Neurofeedback Therapy for Anxiety

February 13, 2023 | Comments Off | Mental Health, Anxiety, Brain training

✓ Fact checked by: Dr. Glen M Doniger, PhD

Neurofeedback Therapy for Anxiety, We can help. Much faster than the evolution of our bodies and brains, our culture and technology have advanced. And for this reason, while under stress, sometimes our brain reacts as though a bear is pursuing us. Even when there is no real danger, it enters fight-or-flight mode. You may have experienced it: in response to a perceived threat, your heart rate increases, your breathing quickens, and your pupils enlarge.

While these sensations might be helpful in some circumstances, they can also be upsetting and uncomfortable in others. For instance, if you have anxiety, your fight-or-flight response may be excessive and regularly activated, even when you are not in danger.

The good news is that your brain has a surprising lot of adaptability and room for growth, even if you suffer these symptoms. According to research, the brain can change its structure or function in response to exposure to new stimuli or settings. This trait is known as neuroplasticity.

Neurofeedback Therapy: Rewiring the Brain

Neurofeedback uses EEG technology to read your brainwaves in real-time to deliver visual or audio feedback depending on protocols established by the Neurofeedback Therapy provider. The major result of the training or feedback, which can be carried out through games or movies, is that your brain gradually learns to be healthier and more balanced.

The Numerous Expressions of Anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder are all included under the general term “anxiety disorders” (PTSD).

Anxiety and anguish are common physical reactions when under great stress or in danger. If these feelings are present virtually always or grow so intense that they interfere with your life, it becomes a disorder. Frequent panic episodes, compulsive thoughts, a paralyzing phobia, or never-ending anxieties are frequently the symptoms.

Which Region of the Brain Produces Anxiety?

The two distinct neural pathways in the brain that cause anxiety are both active. One pathway, which involves our observations and ideas about situations, starts in the cerebral cortex, the brain’s vast, wavy grey region.

The other pathway, which passes directly through the amygdala, a part of the brain connected to emotional functions, brings the fight-or-flight response. Although both routes are involved in anxiety, some forms of anxiety are more closely associated with the so-called cortical pathway, while others may show a more significant amygdala involvement.

Most people consider the cortical pathway when thinking about the origins of anxiety. Imagine, for instance, that you frequently have thoughts that make you more anxious or that you stress about uncertainties, worry excessively, or become trapped trying to come up with solutions. In this situation, you’re most likely dealing with anxiety based on the cortex.

The amygdala may release a burst of adrenaline, raise blood pressure and heart rate, tighten muscles, and do many other things in less than a tenth of a second. However, the amygdala pathway operates more swiftly than the brain and doesn’t result in conscious thinking. As a result, many components of an anxiety reaction are produced without your knowledge or conscious control.

Therefore, if your anxiety seems to have no apparent cause and defies logic, the amygdala pathway will likely cause your symptoms.

After speaking with your doctor, you may combine Neurofeedback Therapy with CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), lifestyle changes and home remedies, or medication. Your choice of therapy will rely on your personal preferences and the nature of your anxiety disorder.

The Brainwave Connection and Anxiety

A healthy, balanced brain will produce the right brainwaves at the right times and levels.

Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are the five different categories of brainwaves that the brain generates.

Anxiety is frequently correlated with diminished alpha waves and increased beta waves. You can alter your brainwaves with the help of Neurofeedback Therapy to obtain the desired brainwave state.

Alpha waves, for instance, appear when you are at ease.

Although beta waves are linked to alertness, if they persist for a prolonged period, they can cause feelings of fear and worry. Therefore, understanding how to enhance alpha waves while decreasing beta wave activity can be your goal if you feel pressured and concerned.

What are the brain’s effects of anxiety?

Anxiety also alters the brain by decreasing the connections between the amygdala and the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. The amygdala and its connection to emotional functions have already been covered; the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is a part of the frontal lobes related to reaction inhibition and goal-appropriate response choice.

The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the amygdala collaborate in a healthy brain to process and react to social and environmental cues. The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is activated when you perceive a potential threat, which aids your brain in making the best decision possible. The amygdala distributes messages throughout the brain in this process. You are less likely to react to the threat logically when anxious because anxiety impairs the connection between the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the amygdala.

According to studies, Neurofeedback Therapy may improve the communication between the amygdala and the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. When the connection is established again, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex is better able to respond appropriately to possible threats, which lessens the impulsive, hyperactive behaviours sometimes linked to anxiety.

The SMR protocol is another neurofeedback technique for easing anxiety symptoms. SMR training is a popular method for enhancing focus and attention. The SMR frequency band is linked to an attentive and alert state and quiet or subdued motor movements. By reducing drowsy, mind-wandering theta waves and anxious or racing high beta waves while boosting the calm, focused SMR waves, SMR training frequently enhances focus and attention. Additionally, SMR training enhances balance, motor control, and relaxation.

Only artists who got alpha-theta

training had improved musical ability under stress in a study of extremely talented musicians performing under stressful circumstances.

Another study found that following five weeks of a twice-weekly

training of alpha, theta, and SMR, teenagers with self-reported attention and anxiety symptoms had improved symptoms (measured by visual analog scales) and enhanced alpha and SMR.

In one RCT of test anxiety, participants who received

produced 33% more alpha and displayed a substantial reduction in anxiety; in contrast, subjects who received no treatment or relaxation training did not exhibit a meaningful symptom reduction.

Summary

There are efficient methods to lessen your worry, regardless of whether your brain is inherently predisposed to anxiety or whether you acquired your inclination later in life.

To combat anxiety, you can try Neurofeedback Therapy. You might soon be able to rearrange your neural circuits and become a calmer, healthier version of yourself with regular practice.

For a thorough overview of

research in various circumstances and citations to supporting studies, visit our article on research overview.

What Sort of Neurofeedback Therapy Protocol is Used for Anxiety Reduction?

Alpha-theta neurofeedback training, which lowers arousal, has been used to reduce anxiety and produce a generally relaxed state of well-being when it comes to employing

for anxiety. Most training involves listening to aural feedback while keeping your eyes closed.