Biofeedback is a technique you can use to learn to control your body’s functions. With biofeedback, you are connected to electrical sensors that give you information about your body and with this information you can focus on making changes in your body to achieve the goals you want. Biofeedback allows you to have the power to use your thoughts to control your body and improve your physical performance or a health condition.
Brain Painting
Brain Painting is a form of neurofeedback therapy using biofeedback. It is a non-invasive therapy where sensors are attached to the patient’s scalp and then answer a series of questions that maps out the brain. The technician then detects the brain’s response to certain stimuli or questions. Once this is done, it can be used to inhibit negative behavior and reward positive behavior. Patients can essentially see their brain in action, by showing which areas are not working correctly and giving them an opportunity to correct it to achieve stability. It is tailored to the individual and there are different treatment protocols used for each patient as well as different benefits based on their goals. Studies have shown that those recovering from addiction often have unstable brains in the beginning stages of recovery but brain painting can help patients with their “flight-or-fight” reactions and train their brains to engage and achieve a state of relaxed focus and attentiveness. It shows a reduced rate in relapse and extends recovery. The long-term use of substances changes the way the brain functions and can produce symptoms of anxiety, depression, poor impulse control, and anger. Brain painting allows the brain to balance itself out from under- or over-arousal into a more comfortable state of being.
Brain Painting at Recovery Ways
Recovery Ways uses brain painting for patients with addiction issues, mental health and trauma. Images are taken of the brain while a patient is processing in order to look for specific brain activity in different regions. This is great for relapse trigger identification and handled in individual sessions.
Biofeedback and How it Helps
Using biofeedback can help manage many mental health and physical issues including but not limited to anxiety or stress, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chronic pain, headaches, and many others. This noninvasive therapy eliminates or reduces the need for medications and allows the patient to take control of their health. The feedback teaches patients to change their thoughts, feelings, or behavior in order to help the condition for which the treatment is being sought for. By thinking or doing different things they can get feedback and when they discover which one lessens the feeling they then know what to focus on. Learning the techniques to change the behavior, emotions, or thoughts can be used after treatment while the patient is on their own. Typically biofeedback sessions last about 30 to 90 minutes and the number of sessions are determined based on the condition and how quickly the patient learns to have control over their physical responses. Using the techniques taught during biofeedback and practicing them regularly helps with how many sessions the patient may need. When patients find the way to control their bodies they help correct their overactive autonomic nervous system. This gives patients a feeling of control and can also offer more hope about life in general without the constant aliment. Using biofeedback with other therapies can be very useful to the overall treatment plan.
Biofeedback is tailored to each individual and their specific needs but can be used for addiction treatment. It helps patients understand their involuntary functions and how they can make them more distressed. It helps them track how their body unconsciously reacts to physical and emotional tension. Withdrawal symptoms can often lead to physical stress and heightened involuntary responses which biofeedback can help control. Combining it with mindfulness meditation helps them focus on releasing the negative emotions and thoughts through peaceful confrontation. Progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery can help recovering addicts focus on releasing the tension in muscles and thinking soothing, positive images, and scenarios to relax their mind and body. Learning to understand the effects of addiction on the mind and body and then how to modify those effects helps those in recovery feel in control of their recovery. Biofeedback has been used for decades in substance abuse disorders and has proven to show usefulness especially in conjunction with other therapies and helps reduce relapse rates.
Biofeedback at Recovery Ways
Recovery Ways uses this process for emotional regulation for patients doing mental health work and for trigger reduction for patients struggling with their addiction. We use this process for patients to become aware of their body and how their body feels when they are in good states versus when they are on the verge of a relapse or emotional decompensation. This process also ties in mindfulness and is a great way to teach patients how to regulate their feelings such as anxiety.
