More than 264 million people around the world suffer from depression. Although it’s something many people struggle with, depression is still difficult to treat. Most healthcare providers recommend medication, talk therapy, and lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms associated with depression. But as neuroscientists continue to learn more about the brain—and how it connects to mood disorders such as depression—healthcare providers are starting to recommend other treatment options. One such treatment option that more and more physicians are recommending is neurofeedback. If you’re interested in trying a new depression treatment in Highlands Ranch, it’s worth considering this research-backed brain training therapy.
What is neurofeedback?
To understand what neurofeedback is, it’s important to first understand a little bit more about the brain. Your brain communicates through brainwaves, which are electrical impulses within the cells. Brainwaves directly impact your attention, mood, stress levels, and more.
Neurofeedback is an all-natural treatment that involves measuring brainwaves through an EEG machine. Software is then used to reward your brain when it performs the “right” actions and will take the reward away when it performs the “wrong” actions.
This helps your brain learn what type of behavior it needs to adopt in order to receive the positive reward (which is usually a movie or song). More specifically, this behavior refers to the right brainwave frequencies. And due to the brain’s natural neuroplasticity, we can quite literally retrain your brain to function more optimally.
How does neurofeedback help treat depression?
Studies have found that people with mood disorders tend to have an underactive left frontal cortex. Unlike antidepressants, which treat the symptoms of depression, neurofeedback helps activate underperforming parts of the brain, such as the left frontal cortex.
To begin, you will complete a qEEG brain map, which will identify the areas of your brain that are underperforming and which areas are overactive. Once the source of the problem has been identified, a personalized training plan is created to target the area of the brain that needs change.
In doing so, you can literally create new neural pathways and reshape your brain. In short, you’re treating the problem at the source, rather than just masking the symptoms.
Benefits of neurofeedback
There are many reasons why more and more healthcare providers are recommending neurofeedback to their patients. Here are just some of the benefits this innovative therapy can offer you:
- It’s all-natural and non-invasive
- There are no serious side effects associated with neurofeedback
- Neurofeedback treats the problem at the source rather than just alleviating the symptoms
- Neurofeedback and qEEG brain mapping can help inform which medications can be most effective for you
- The results are long-lasting; even after training has ended many people find long-term relief from depression
Learn more about neurofeedback as a depression treatment in Highlands Ranch
If you’re struggling with depression and are interested in learning more about neurofeedback as a depression treatment in Highlands Ranch, reach out to us today at Braincode Centers. Our team of brain training specialists is here to help you.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to determine if neurofeedback is right for you.
