Did you know that 6 million adults in the United States, or 2.7 percent of the population, had a panic disorder in the past year?
As a human, it’s pretty acceptable to feel a little nervous at times. On the other hand, people with anxiety disorders tend to worry and fret excessively about routine events and daily situations. Anxiety disorders are frequently characterized by recurrent severe anxiety and dread attacks that can affect one within minutes.
These are called panic attacks. These anxiety and panic attacks disrupt daily activities, are difficult to regulate, are out of touch with the reality of the situation, and can linger for an extended period.
Are you suffering from panic attacks? Do you need panic attack help? Let’s learn more about neurofeedback therapy can help with panic attacks.
What Is Neurofeedback Therapy?
Neurofeedback therapy uses behavioral modification to train the EEG or brainwaves. It’s a non-invasive technique that ‘re-wires’ the brain to work in a better, more optimal way. Neurofeedback therapy can improve brain function and performance without the use of drugs and their nasty side effects.
Neurofeedback therapy is:
- Non-invasive
- Very easy
- Painless
- Unharmful
- Has no side effects
- Drug/Medication free
How Can Neurofeedback Help Panic Attacks?
Neurofeedback therapy teaches your brain to stay calm and limits your stress response. By using audio and visual feedback, you can shift the neuropathways and learn to manage the panic responses. The training results in a decrease of anxiety-induced episodes, both in length and frequency.
Additionally, with enough practice, your brain will naturally maintain these healthier brainwaves. It has been shown to lower anxiety significantly, even allowing people to taper off prescribed medications under the supervision of their doctor.
How Does Neurofeedback Work?
The basics of Neurofeedback are pretty straightforward. The brain communicates between clusters of cells, generating:
- Thoughts and patterns
- Feelings and sensations
- Actions and emotions
This therapy measures the brain activity and ‘re-trains’ the brainwaves – electrical impulses of activity in the brain – to respond in more beneficial ways. You can also use it to learn how to improve the overall health of your brain activity.
During a neurofeedback session, electrodes monitor your brainwaves, allowing you to observe your brain in operation. A computer analyzes your brain activity against targets or objectives that you have set for yourself.
Through behavior modification, sounds and pictures immediately inform you when your brain has reached your objective and when it has not. It does this whether you are stimulating or repressing the specific area of the brain.
This easy method teaches you to reduce anxiety and improve brainwaves linked with good brain function. Much like physical workouts grow and develop specific muscles, mental activities strengthen and develop your brain.
How Long Does It Take for Neurofeedback to Work?
The duration of each neurofeedback training package is determined by the patient’s condition, age, and overall health. Every brain is different, and there are no cookie-cutter answers for how long it will take to work.
When it comes to anxiety there is no quick treatment, but it isn’t impossible to overcome. It typically takes anywhere from 40-50 sessions to see favorable, long-lasting results. However, you may experience fewer symptoms in the first 20 sessions, but it is rare to have resolved the issue entirely at this point.
Start with a free neurofeedback evaluation with Dr. Dody and we can discuss how this training can help your symptoms.
Contact us if you’d like more information about Neurofeedback Therapy or how we address panic attack help at our Littleton clinic.
