Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders in the United States. At any given time, it’s estimated that 16.1 million adults in the U.S. are affected by major depressive disorder. That’s approximately 7% of the total population. Treatment typically involves medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two. If you’re still struggling to manage your symptoms, or if you’re seeking a more natural treatment option, it’s worth considering neurofeedback for depression. Here at Braincode Centers, a leading provider of neurofeedback in Denver, we’re here to help you learn more about this alternative, drug-free treatment option.
What is neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback, also referred to as neurotherapy or EEG biofeedback, is a way to improve your brain function through intensive brain training sessions. Neurofeedback measures electrical brainwave activity and provides real-time feedback when the brain is functioning optimally through a positive reward system.
This gradual learning process helps improve self-regulation to address brain dysfunctions, which may include depression.
Symptoms of depression
Depression can manifest in many different ways. If you’ve already been diagnosed with depression, you may already know which symptoms affect you most. If you haven’t, or if you’re concerned a loved one may be struggling with depression, there are many common symptoms to look out for. These may include:
- Feelings of hopelessness and despair
- Feelings of helplessness and guilt
- Persistent sadness
- Chronic fatigue
- Poor sleep hygiene
- Insomnia
- Difficulting concentrating
- Irritability
- Low self-esteem
- Lack of interest in daily activities
- Body aches
- Feeling isolated
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Unusual weight loss or gain
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list and that experiences can differ greatly from person to person. Many people with depression don’t feel “sad,” but they may present with other symptoms on this list.
How neurofeedback supports depression treatment
Why can neurofeedback be so beneficial for people with depression? Because instead of simply helping you manage the symptoms of depression, neurofeedback goes straight to the source: your brain. You’ve probably heard that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. While those neurochemicals do play a part, depression is a little more complex than that.
People with depression often have different patterns of brainwaves than those who do not share their struggles. Neurofeedback can read these brainwaves and alert you when things are out of balance. Through a positive reward system—usually a movie, song, or video game—you can learn to better regulate your brain function so that your brainwaves stay within normal frequencies.
Since the symptoms of depression can be closely linked with electrical frequencies, effective treatment requires a more targeted and personalized approach. Neurofeedback offers exactly that. To begin, you’ll complete a qEEG brain map that identifies brainwave abnormalities. That will be used to guide the development and implementation of your customized treatment plan.
The best part? This holistic, drug-free treatment minimizes the side effects that are often associated with prescription medications. Neurofeedback offers a natural treatment option that trains your brain so you can live a happier and healthier life long after treatment has ended.
Learn more about neurofeedback for depression in Denver
If you’re struggling to manage your depression or if you’re seeking a drug-free alternative treatment, reach out to us at Braincode Centers. We offer neurofeedback for depression at three different Denver-area locations.
If you aren’t located in the Denver metro area, we’d be happy to talk to you about our remote neurofeedback options as well! These virtual treatments could be exactly what you need to address your depression.
Schedule your free consultation today to get started on your treatment for depression.
