By Neurofeedback is a drug-free treatment that helps you learn to self-regulate and improve your brainwave patterns. Research shows it can help with a wide range of disorders, including ADD/ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression and stress. It’s also being used by many athletes and executives to help them reach their peak performance.
Neurofeedback uses real-time feedback to teach you how to control your brainwaves. It’s based on the learning technique known as operant conditioning, which involves associating rewards and punishments with behaviors. During sessions, you watch or listen to relaxing images and videos while your brainwaves are monitored through a headset. When your brainwaves indicate that you are calm and focused, a cue is displayed on the screen or headphones. You can also receive a reward when you successfully reduce high beta waves, which are associated with anxiety.
Anxiety disorders affect millions of people and cause symptoms such as dread, fear, difficulty breathing, insomnia, changes in appetite and excessive sweating. Neurofeedback is shown to be effective at reducing these symptoms in people with anxiety disorder by targeting brainwaves associated with the “fight or flight” response. The goal of this type of Neurofeedback Therapy is to reduce your high beta waves, which are the ones that trigger a panic attack. This will allow you to regain control of your mind-body connection and reduce the number of panic attacks you experience.
The Drake Institute offers a variety of neurofeedback therapies, such as the Drake Method, which can help you retrain your brain to respond differently to stressful stimuli. The method can help you refocus your thoughts and emotions so you can achieve optimal performance in work, sports and relationships. The practice has been endorsed by professional athletes, such as Philadelphia 76ers player Tobias Harris, and motivational speakers like Tony Robbins. It’s also being offered at a growing number of medical centers and wellness facilities.
While many researchers support the use of neurofeedback, there is a lack of consensus on how long it takes for patients to be able to control their brainwaves and how well the results last without continued treatment. There are also concerns that not all practitioners are properly trained or credentialed. However, there is a group called the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) that sets rigorous standards for its practitioners.
It’s important to find a therapist who is qualified to administer neurofeedback. Insurance typically covers this treatment if it’s used for conditions that have more research supporting their effectiveness, such as ADHD for children or teens and PTSD for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. You can also pay for sessions using a health savings account (HSA) or discuss scholarships and sliding scale options with your provider. In addition, there are special codes that combine psychotherapy with neurofeedback for a higher chance of insurance coverage.
