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Biofeedback and Neurofeedback for Anxiety

Anxiety affects us both mentally and physically. A holistic approach needs to address both the underlying physiological basis, and the thinking (cognitive) and behavioural patterns that maintain anxiety.

How Biofeedback Can Help Anxiety

Biofeedback measures bodily responses associated with anxiety, and by feeding back the information via computer, helps you

  • become aware of how you are responding to stress
  • learn to create the physiological conditions that support more positive mental states - for example optimal breathing and Heart Rate Coherence.

Neurofeedback is biofeedback that works directly with brain states, and is effectve for persistent and deep-rooted anxiety.

Mindfulness Based Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy aims to identify patterns in how you think, feel and act that create vulnerability to anxiety, and then create healthier patterns. Awareness is key. Mindfulness is a meditative method of developing awareness that combines beautifully with biofeedback.

What's The Evidence?

The Science of the Heart

This ebook, published by the Hearthmath Institute (a not-for-profit organisation promoting Heart Rate Coherence biofeedback) documents research demonstrating the benefit of HRC training for anxiety and panic.

Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Anxiety Page

AAPB rates the research evidence supporting biofeedback for anxiety at level 4 out of 5 - efficacious.

Breathing Physiology and Anxiety

This paper explores the relationship between problem breathing patterns, most notably over-breathing or hyperventilation, and anxiety.

About Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural human emotion that affects how we feel, think and act. Symptoms of anxiety can be:

  • Physical : pounding heart, tight chest, breathlessness or rapid breathing, muscle tension or shaking, nausea, dizziness, blushing, tight throat, cracked voice, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, aches and pains
  • Mental : poor focus, racing thoughts, repetitive thoughts, seeing threats everywhere, imagining the worst happening.

Tyes of Anxiety

All the following can be helped by biofeedback and neurofeedback:

  • Generalised Anxiety Disorder - persistent anxiety and worry.
  • Phobia - intense anxiety associated with a specific object or situation, such as fear of flying.
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - anxiety associated with certain painful or traumatic events in the past, which continue to have effects in the present.
  • Panic Attacks

Anxiety is very commonly experienced with other disorders, notably depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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