Anxiety / Panic Attacks
Clients suffering symptoms of anxiety and panic have too much “hyper-alert” or fast wave activity and are especially well served by Neurofeedback. Neurofeedback trains the brain to calm itself and reduce the “fight or flight” response. This can minimize the severity and frequency of episodes and even eliminate symptoms altogether, leaving clients calm, relaxed and “in control”.

Signs & Symptoms
Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state, frequently accompanied by physiological symptoms that may lead to fatigue or even exhaustion. It can range in intensity and severity from panic attacks and phobias at one extreme to more mild conditions such as performance anxiety and stage fright. Anxiety/panic attacks are prolonged “fight or flight” responses that become unhealthy for your body and disruptive to your life.

Symptoms can include:

• Increased heart & respiratory rates
• Clammy skin, dry mouth
• Nausea and even diarrhea
• Irritable, easily startled
• Uncontrollable thoughts
• Muscle tension including trembling, twitching, feeling shaky, and muscle aches and soreness
• Insomnia
• Withdrawal, isolation

What's Going On in the Brain
Clients suffering symptoms of anxiety and panic have too much “hyper-alert” or fast wave activity (high Beta frequency band), particularly on the right hemisphere of the brain. Normally, the brain is able to quickly enter a state of heightened alertness in response to danger and when the danger passes, quickly return to a normal state. Those suffering from anxiety/panic disorders are seemingly stuck in a perpetual state of heightened awareness and have a very difficult time returning to a normal state.

How Neurofeedback Helps Anxiety
Neurofeedback trains the brain to calm itself by reducing the fast wave activity and replacing it with more “pay attention” (beta frequency band) activity that is more appropriate for day to day functioning. In addition, Neurofeedback helps the brain learn to appropriately turn on the anxious state in response to dangerous situations and quickly return to normal when the danger has passed.

My clients find they are able to maintain a core sense of calm and peacefulness. They are able to handle problems and unexpected events rationally without losing their temper or becoming so anxious that they are unable to cope. Many have been able to reduce and even eliminate medications and other treatments.

Research
The following are selected research studies showing the effect of Neurofeedback on anxiety and panic disorders:

Neurofeedback with anxiety and affective disorders.
Hammond DC. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2005 Jan;14(1):105-23, vii. Review.

A review of EEG biofeedback treatment of anxiety disorders.
Moore NC. Clin Electroencephalogr. 2000 Jan;31(1):1-6. Review.

Treatment of Chronic Anxiety Disorder with Neurotherapy: A Case Study.
Joseph E. Thomas, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Sattlberger, B.A. Journal of Neurotherapy, 2(2), 1997


Numerous additional references are available upon request.