The term biofeedback refers to a wide variety of techniques to monitor bodily functions such as heart rate, respiration, skin temperature, muscle tension, electromyography, brain waves, pupil dilation, etc. The participant then uses this information in real time to gain better control over voluntary or involuntary body functions. This operant conditioning is essential to biofeedback and anxiety treatment.
In contrast, applied psychophysiological feedback is a form of biofeedback in which the subject learns to regulate their internal states by directly influencing external signals. In other words, the participant learn to change the environment rather than changing their body’s reactions.
History
Biofeedback was introduced into the field of medicine in the 1950s. This technique relies on the principle of operant conditioning and was developed treat patients suffering from a wide range of conditions. Some of the most common ones include anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, chronic pain, hypertension, migraine headaches, tinnitus, hyperventilation syndrome, and other problems.
Research has found that many biofeedback patients can learn to reduce their anxiety simply by practicing deep breathing exercises. They discovered that certain physiological responses associated with anxiety could be controlled by training people to alter their autonomic nervous system activity.
The term “biofeedback” refers to the human organism having the ability to consciously monitor and regulate itself. The goal was to teach patients how to gain control over their body’s natural reactions to stressors in order to find relief from some psychological conditions.
Since 1950’s, there has been considerable progress in developing biofeedback devices and applications. Today, biofeedback is considered a non-invasive therapy, primarily used by individuals seeking relief from chronic illness, stress, anxiety, and want to find relaxation.
However, recent studies suggest that biofeedback may be useful in treating a range of psychological disorders as well. These include depression,
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Attention deficit disorder
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Posttraumatic stress disorder
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Generalized anxiety disorder
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Phobias
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder
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Substance abuse
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Eating disorders
Biofeedback For Anxiety
Biofeedback for anxiety is a form of therapy that uses sensors to monitor physiological responses. These measures are used to determine whether there are underlying causes for physical conditions.
Biofeedback has been shown to benefit people who suffer from anxiety disorders. For example, you might not be aware of how your breathing changes when you’re feeling anxious. By using biofeedback techniques, you can learn to control your breath and lessen the effects of anxiety during more stressful moments or situations. You might start to feel calmer or notice that your anxiety has become more manageable after a few sessions.
Anxiety doesn’t always have an identifiable cause. Sometimes anxiety just happens. Even worrying about an unknown outcome or not having complete confidence in yourself can lead to anxious feelings.
Biofeedback may help you identify when you’re feeling anxious, which could give you a better idea about why you feel anxious too. But, when you can recognize the signs of increasing anxiousness, you can take steps to mitigate your symptoms and avoid triggers to minimize the effects of your anxiety.
Knowing how to better manage stress stimuli may allow you to feel more in control when faced with overwhelming, anxiety-inducing situations.
Treat Your Anxiety with Biofeedback
If you are considering biofeedback for anxiety, contact us at Braincode Centers to learn more about how we can help you.
