Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in the United States, affecting as many as 40 million adults, or 18.1% of the population every year. That percentage is even higher among ages 13-18, affecting more than 25% of pre-teens and teenagers. And that number is only rising. If you are suffering from an anxiety disorder, know that you are not alone. And if you’ve tried traditional treatment options such as medication, lifestyle changes, and cognitive behavioral therapy with no success, know that there are other treatments available. If you’re interested in learning more about other natural treatments for anxiety in Denver, you’ve come to the right place.
Why it’s worth considering a more natural treatment for anxiety
There are many reasons individuals with anxiety disorders seek natural treatments for their anxiety. Medication often has negative side-effects, lifestyle changes can be difficult to adopt, and cognitive behavioral therapy may help but not offer the relief you’re really looking for.
A more natural approach can help decrease side-effects and help you start feeling like your usual self once again. One natural approach you should consider is neurofeedback.
What is neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is an all-natural, medication-free type of brain training that measures your brainwave activity in real-time to help you learn how to better control it. If you’ve heard of biofeedback, it’s similar to that therapy, but it is more focused on the brain. Neurofeedback is based on applied neuroscience and data-based clinical practice.
During a training session, electrodes are placed on your scalp and a display is set up to show your brainwave activity in real-time. When your brainwave frequency is within a normal and optimal range, a positive reward is given—usually, a movie, video game, or song will play. When your brainwaves move outside of optimal ranges, that reward is taken away.
This type of learning, called operant conditioning, helps lead to long-lasting changes in the way your brain functions.
Anxiety and the brain
To understand how neurofeedback benefits the brain, it’s important to first understand the relationship between anxiety and the brain. In a healthy and balanced brain, the central nervous system will produce the right brainwaves at the right levels and at the right time.
There are 5 different types of brainwaves: 1) Alpha, 2) Beta, 3) Delta, 4) Gamma, and 5) Theta. People with anxiety are often found to have decreased alpha waves and increased beta waves. Alpha waves are associated with a sense of calm and peacefulness. Beta waves, on the other hand, can cause anxiousness and agitation when they’re occurring at a higher frequency.
Neurofeedback can help increase your alpha waves and decrease your beta waves. It quite literally treats the problem of your anxiety at the source: your brainwaves.
Benefits of neurofeedback
Neurofeedback isn’t only a highly effective therapeutic option, it also has many advantages over other types of traditional treatment options. Here are some of the top reasons to consider neurofeedback:
- It’s drug-free
- There are no major side-effects
- It treats the problem at the source rather than just masking the symptoms
Learn more about natural treatments for anxiety
If you’re ready to start taking a more natural approach to anxiety treatment, reach out to us at Braincode Centers. We offer neurofeedback in Denver, Dallas, and remotely.
Contact us today to learn more.
