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Neurofeedback for Anxiety

Everyone experiences some anxiety. It has motivational functions (e.g. upcoming deadlines move us into action),  and protective functions (e.g. running away from a lion because you are afraid it will attack you). When anxiety or fear or worry begins to negatively impact one’s life when it becomes uncontrollable though anxiety disorder results. Anxiety can be caused by a number of different things including environmental exposure, situational circumstances, brainwave dysregulation, poor dietary habits, exposure to trauma, etc.

Anxiety can impact our emotions and our cognitive abilities including our focus, attention and problem solving abilities. Ongoing anxiety can also impact structure of the prefrontal cortex. It can also lead to other behaviors such as addiction, drug use, OCD, over eating, etc.

neurofeedback for anxiety

How Neurofeedback Can Help

Neurofeedback is a clinically proven, natural approach to anxiety that is backed by over 50 years of extensive research. Unlike many other alleviation methods, it addresses the underlying brainwave dysregulation that may contributing to the anxiety.

Neurofeedback can train the brain to change the way it responds to changes in our physical and mental homeostasis. Electroencephalography (EEG) analysis has shown us that many suffering with anxiety show similar dysregulated brainwave patterns. Often times, those suffering from anxiety disorders will have over stimulation in different parts of the brain.  Many scientific studies show that neurofeedback can be effective in reducing anxiety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Medication vs Anxiety

How Does Medication Work?

The standard protocol for anxiety has traditionally been medication and talk therapy. The role of the medication stimulates the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with pleasure, attention and movement. Medication is meant to treat the symptoms but are not targeted at correcting the cause.

Can Medication Fix the Problem?

Medication does not cure anxiety – it merely treats the symptoms for as long as you are taking it. Some people experience great success with medication, others do not. A long-term solution requires a different kind of intervention.

How Can Neurofeedback Help Anxiety?

The goal of all neurofeedback is to transform an unhealthy, abnormal brainwave pattern into a normal, healthy, organized pattern. By doing this, the brain becomes more stable and is able to operate optimally and efficiently

woman taking ineffective medicine

Testimonials

Here are a few testimonials for our Neurofeedback services. You can read more testimonials here.

  • Kelly V.

    This has changed my son’s life in so many ways. He has become extremely social with friends and school. He has changed how he handles problems. He will express how he feels out loud instead of holding all his problems into himself. He will look you in the eyes when he speaks to you. Before […]

  • Megan S.

    When first coming in, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d been dealing with anxiety and panic attacks for nearly 10 years at this point and been through many types of tests, doctors, treatments, and medications. In looking for a new solution, I stumbled upon neurofeedback. After doing the training, I was able to reduce […]

  • Kristy

    Neurofeedback saved my whole life. It made me who I was years ago before I dealt with any of this (anxiety, depression and panic). It gave e friendships back and it gave me myself back.

  • Alex

    BrainCore (neurofeedback) therapy made me feel like I was a better person and I could do anything.

  • Joanna M.

    When I began with South Bay Wellness. I had been struggling with panic attacks when driving, depression, anger, insomnia. I was taking medication, but I was still experiencing all the above. It was just getting me through the day. I felt like my life was getting smaller and smaller. Since I have been doing the […]

Additional References

Bhat, P. (2010). Efficacy of Alfa EEG wave biofeedback in the management of anxiety. Industrial psychiatry journal, 19(2), 111.

Benioudakis, E. et al. (2016). Can neurofeedback decrease anxiety and fear in cancer patients? A case study. Postepy Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 25(1), 59-65.

Dias, Á. M. & van Deusen, A. (2011). A new neurofeedback protocol for depression. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 14(01), 374-384.

Garrett BL, Silver MP The use of EMG and alpha biofeedback to relieve test anxiety in college students. In: Wickramasekera I (ed). Biofeedback, Behavior Therapy, and Hypnosis. Chicago, IL: Nelson-Hall; 1976.

Ghosh, T., Jahan, M., & Singh, A. R. (2014). The efficacy of electroencephalogram neurofeedback training in cognition, anxiety, and depression in alcohol dependence syndrome: A case study. Industrial psychiatry journal, 23(2), 166.

Hammond, D. C. (2005). Neurofeedback with anxiety and affective disorders.Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 14(1), 105-123.

Hardt JV, Kamiya J. Anxiety change through electroencephalographic alpha feedback seen only in high anxiety subjects. Science 1978;201:79–81.

Hosseini, S., Fathi-Ashtiani, A., Rabiei., M., Noohi, S., & Fajrak., H. (2016). Effectiveness of neurofeedback training in reducing the signs and symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder in military staff. Journal of Military Medicine, 17(4), 191-198.

Koberda., L.. (2014). Z-score LORETA neurofeedback as a potential therapy in depression/anxiety and cognitive dysfunction. Z score neurofeedback: Clinical Applications. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press.

Lambos., W., & Williams., R. (2014). Treating anxiety disorders using Z-scored EEG neurofeedback. Z score neurofeedback: Clinical Applications.Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press.

Mennella, Patron, & Palomba. (2017). Frontal alpha asymmetry neurofeedback for the reduction of negative affect and anxiety. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 92, 32-40.

Michael, A. J., Krishnaswamy, S., & Mohamed, J. (2005). An open label study of the use of EEG biofeedback using beta training to reduce anxiety for patients with cardiac events. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 1(4), 357.

Moore, N. C. (2000). A review of EEG biofeedback treatment of anxiety disorders. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 31(1), 1-6.

Moradi., A., Pouladi., F., Pishva., N., Rezaei., B., Torshabi., M. & Mehrjerdi., Z. (2011). Treatment of anxiety disorder with neurofeedback: Case study. Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences, 30, 103-107.

Plotkin WB, Rice KM Biofeedback as a placebo: Anxiety reduction facilitated by training in either suppression or enhancement of alpha brainwaves. J Consult Clin Psychol 1981;49:590–596.

Rice KM, Blanchard EB Biofeedback in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Clin Psychol Rev 1982;2:557–577.

Rice KM, Blanchard EB, Purcell M. Biofeedback treatments of generalized anxiety disorder: Preliminary results. Biofeedback Self Regul 1993;18:93–105.

Sadjadi., S., & Hashemian, P. (2014). Effectiveness of neurofeedback therapy in children with separation anxiety disorder. Journal of Psychiatry, 17, 1000149.

Scheinost, D., Stoica, T., Saksa, J., Papademetris, X., Constable, R. T., Pittenger, C., & Hampson, M. (2013). Orbitofrontal cortex neurofeedback produces lasting changes in contamination anxiety and resting-state connectivity. Translational psychiatry, 3(4), e250.

Schoneveld, E. A., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., & Granic, I. (2018). Preventing childhood anxiety disorders: is an applied game as effective as a cognitive behavioural therapy-based program? Prevention Science, 19(2), 220-232. doi: 10.1007/s11121-017-0843-8

Simkin, D. R., Thatcher, R. W., & Lubar, J. (2014). Quantitative EEG and neurofeedback in children and adolescents: anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, comorbid addiction and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and brain injury. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 23(3), 427-464.

Sittenfeld P, Budzynski TH, Stoyva JM Differential shaping of EEG theta rhythms. Biofeedback Self Regul 1976;1:31–46.

Walker, J. E. (2009). Anxiety Associated With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder—The Role of Quantitative Electro-encephalograph in Diagnosis and in Guiding Neurofeedback Training to Remediate the Anxiety. Biofeedback, 37(2), 67-70.

Zilverstand, A., Sorger, B., Sarkheil, P., & Goebel., R. (2015). fMRI neurofeedback facilitates anxiety regulation in females with spider phobia. Frontiers of Behavioural Neuroscience, 9, 148.

 

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