Last Updated on March 5, 2023 by Georgia Anne
Neurofeedback therapy is a biofeedback that uses real-time audio or video displays to measure your brainwave activity. It helps you learn to regulate your central nervous system. During this therapy, electrodes are attached to your scalp while you and your therapist measure your brain’s frequencies. You can learn how to change the state of your mind after many neurofeedback sessions. You can consider neurofeedback therapy if you are looking for drug rehab in Austin.
How Does Neurofeedback Therapy Work?
Neurofeedback is an effective and safe treatment that uses neurological control to help develop harmonious brain processes. First, mental health professionals will use an electroencephalogram or EEG test to measure and detect brain activity. The therapist will place electrode sensors around your head. These sensors read your brainwaves, blood pressure, skin temperature, and heart rate and collect this information in a computer. Medical professionals will analyze this information and understand your brain’s functioning. This therapy can be crucial in making accurate diagnoses and developing effective treatment and recovery plans for people with addiction.
What to Expect During Neurofeedback Therapy Sessions
You could be asked to listen to music, display pictures on a tablet, or play a game during neurofeedback therapy. What you are asked to do specifically depends on your recovery plan. As you perform these activities, the medical professional will use advanced brain imaging tools to track various patterns in your brainwaves in real-time and set training criteria. The doctor can identify when your brain produces favorable signals.
If you go for a neurofeedback therapy session, you can expect the following:
- The therapist will measure your brain activity using sensors.
- They will ask you to perform different activities during the session.
- During this time, they will study your brain activity on a monitor.
- You will see positive feedback on the monitor if your brain is functioning properly and negative feedback if it doesn’t perform correctly.
The Connection Between the Brain and Addiction
When you are addicted to drugs, your body and brain become dependent on the substances over a period of time. The neurotransmitter dopamine is released in the brain’s reward region when you use drugs. Dopamine is responsible for a feeling of euphoria or pleasure. During these neurological cycles, many signals are sent to your brain to continue using these drugs because it is used to them being in your system to function properly. This entire situation is known as drug tolerance.
How is Neurofeedback Therapy Useful in Treating Addiction?
Addiction can affect the brain in many ways. Neurofeedback therapy can help treat addiction by teaching you to control your brainwaves and improve self-regulation, thereby combating drug tolerance. Research shows that people with addiction have specific brainwave imbalances. Once the therapist identifies the out-of-balance brainwaves, they will begin to train them. During neurofeedback therapy, you will focus on all your thoughts, breathing, feelings, and anything else that affects your brainwaves. Awareness of what is causing positive brainwaves will enable you to create these states even when you are not in a therapy session.
Can You Combine Neurofeedback Therapy with Other Addiction Therapies?
Neurofeedback therapy is just one of the tools used in addiction treatment. It is most effective when combined with other evidence-based therapies like medication-assisted treatment or psychotherapy. For instance, while biofeedback controls the deviations in your brainwaves, psychotherapy can help control abnormal thinking patterns that lead to addiction. In fact, treatment will not be effective if the brain patterns and behavior associated with substance abuse are not addressed.
Does Neurofeedback Therapy Help with Withdrawal Symptoms?
Neurofeedback therapy can help reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and cut down the duration of detoxification. It can also help reduce cravings and prevent relapse.
Are There Any Long-Term Effects of Neurofeedback Therapy?
The long-term effects of neurofeedback therapy are not known yet. However, initial research shows that it could be a promising addiction treatment.
Should I Get Neurofeedback Therapy?
You can seek neurofeedback therapy if you are struggling with addiction and want to find an effective way of overcoming it. The therapy can help you control brain activity and manage your addiction better.
Drug addiction affects not only you but also your family and friends. It can be frustrating for your family to see you struggle with your addiction. But things can get better for you and your family if you seek help. The Last Resort Recovery Center offers customized addiction treatment for adult males. They implement various evidence-based therapies in a beautiful 55-acre ranch to help you overcome your addiction and lead a sober life.
