Did you know that the brain can repair itself, provided we “nudge” it in the right direction? Neurofeedback is a brain-based method of treatment that re-trains the brain to function and regulate itself in a more effective way. It teaches the brain to become more adaptive and efficient.
A helpful analogy is to picture “brain training” as a way of learning to ride a bicycle by improving balance. Many of us live life riding that bicycle in the sand; neurofeedback guides us to take that bicycle onto the curb and ride it more efficiently and smoothly. Once we have learned how to ride a bicycle we never forget it; to that same effect, once a brain becomes regulated via neurofeedback, it knows how to get there by itself. It will continue to function at its best, happy self.
Why Is Neurofeedback Helpful?
One of the biggest hurdles the brain can encounter is getting stuck in survival mode as a result of trauma, depression, or anxiety. Some brains are under-aroused, others are over-aroused, and many brains are highly sensitive and react to the smallest of triggers. Neurofeedback allows the brain to become “unstuck” and start the self-healing process. It allows the various parts of the brain to communicate with each other more effectively so that the whole brain becomes regulated. When the brain is regulated, calm, and focused the body is able to fall into its natural state of health.
How Does Neurofeedback Work?
Through the use of EEG brainwave recordings and audio, visual, and tactile signals, the neurofeedback system monitors brain waves and re-trains the brain through auditory and visual stimulation. It is pain-free and non-invasive. EEG stands for “electroencephalogram,” a method of monitoring activity in the brain with tiny sensors placed along the scalp. While the EEG electrodes may look intimidating, they are completely safe and only measure the brain’s natural electrical activity. They do not run any additional current through a person’s brain!
Why Consider Neurofeedback Instead of Medication?
First, it’s important to note that Neurofeedback has been around for half a century. Neurofeedback began in the late 1950s and early ’60s through the work of both Dr. Joe Kamiya at the University of Chicago and Dr. Barry Sterman at UCLA. While studying consciousness, Dr. Kamiya discovered that people could learn to alter their brain activity by using a simple reward system. This was the first recorded EEG neurofeedback training.
Just as most medical schools still do not have any courses on basic nutrition for doctors, most medical schools and graduate schools of psychology do not have any courses on EEG neurofeedback. Pharmacology has become prevalent in our culture, and major drug companies spend billions of dollars in marketing their medications. The United States is only one of two countries that are allowed to directly market medications to the public, and consumers should not be making decisions about what medication they should be on. Our brains are regulated via biochemistry and electrical activity. By teaching the brain to observe itself and providing some alternatives waves that can regulate it, the brain becomes an organ that knows how to heal itself without the need to take medication. Our bodies can be miraculous when we give them a proper healing path to follow!
Interested in learning more about how we utilize Neurofeedback? Contact 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 ADHD, PTSD, depression, anxiety, OCD, stroke, dementia and more. We can help you get your mind back to functioning at its best, happy self.
