Addiction
Addiction may be less about craving and more about self-medicating, primarily for anxiety and depression. After detox and treatment, anxiety and depression still usually persist. There is an understandable bias by clinicians and clients against taking medication for fear of addiction. With anxiety and depression poorly controlled abstinence rates are typically 10% or less.
Neurofeedback is helpful in relaxing the nervous system and allowing the brain the escape from frozen, dysfunctional neuronal pathways. This allows the brain to reorganize and stabilize itself. Clients feel less reactive and more resilient. Depression and anxiety often improve, which makes it much easier for a client to stay abstinent.
Is the treatment safe?
Direct Microstimulation is extremely safe. In over 100,000 clients treated with Direct Neurofeedback there has not been a single reported case of someone being worse off. This procedure has been used by practitioners for over 20 years. This is not experimental, only relatively unknown.
FAQ's
What are the sessions like?
The skin on the forehead is prepared so that there will be a good connection. Then a few sensors are placed on the scalp. The client sits still for about 30 seconds at a time while their brainwaves are recorded and a very weak signal is sent back to the brain. Other than that there is nothing the client has to do. In a few minutes the client generally feels calm and relaxed. The session is over in less than half an hour.
For those who want a little more technical insight:
LOW ENERGY NEUROFEEDBACK SYSTEMS
A Low Energy Neurofeedback System is a unique and passive form of neurofeedback that produces its effects through feedback that
involves a very tiny electromagnetic field, which only has a field strength
of 10 to the -18 watts/cm2. This feedback is so small that it is the equivalent of only 1/400th of the strength of the input we receive from simply holding an ordinary cell phone to the ear and only about the intensity of the output coming from a watch battery. This signal is 1000 times weaker than simply holding a AA battery against your forehead.
It is delivered in 1-s intervals down electrode wires
while the patient remains relatively motionless, usually eyes closed. This feedback is adjusted 16 times a second to remain a certain number
of cycles per second faster than the dominant brainwave frequency.
Most preliminary research and clinical experience are encour-
aging with articles published on Low Energy Neurofeedback
Systems treatment of conditions such as TBI (Hammond, 2010c;
Schoenberger, Shiflett, Esdy, Ochs, & Matheis, 2001), fibromyalgia (C. C. S. Donaldson, Sella, & Mueller, 1998; Mueller, Donaldson, Nelson,
& Layman, 2001), anger (Hammond, 2010a), restless legs syndrome (Hammond, in press), ADD=ADHD, anxiety, depression, insomnia and other conditions (Larsen, 2006; Larsen, Harrington, & Hicks, 2006). This has even
been used to modify behavioral problems in animals (Larsen, Larsen, et al., 2006). Advantages of the this approach include that it commonly
seems to produce results faster than traditional neurofeedback, and it can be used with very young children and with individuals who are less
motivated and who do not have the impulse control or stamina required with other neuro-feedback approaches
Direct Microstimulation can help improve a sense of well being associated with diminished anxiety, and reduced effects of traumatic brain injury, concussion, depression, PTSD, and ADD/ADHD.
Recommended for use with:
Anxiety/PTSD
Depression
Brain Fog
ADD/ADHD
Panic Attacks
Addiction
TBI/Concussions
Direct Neurofeedback to Reset the Brain
PTSD
Flashbacks, nightmares and hyper-arousal are routinely seen in PTSD. The nervous system is in chronic “fight or flight” mode. Balancing the autonomic nervous system and enhancing relaxation can have a dramatic effect on reducing symptoms.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is seen not only with returning veterans but also victims of rape, car accidents, and all sorts of physical or emotional abuse. PTSD is not just a consequence of war. It can also result from more ordinary and repeated “domestic” trauma. Flexibility and resilience are critical qualities to possess.
The first study demonstrating effectiveness of neurofeedback treating PTSD goes back to 1991. A more recent study from multiple academic institutions found significant decreases in PTSD symptoms in a population that had been treatment resistant for at least 10 years. With a diminished fight or flight response, over arousal and reactivity diminish. The nervous system is more balanced and relaxed. A more normal, healthy life can result.
What if I am on medication?
Medication does not diminish the effectiveness of Direct Microstimulation. There is no need to stop or reduce your medication, which should only be done in conjunction with your healthcare provider.
How many sessions is typical for treatment?
Most people notice an initial change within 3 sessions, occasionally a little longer. The average number of sessions for most problems is 15 to 20. Once treatment has been completed, additional sessions are usually not necessary. Occasionally someone needs a “booster”.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a form of fear, an over-arousal of the sympathetic nervous system’s “fight or flight” response. However, in modern society chronic stress and speed often leave us stuck in the fear mode. Chronic, low-level fear often leads to ongoing anxiety.
Neurofeedback enhances the parasympathetic nervous system. As the calming effect of the parasympathetic nervous system increases, the nervous system as a whole is able to relax and reset itself.
Corydon Hammond, PhD, (University of Utah) has written that there have been at least 8 studies of neurofeedback and anxiety. In one study researchers used neurofeedback to compare 25 anxious patients with a group who did not receive neurofeedback. The neurofeedback group had significant reductions in anxiety. An 18-month follow-up had identical results, indicating that the neurofeedback changes were enduring. Neurofeedback qualifies as an “evidence-based effective treatment. When separate anxiety disorders are evaluated phobias, generalized anxiety, and PTSD, neurofeedback qualifies as an effective treatment.”
We have started to see cases of Anxiety and Brain Fog related to Long Covid, and have seen some good results with our treatment.
Neuroscientists believe that the brain’s defenses against stressors and trauma create gridlock, and the nervous system gets locked in dysfunctional patterns. This treatment allows the brain to “reboot” itself and get out of those stuck frozen patterns.
A very tiny and imperceptible signal, specific for you, is sent to the brain. It is less than 1/400th of the power of your cell phone, or 1/1000th of the strength of holding a AA battery to your head.
The signal causes a sight fluctuation in brain waves and allows your brain to become unstuck.
While ADD, anxiety, depression and concussion all have different causes, the end result is frozen, stuck neuronal patterns.
Only frozen and stuck patterns are affected by this treatment. Healthy brainwave patterns are flexible and resilient. When there is a tiny fluctuation in their pattern they automatically spring back to that healthy state.
Depression
Depression comes in many forms. At one extreme is severe clinical depression characterized by profound despair, hopelessness, and the inability to take pleasure in anything (anhedonia). At the other end of the spectrum are those who are “mildly” depressed, or “dysthymic”. Outwardly they may do well in life but still feel uninspired and lack fulfillment. They feel like they are not living up to their potential and are missing out in life. Like severely depressed patients, those with dysthymia typically have persistent negative thinking and ongoing recrimination. Antidepressants are reported to be only partially effective for 30-60% of clients.
"Clients who had been in long-term therapy and struggling with anti-depressant medications, experienced dramatic shifts in just a few sessions. Suddenly, they were feeling better, with reduced symptoms, and greater ability to participate in their lives. " Ki Speer, MSW/RSW
"I was struggling with symptoms of ADHD, anxiety and depression and was looking for another treatment option in addition to therapy and medications. Dr. Schwimmer introduced me to neurofeedback and the results have been far beyond my expectations. I feel lighter, more optimistic, and no longer weighed down by complicated emotions. I am able to think more clearly and have regained memories that I thought were gone forever. I love that neurofeedback is a non-invasive option that let’s me show up as my best self." Testimonial by A.W.
ADHD/ADD
Distractibility, impulsivity, beginning tasks without completing them and poor organization skills are hallmarks of ADHD. These are usually seen in boys. Inattentive ADD, typically seen in girls, is not paying attention. It is a dreamy, “drifting away” frame of mind, which is harder to detect than the boisterous hyperactivity of ADHD.
Dr. Cory Hammond (University of Utah) wrote that “studies with neurofeedback and ADD/ADHD have documented sustained improvements compared to those produced by Ritalin on 1 year follow-up. Follow-ups have continued for as long at 10 years demonstrating the maintenance of improvements…Overall, close to 80% of ADD/ADHD patients show significant improvement (with neurofeedback).”
A Truely Innovative Treatment Approach
Concussions/TBI
Head injuries are now successfully treated with medication-free LENS Neurofeedback. Scientifically advanced treatment accelerates rebuilding of neuropathways, bypassing brain damage. Clinical therapy helps clear foggy thinking and improves concentration. UC Studies prove it works for persistent effects of childhood concussion, recent traumatic brain injury (TBI), and head injuries from contact sports.
Clients report dramatic relief from migraines after only one session. Learn the benefits medication-free Nerurofeedback.
• Relieve the root causes of brain fog and headaches.
• Rebuild healthy neurological brain networks.
• Reset neuropathways to normalize brain functions.Type your paragraph here.