Neurofeedback
Have you ever noticed that there are times that you seem to be confused, at a loss, or not able to assimilate what’s going on around you? If this happens to you at times, you may be experiencing a sensation familiar to drug addicts and abusers.
An addict under the influence of a drug may think his brain functions are enhanced. But to outside observers, it is very obvious that “he is out of his mind.” That is why neurofeedback is a very important tool for the recovery of a drug addict. It is a therapeutic tool which helps to restore a person’s mental balance.
The Nature of Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback is a strategy where you can “rewire” your brain function to become more rational and healthy. As a result, you will find that you are able to use your brain more efficiently. His House mental health professionals have found that neurofeedback treatment plans for drug addiction are very beneficial for addicts in gaining more clarity about the world around them. The process includes:
- Observing your brain functions in action
- Showing the information back to you (feedback)
- Rewarding you for changing your activity to more appropriate and responsive patterns
As you can see, this is a very gradual process, as it can be applied to all aspects of brain function which can be measured.
Neurofeedback is oftentimes called EEG Biofeedback since it is primarily dependent on the electroencephalogram (EEG) or electrical activity of your brain. In this respect, neurofeedback can be considered training in self-regulation which is a vital part of good brain function, which also enhances the functioning of your central nervous system.
What Neurofeedback Hopes to Correct
The primary aim of this brain enhancement strategy is the correction of brain functions which have been impaired by drug or alcohol abuse. The affected functions can include:
- Attention deficit disorders
- PMS
- Sleep disorders
- Various forms of anxiety and depression
- Emotional disturbances
- Headaches and migraines
- Behavioral disorders
Why Neurofeedback Is Important in the Recovery Process
With this brain enhancement technique, the brain functions of a drug-dependent, emotionally disturbed individual or any person with mental health problems can significantly improve. Because Neurofeedback treatment plans are based in scientific and medical research, they complement the traditional psychotherapy techniques used in drug addiction treatment to give our patients a comprehensive treatment plan.
How Neurofeedback Works
This is the usual procedure in neurofeedback treatment:
- The doctor will apply electrodes to the scalp of the patient
- He will process the brain signals recorded by the computer
- He will extract and interpret the information about the patient’s key brainwave frequencies. This is done since some brain frequencies stand out from the rest
- He will show the patient the ebb and flow of his brain frequencies
- The doctor will ask the patient to change his brain activity level
- The patient is asked to promote desirable frequencies and diminish the undesirable ones
Some doctors will let the patient undergo certain tests, some which resemble video games, to help him focus on good frequencies and negate bad ones. In the process, the patient is able to develop a brainwave activity that enhances the recovery of his mental balance.
The frequencies targeted by the mental health professionals are the ones needed to be corrected, considering the particular needs of the patient.
