Neurofeedback Therapy for ANXIETY
Anxiety can take on many different forms, with varying severity. In the western world, the lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders in the general population is about 20–30%, making it the most common neuropsychiatric disorder. The core feature of generalized anxiety is excessive worry or fear about events or activities of daily life.
Learn how Neurofeedback Therapy (NFT) Protocols can help anxiety by treating the source rather than reducing the symptoms.
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Anxiety Symptoms
Anxiety is associated with the presence of edginess or restlessness, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension and somatic responses (nausea, sweating, hyperventilation, rapid heart rate, etc.), and sleep disturbance.
Anxiety is the main driver for a few other diagnoses, such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or phobic disorder.
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How does Anxiety show up in the brain?
Anxiety is associated with hypertrophy (enlargement) and hypersensitivity of the amygdala, often with excess high beta waves on the right hemisphere. Those in states of high anxiety show a weakened connection between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala.
Neurofeedback can enhance the connection between the prefrontal cortex, particularly the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), the anterior cingulate (ACC) and the amygdala, retraining the limbic system to engage more frequently in alpha oscillations (8-12Hz) and less frequently in high beta. This typically changes the way the brain responds to and understands experiences that would previously give way to stress responses.
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How does Neurofeedback help/treatment Outcomes
Clinical studies show that the established neurofeedback treatment protocols used by Boston Neurodynamics are efficacious for the treatment of anxiety. This is because neurofeedback can help reduce the high fast activity in the brain that is associate with anxiety. When combined with other modalities, we can also address other aspects of anxiety such as stress management.
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What other therapies do we offer that can help?
Other therpaies offered by Boston Neurodynamics that aid in treatment include:
- Biofeedback (BFB)
- Bioregualtion Therapy (BRT)
- Photobioregualtion (PBR)
- Psychotherapy
- Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART)
Selected Anxiety and Neurofeedback related research
Learn more about the scientific research done on the effects of Neurofeedback, EEG Biofeedback and related therapies on children, adolescents and adults with Anxiety.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3055419/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/663641/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8842885/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33503332/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31302517/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23632454/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23022326/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15564054/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30699438/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8581142/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32279927/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32044712/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33503332/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34925724/
