfortunately, ADHD is very common among young children and adolescents, many of whom are supported with medication to manage their condition. This disorder can also be common among adults, who can find that their work performance is affected as a result of poor attention skills. However, it is important to know that there are currently many interventions that can address the behavioral and cognitive symptoms of attention deficit. 

 

One of these interventions is neurofeedback, a novel type of biofeedback that monitors the activity of the brain and provides feedback in real time. This method has been proven by research studies to contribute to the improvement of many mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and disorders of attention and hyperactivity such as ADHD. 

 

How does Neurofeedback Therapy Work? 

The activity of the human brain is reflected in various frequency bands of brain waves resulting from underlying electrical impulses. These brain waves are split into 5 major categories – gamma, beta, alpha, delta, and theta – although each frequency band can have its own sub-categories (such as high or low beta). 

 

Depending on the type of activity we perform, our brain will generate a predominant brain wave activity – for example, presenting a speech in front of a group of people generates high mental activity in the form of high beta frequencies. Sleep is often associated with a preponderance of alpha, delta and theta brain waves, which are the lowest in frequency.

 

During a typical neurofeedback session, an EEG net is placed on the patient’s head and electrodes are attached to their scalp. The patient is then asked to follow the instructions presented on the screen of a computer. Feedback based on the patient’s individual brain activity will be provided in a video or audio form. 

 

When the brainwaves of the patient match the desired target of the intervention, the course of the game will progress in the right direction. As a result, the brain increases the level of arousal due to the focused attention of the patient. 

 

How can Neurofeedback Help with ADHD

Over the past 25 years, numerous studies have proven the effectiveness of neurofeedback-based interventions for mental health conditions such as ADHD. The journal “Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America” has stated that EEG/ Neurofeedback-based therapy meets the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) criteria for clinical guidelines for ADHD treatment

 

Research studies have also shown that neurofeedback can be a viable intervention method that can help reduce and manage symptoms of attention deficit and impulsivity in ADHD. Results show promising results in this direction, as neurofeedback treatment can serve as a great adjuvant besides medication and psychological interventions, without significant side-effects. 

 

Regular neurofeedback intervention can help patients struggling with ADHD symptoms to achieve a calmer mental state and to improve their ability to maintain their attention on a single task at a time. With patience, many individuals receiving neurofeedback training can begin to see that their tendency to follow distractions diminishes while their ability to inhibit impulses actually increases. Over time, they can improve their cognitive performance and can learn better and more efficiently by attending to their tasks. 

 

Implementing New Neuronal Connections

Ultimately, neurofeedback training aims to change the physiology of the brain and build new structures in the way we learn and perform cognitive tasks. In the case of people with ADHD, neurofeedback strengthens the brain areas responsible for attention and focus and reduces the excessive brain waves that lead to hyperactivity. 

 

Neurofeedback protocols help ADHD individuals practice focusing their attention on a single task at a time, inhibit irrelevant distractions and stimuli and remain focused for prolonged periods of time. Over time, this can translate into better focus and mental performance, increased learning outcomes and overall better health and wellbeing. 

 

Therefore, people with this diagnosis now have a tremendous opportunity to take charge for their mental health and implement new behavioral practices that have the potential to reduce their symptoms. Neurofeedback is not only an efficient training method that has been backed by scientific research to work for ADHD symptoms – it is also non-invasive, drug-free, safe, and can be used by a wide category of people. 

 

At Healthy Within, we do not diagnose or medicate our patients but instead, curate individualized protocols for our patients.

Contact us for more information about how we can help you get your mind and brain back to functioning at its calm, confident self.

 

young woman

7 Activities for Strengthening Brain Health

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession has truly thrown us for a loop and as a result, we have dramatically decreased emotional safety, financial insecurity, and a HUGE loss of a sense of well-being. The stressors that the pandemic created have sparked brain conditions in people across the globe, and have posed extra difficulty for people who already may have brain conditions or substance abuse disorder. 

Our brain health influences the way you feel, think, and your general behavior and attitude in life. It also affects our ability to cope with stress, build relationships, and can even have effects on our ability to fight off infection and disease. When faced with physical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, or Crohn’s disease people take the necessary steps to ease the symptoms associated with these conditions. We tend to regard brain conditions differently. Reaching out for help and treatment does not have to carry the stigma that our society has created. If we change the way we think about the treatment of brain conditions, then prioritizing brain health will become normalized. With this past week being Mental Health Awareness week, let’s reflect on some simple activities that can help strengthen your brain health.

 

1. Crosswords

 

Completing crosswords activates areas in your brain that boost your memory, stimulates concentration, and is linked to a sharper brain in later life. Research has proven that the mental stimulation that crossword puzzles create delays in the process of cognitive decline and decreases the risk of developing memory-related conditions.

 

2. Yoga 

 

Yoga calms and centers your nervous system which helps you manage stress, anxiety, and can even promote lasting sobriety through reducing the need to turn to substances. Adding yoga to your life can increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical in the brain that is influential for decreasing symptoms of anxiety disorders. Yoga’s guided stretches and positions help alleviate tension, stress, and inflammation from your body. Yoga also helps people form a sense of community and belonging which can decrease symptoms of alienation, sadness, and anxiety.  

 

3. Meditation

 

Meditation quiets the mind and grounds a person from the stresses of our crazy, overstimulated lifestyles. It focuses your attention and produces a deep state of relaxation and tranquility. This effect helps soothe an anxious brain and enhances emotional well-being. Deep meditative breathing from the diaphragm can decrease the physiological changes associated with anxiety such as heart rate and muscle tension. Research studies have also shown that meditation increases the health of our immune function.

 

4. Journaling

 

Journaling is an excellent way to prioritize your problems and concerns. Once identified, you can have an open discussion with yourself, or your therapist, about how you can resolve these issues. Keeping a journal also allows you to track your worries on a day-to-day basis. This can help you gain a better grasp on managing and taking control of your brain health. Research has shown that people who journal regularly tend to have better, deeper sleep.

 

5. Take breaks from your phone

 

Long periods of phone use creates excessive stimulation and can increase stress regarding the events going on in our world and community. Research has shown that excessive cell phone use is linked to increased levels of depression and anxiety. Taking time to put away your phone can help minimize these areas of distress. Blue light emission produced by cell phones restrains the production of melatonin. When your melatonin production is diminished, this negatively affects the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Putting your phone away 2 hours before bedtime ensures better rest and less insomnia.

 

6. Try out one of those adult coloring books

 

When feeling anxious or overwhelmed, coloring can put your anxious mind at ease. Drawing in a coloring book has similar effects as meditation. It reduces the overthinking, restless mind and brings about calming thoughts. After a long day of work, drawing in a coloring book can generate mindfulness and relaxation from daily stressors. It shifts our attention from ourselves and the stressors of the outside world. Lastly, it’s low level of difficulty makes it pleasurable.

 

7. Reaching out for help when you need it

 

Sometimes in order to improve your brain health, reaching out for help is needed. This is normal and healthy to do. Expressing your vulnerability and owning your struggles are important steps to strengthen your brain health. Reaching out for help is a great way to put stressors into perspective and can decrease loneliness when emotional issues may be posing some difficulties.

Are Medications the Only Way to Treat ADHD?

Our society has become highly skilled at identifying symptoms and making drugs to alleviate them. One in six Americans currently takes psychiatric medications, and the use of these drugs has risen by 65% in the last 15 years. 

 

The treatment of ADHD is currently a hot topic concerning the overuse of psychiatric medications. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This brain condition affects attention, self-control, and the ability to sit still. For boys, this may show up as hyperactivity. For girls, it can often show up as daydreaming in class. Needless to say, ADHD is more likely to be identified in boys, while girls tend to go undiagnosed or treated.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Millions of US children have been diagnosed with ADHD. A national parent survey from 2016 reported on medication for children 2–17 years of age diagnosed with ADHD:

 

Overall, 62% were taking ADHD medication:

    • Ages 2–5: 18%
    • Ages 6–11:  69%
    • Ages 12–17: 62%

 

Can ADHD Only Be Treated with Drugs?

 

With the statistics listed above, it may seem logical to jump on the prescription bandwagon. However, when Dr. Divya Kakaiya noticed the early signs of ADHD in her son, she sought out a more integrative approach. As a psychologist, neuroscientist, and mom, she saw these staggering statistics related to medication usage and decided she was going to find a better solution– a solution backed by 40 years of research.  So Dr. Kakaiya implemented the effective brain regulation of neurofeedback to her psychotherapy practice at Healthy Within.

 

Dr. Kakaiya’s son improved through neurofeedback sessions, and his ability to remain on task, stay focused, and complete his homework promptly continues to hold up well. 15,000 other clinicians use neurofeedback worldwide with similar positive results. 

 

What Can I Do to Help My Child with ADHD?

 

Children with ADHD and parents who are well informed about the negative side effects of stimulant drugs are by far one of the largest groups of clients we see at Healthy Within. We have helped many children who were extremely hyperactive in the classroom. Their teachers were insistent that the parents put them on medication.

 

Instead of resorting to medications, parents brought their children in for neurofeedback therapy. After about 12 sessions, teachers reported back to parents that the child had settled down and automatically assume the parents have their children on ADHD medication. Parents are excited to let these teachers know that their child is improving thanks to neurofeedback, not pharmaceuticals. Those very teachers are now recommending their students to us!

 

Healthy Within is an integrative brain health center, experienced in incorporating neurofeedback to help people re-engage in their wholeness and wellness. We also help clients with anxiety, PTSD, depression, concussions, OCD, stroke, dementia and more!

 

Contact us for more information on how you, your child, or your practice can benefit from neurofeedback.