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By Michael Cohen, Director and Chief of Neurotechnology
Liquor stores are flooded with customers. Bakeries are selling out of pastries. Sugar and flour are flying off the grocery store shelves, and we all know about the infamous toilet paper panic.
There’s no doubt about it: the coronavirus pandemic is causing unprecedented stress and anxiety in our lives in ways we never imagined, and we’re employing all sorts of desperate measures to find relief.
A recent survey spearheaded by the U.S. Census Bureau (the Household Pulse Survey) revealed that since the country’s lockdown, one-third of Americans are showing signs of clinical anxiety and depression.
Another study this year, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that almost half of those sheltering in place reported increased stress or worry.
And Express Scripts, a prescription benefit plan, reported that demand has been soaring for antidepressant, antianxiety and anti-insomnia prescriptions.
Unfortunately, drinking or eating more, or even binge watching TV show and movies, doesn’t make the anxiety go away for long, and neither does taking prescription medication.
The problem with medications
The problem with medications is that they don’t teach your brain to operate differently. They often have side effects. They either don’t work at all, don’t work well enough to help or their effect wears off over time. You find yourself right back where you started – or worse.
Worst of all, medication doesn’t fix the issue.
Neurofeedback often can and does help calm anxiety and stress.
What is neurofeedback? Neurofeedback is an innovative non-medicine technology which harnesses the brain’s neuroplasticity – its ability to change itself – in order to bring about improvement in a variety of symptoms which can interfere with life satisfaction.
In recent weeks, more and more people suffering from pandemic-fueled stress and anxiety have been coming to see us for neurofeedback, seeking both short-term and long-term relief without medication.
For example, our recent client “Rebecca” came to us for excessive worry and fear. She said she couldn’t quiet her mind and was obsessing about the pandemic. After six sessions, she reported feeling “almost normal” and was able to resume her pre-pandemic state of mind.
This is not an unusual outcome, by the way. About 75 percent of our clients find that their troublesome symptoms diminish in just a few sessions (more complex cases can take longer, however).
Combining neurofeedback with body biofeedback
Fortunately, neurofeedback and certain other forms of biofeedback, including body biofeedback, do a very good job of helping regulate the brain and calm the nervous system. Once those are under control, anxiety and panic attacks become less of a problem.
And one big benefit: Neurofeedback and body biofeedback can help lessen or eliminate your reliance on medications.
Neurofeedback trains and rewires the part of your brain that controls stress rather than merely helping you manage it. Body biofeedback works to calm your nervous system and promotes better cell-to-cell communication. Neurofeedback and body biofeedback together are very helpful for any type of anxiety, even PTSD. (One person described it as “healing from the inside out.”)
These combined technologies help you better handle the stress and anxiety that are part of our pandemic world, without being overwhelmed. They also reduce the chances you’ll have panic attacks.
Below is an excerpt from my new book, Neurofeedback 101: Rewiring the Brain for ADHD, Anxiety, Depression and Beyond (without medication) that addresses using neurofeedback for anxiety.
If you’d like to learn more about how neurofeedback can help you cope better with your stresses and worries – without medication – contact our office.
About Michael Cohen
Michael Cohen is a leading expert in brain biofeedback. For over 25 years he’s worked with clients, taught courses and provided consulting to physicians and mental health professionals around the world.
Interested in learning more about neurofeedback?
You’ll have all your questions answered in Mike Cohen’s new Amazon best selling book Neurofeedback 101: Rewiring the Brain for ADHD, Anxiety, Depression and Beyond (without medication).
Welltower Center
550 Heritage Drive, Suite 140,
Jupiter, FL 33458
Phone: 561-744-7616
Text: 561-291-9562
www.CenterForBrain.com
