Written by: Dr. Dana Neacsu, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The human brain is a magnificent object, and, historically, it has been difficult to get a complete grasp on the inner workings of the brain. However, modern science has been an incredible tool in understanding how the brain works and how people can make their brains work for them. By monitoring brain activity caused by different stimuli, illnesses, mental health disorders, and more, scientists understand more about the brain than ever before.
Recently, medical professionals are employing Neurofeedback Therapy, an effective way to approach to retraining how an individual’s brain functions when faced with certain situations or experiences. This type of therapy has shown promise in treating anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, and more. By harnessing the power of neurofeedback, people can not only address health challenges, but they can train their brains to operate at peak performance. Whether you’re an athlete, business owner, or someone interested in learning how to train your brain to function optimally, looking into neurofeedback therapy is a great option.
What is Neurofeedback Therapy?
Through the use of electrodes that are gently attached to a patient’s head, neurofeedback therapy providers can monitor brainwave activity in real-time. Understanding how the brain reacts to different audio or visual cues will help the patient and their provider gain an understanding of how their brain works and offer a path to retrain how their brain reacts to certain stimuli, stressors, or situations.
The brain behavior is then sent to a computer, which feeds cues back to the patient. For instance, one patient that struggled with PTSD used neurofeedback therapy to retrain her brain to lessen unhealthy patterns. In her case, a video plays in fullscreen but as the computer notices signs of PTSD-related brain activity, the video becomes smaller and harder to see. While she isn’t entirely sure exactly what she’s doing when the video gets bigger, her brain is learning new behaviors and releasing old patterns.
Neurofeedback and Peak Performance
In the same way neurofeedback can be used to help a brain unlearn negative patterns, it can also teach a brain new patterns and ways of functioning. At MCIM, many of our patients utilize neurofeedback therapy to help train productive brain activity and optimized brain behavior for different situations. In essence, it’s sort of like teaching your brain how to ride a bike; it takes a while for the brain to understand and function differently, but once successful, the know-how stays with your brain for the long term.
Neurofeedback has become more popular among professional athletes, with many elite players using this brain-mapping therapy to work through stressful situations, calm their nervous system, and perform better. Basketball players might use neurofeedback therapy to help train their brains to stay calm and keep their heart rate steady during free throws and golfers can use the same approach to improve their putting accuracy. The list of use cases for neurofeedback therapy is truly endless and the treatment is becoming much more common in mainstream situations.
What to Expect in a Neurofeedback Therapy Session
When you show up to work with our neurofeedback therapy providers at MCIM, the sessions are generally very calm and relaxed; there’s nothing to worry about as you head into your appointment. If you have never experienced a session of this nature, you can expect it to look something like the below:
1. Enter a Calm Environment
Our team will ensure you’re comfortable and relaxed from the moment you walk in the door. We want your mind to be able to behave naturally, so we do our best to create an environment that feels welcoming and warm. Starting off with a few deep breaths to calm nerves is always good practice. After your first appointment, you probably won’t have any nerves at all.
2. Electrode Connection
Once you’re checked in to your appointment and with your therapy provider, they will hook up all the necessary electrodes for the session. These are completely painless, and they gently adhere to different areas on your head so they can measure your brainwaves throughout the session.
3. Various Activities to Map Brain Behavior
The specific activity during your session can vary depending on what your neurofeedback therapy goals are. You may be instructed to watch a movie, listen to music, or play a game. These activities are simple and all you need to know will be explained by your therapist. Remember, these aren’t meant to be seen as a test or quiz, they are simply a tool used to help retrain your brain.
4. Feedback from Activities
Throughout the session, your activity will start giving you cues when certain behavior is detected. For instance, colors may change on the screen, or the audio volume may vary. It’s important to pay attention to your thoughts and brain cues during these changes. Over time, you and your brain will learn how to tap into certain patterns, behaviors, or thoughts.
Neurofeedback Therapy Risks
There are very few risks associated with neurofeedback therapy because it is simple behavior training. If any adverse side effects are experienced, they usually do not last long or can be corrected through neurofeedback therapy itself. Working with knowledgeable therapy providers is the most important factor to avoid any negative experiences, and at MCIM, our staff is well-trained and knowledgeable in providing safe therapy to our clients.
Schedule a Session with Our Team!
Our holistic approach to health and wellness helps set us apart from other neurofeedback therapy providers. We are committed to looking at the entire lived experience of our patients, working with them to achieve their goals, and helping correct any negative health issues they are experiencing.
Our brains are more powerful than we give them credit for, and most of the time, with a bit of intentional neurofeedback therapy, we can train our brains to work exactly how we want them to. The path to better sleep, better performance, decreased anxiety, and more, is filled with a bunch of small electrodes and caring therapy providers. We look forward to helping you live your best life in the most authentic way. Reach out to our team today to learn more or get a session scheduled!
Dr. Dana Neacsu, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Dana Neacsu is trained in both conventional and integrative medicine and her goal is to offer her patients the best treatment from both medical worlds. Her practice is a unique combination of ancient medicine techniques like Reiki, functional medicine cutting-edge protocols and biohacking devices of the future. The core of her practice remains however the patients themselves and their incredible power of self-healing and courage.
References:
nytimes.com/2022/01/12/well/mind/neurofeedback-therapy-mental-health.html
