In our fast-paced, industrialized, digital, and always-on world, chronic stress has become an all too common and pressing presence. With the constant barrage of news, social media, and work-related stress, it’s no surprise that anxiety rates are on the rise. While traditional therapies and medications are often employed, their efficacy has come at a higher cost. The main obstacle of conventional therapies is the ability to target brain activity directly. The technology driven insights that have led to a widespread academic and public interest in neuroscience and the brain has contributed to a growing interest in alternative approaches like neurofeedback, which is proving to be a promising tool in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
To understand anxiety requires a broader understanding about the character and function of the human brain. However much of a burden symptoms of anxiety may be to an individual, it is helpful to understand that it is the natural outcome of the brain doing exactly what brains are supposed to do, respond to perceived stressors. From an evolutionary standpoint the ultimate function of the brain is the survival of the individual, which means that threats have to be prioritized above all else. Since failure to detect a single instance of a threat may be more costly than the failure to acquire a single instance of a resource, the degree of urgency that the brain allocates to the perception of threat cues is accompanied by an increase in symptoms of anxiety. According to the DSM-V anxiety is actually a spectrum of suffering that spans everything from obsessiveness and phobias all the way to PTSD and panic disorders. Most common presentations generally include the prolonged symptoms of an acute stress response that begins to interfere daily life and healthy psychophysiology. What is important to always keep in mind is that a stress response is a perfectly normal, universal, and adaptive part of dealing with high urgency circumstances, but becomes maladaptive when a stressor’s intensity or duration exceeds the individual’s ability to overcome and cope. Extreme times call for extreme measures. It is at this point that the elevated heart rate, hypervigilance, racing thoughts, increased focus and vigilance, release of adrenaline, and inhibition of digestive function that are typical of a stress response become physically and emotionally damaging during their chronic activation.
Conversely when the brain detects safety, nourishment, or opportunity, positive emotions such as interest and pleasure are the accompanying responses that signal the value of these pursuits, and therefore their likelihood of occurrence in future.
So if we understand that anxiety is simply a response to circumstances that threaten well-being, and therefore are to be avoided, then it follows that exposure to those circumstances produces increased anticipation of their future occurrence. The greater the exposure to perceived threat the more it will reinforce the anticipation, and the associated anxiety symptoms. Anticipating future stressors becomes a conserved skill because it increases the chances of survival, but comes at a high cost to one’s health because it brings the physiology of the stress response along with it. If the exposure to these stressors becomes excessive then the activation of the stress response can become chronic as a result, even in the absence of actual threats. This is an adaptive feature of the brain simply because any detriment caused by chronic stress is still better than the potential danger of the threat itself. This makes anxiety not just a dysfunction or pathology, but also a skill that the individual relies on for threat detection. The more that this skill is reinforced in the brain, the more it becomes ingrained into the ongoing operations of the brain and becomes the chronic issue that is so common in our era.
What is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive method that uses real-time monitoring of brain activity to train individuals to regulate their brainwaves. It involves placing sensors on the scalp to measure brainwave patterns, then providing visual or auditory feedback to help guide the brain toward healthier activity. By reinforcing specific patterns associated with relaxation and calmness, neurofeedback aims to reduce the occurrence of anxiety and promote overall well-being.
Anxiety is often linked to dysregulated brainwave patterns. For example, excessive beta waves can be associated with heightened stress and anxiety, while insufficient alpha waves can indicate difficulty in achieving a relaxed state. Neurofeedback works by helping individuals identify and correct these imbalances using the QEEG brain mapping assessment.
During a neurofeedback session, clients are guided through exercises designed to shift brainwave patterns toward a more balanced state. As the brain responds to feedback, the client’s brain gradually learns to control the stress response, resulting in reduced anxiety levels. This process of self-regulation can be empowering, giving clients the tools to manage anxiety in their daily lives through the improved health of their brain.
A Modern Solution for a Modern Problem
Neurofeedback represents a forward-thinking approach to treating anxiety in a world that often seems overwhelming. The pressures of modern life present novel challenges to the behavioral strategies that the human brain and nervous system evolved for. Neurofeedback is able to train and condition better regulatory efficiency and precision to meet the unprecedented challenges of modern stressors.
One of the key advantages of neurofeedback is its non-invasive nature. Unlike medication, which can have side effects, neurofeedback relies on the brain's natural capacity for learning, adaptation, and change. This makes it a suitable option for those who prefer a drug-free approach or have experienced adverse effects from traditional anxiety treatments.
Another benefit is that neurofeedback provides a personalized approach that suits the unique features of each individual’s brainwave activity. The variety of brainwave patterns that underlie the many cognitive and emotional functions of the brain, requires a customized training program that targets them. This personalized approach can lead to more effective outcomes that are sustainable and enduring. As clients learn to regulate their brainwaves, they develop skills that can be used beyond the treatment sessions and contribute to long-term reductions in anxiety and improved mental health.By focusing on the individual’s unique brainwave patterns and self-regulatory capacity neurofeedback can help individuals regain control over their stress responses and reduce anxiety levels. As a non-invasive, personalized, and lasting solution, it's no wonder that neurofeedback is gaining popularity as an effective solution for the increased rates of anxiety in modern times.
Comments