The Neurofeedback Approach to Anxiety

WHAT IS ANXIETY? Anxiety is really a form of stress that can be experienced in many different ways It mainly relates to worry about what might happen Anxiety is a natural human reaction, and it serves an important biological function: It's an alarm system that's activated whenever we perceive danger or a threat.

WHAT IS ANXIETY? When the body and mind react, we can feel physical sensations, like dizziness, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and sweaty or shaky hands and feet. These sensations — called the fight-flight response — are caused by a rush of adrenaline and other stress hormones that prepare the body to make a quick getaway or "flight" from danger.

The fight-flight response happens instantly. But it usually takes a few seconds longer for the thinking part of the brain (the cortex) to process the situation and evaluate whether the threat is real, and if so, how to handle it. When the cortex sends the all- clear signal, the fight-flight response is deactivated and the nervous system starts to calm down.

NORMAL ANXIETY Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety from time to time. These feelings can range from a mild sense of uneasiness to full-blown panic (or anywhere in between), depending on the person and the situation. It's natural for unfamiliar or challenging situations to prompt feelings of anxiety or nervousness in people of all ages. You may feel it when you have a big presentation at work, for example, or when life gets overly hectic.

NORMAL ANXIETY Kids might feel it, too, in similar situations — when facing an important test or switching schools, for example. These experiences can trigger normal anxiety because they cause us to focus on the "what if's": What if I mess up? What if things don't go as I planned Some amount of anxiety is normal and can even be motivating. It helps us stay alert, focused, and ready to do our best.

But anxiety that's too strong or happens a lot can become overwhelming. It can interfere with someone's ability to get things done and, in severe cases, can start taking over the good and enjoyable parts of life.

ANXIETY DISORDERS Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions. That's partly because everyone experiences stress and worry. There are many different types of anxiety disorders, with different symptoms. But they all share one common trait — prolonged, intense anxiety that is out of proportion to the present situation and affects a person's daily life and happiness.

ANXIETY DISORDERS Symptoms of an anxiety disorder can come on suddenly or can build gradually and linger. Sometimes worry creates a sense of doom and foreboding that seems to come out of nowhere. Kids with anxiety problems may not even know what's causing the emotions, worries, and sensations they have.

COMMON TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS Generalized Anxiety Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Phobias Social Anxiety Panic Attacks Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY DISORDERS Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness Problems sleeping Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet Shortness of breath Heart palpitations An inability to be still and calm Dry mouth Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet Nausea Muscle tension Dizziness

ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION Very often anxiety disorders may develop into depression

CAUSES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS Experts don't know exactly what causes anxiety disorders. Several things seem to play a role, including genetics, brain biochemistry, an overactive fight-flight response, stressful life circumstances, and learned behavior.

CAUSES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS Recent research has demonstrated that Anxiety disorders may be related to dysregulated brainwave patterns In fact there is a specific pattern of brainwave activity that has been identified as being related to anxiety

The Medical Approach to Treating Anxiety Disorders

The Medical Approach The standard approach to treating most anxiety disorders is a combination of talk therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and an antidepressant medication. Other types of medications (benzodiazepines, azapirones, beta blockers, or atypical antipsychotics) may also be prescribed.

Treating Anxiety with Medication The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for treating adults with Anxiety Disorders: sertraline (Zoloft) paroxetine (Paxil) Both of these medications are antidepressants, which are also used to treat depression.

Treating Anxiety with Medication The FDA issued a Black Box Warning (A “black box” warning is the most serious type of warning on prescription drug labeling.)

Black Box Warning The warning emphasizes that patients of all ages taking antidepressants should be closely monitored, especially during the initial weeks of treatment. Possible side effects to look for are worsening depression, suicidal thinking or behavior, or any unusual changes in behavior such as sleeplessness, agitation, or withdrawal from normal social situations. The warning adds that families and caregivers should also be told of the need for close monitoring and report any changes to the physician. The latest information can be found on the FDA Web site

Treating Anxiety with Medication Doctors may also prescribe other types of medications, such as the ones listed below. There is little information on how well these work for people with Anxiety Disorders. Benzodiazepines These medications may be given to help people relax and sleep. People who take benzodiazepines may have memory problems or become dependent on the medication

Treating Anxiety with Medication Antipsychotics. These medications are usually given to people with other mental disorders, like schizophrenia. People who take antipsychotics may gain weight and have a higher chance of getting heart disease and diabetes.

The Neurofeedback Approach to Treating Anxiety Disorders

THE NEUROFEEDBACK APPROACH Research over the past 40 years has demonstrated that inappropriate brainwave activity is at the core of most neurological disorders. Neurofeedback is a sophisticated form of biofeedback that actually trains the brain to normalize the brainwaves and make them flexible and adaptable to situational needs. And the results are permanent!

Neurofeedback is based upon the principle that there is a normal pattern of brain wave activity and that the brain regulates itself based upon this pattern.

Research demonstrates that this normal pattern may become disrupted resulting in a dysregulated brain and causing neurological symptoms

Dysregulated Brain Wave Patterns are Identified on a Quantitative Electroencephalogram or QEEG

There are three types of Global Dysregulation DELTA/THETA DYSREGULATION ALPHA DYSREGULATION BETA DYSREGULATION

In addition to identifying global dysregulation, the mapping software will also identify focal sites of dysregulation The mapping software will correlate the dysregulated findings at each site, with the function of each site.

The Neurofeedback Procedure

The purpose of the Brain Map is two fold: –To identify both global and focal dysregulatory brain wave patterns; and –To provide the statistically best neurofeedback protocols to correct those dysregulated patterns

The goal of neurofeedback is not to diagnose or treat any particular condition. The goal is to transform an unhealthy, dysregulated brainwave pattern into a normal, healthy, organized pattern

HOW IS NEUROFEEDBACK DONE Individuals are hooked up to a computer using wires and sensors and the computer reads their brainwaves

Information about these brainwaves is displayed on the doctors monitor

The software automatically detects when the brainwaves are properly ordered and it feeds that information back to the patient

This feedback appears in the form of a game, movie, or sound which signals the patient that the brainwaves are becoming more ordered

Rollercoaster Video

DVD’s and Movies

When you have information on what your brain waves are doing, your brain can use that information to change how it works. THE BIG IDEA

NEUROFEEDBACK IS BASED IN OVER 40 YEARS OF CLINICAL RESEARCH PROVING IT’S EFFICACY

In fact, Dr Frank H. Duffy, a Professor and Pediatric Neurologist at Harvard Medical School, stated that “Neurofeedback should play a major therapeutic role in many difficult areas. In my opinion, if any medication had demonstrated such a wide spectrum of efficacy it would be universally accepted and widely used”