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Conditions
Anxiety
and Stress-related Disorders
The causes of anxiety and stress-related disorders
seem to be a complex interplay of predisposing heredity factors,
childhood circumstances, hormonal imbalances and life-events.
These disorders often involve an over-activation of the sympathetic
nervous system. Because these disorders involve the activation
of our most basic survival responses, often called "fight
or flight" response it will always remain difficult to dampen
that response. Biofeedback works to decrease psychophysiological
reactivity and to improve recovery (by teaching the patient to
activate the opposing parasympathetic system).
- Irritable
Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

- High
Blood Pressure

- Asthma

- Temporomuscular
Joint Syndrome (TMJ)

- Tinnitus

- Raynaud's
disease

- Test
& Performance Anxiety

Chronic
Pain Disorders
Chronic Pain Management is a comprehensive pain management
program included training in muscle relaxation, control of physiological
hyperarousal, cognitive-behavioral strategies aim at reducing
pain triggers and assisting in life-style changes necessitated
by pain.
- Fibromyalgia:
When working with Fibromyalgia, Dr. DeBease follows the protocol
developed in Canada by Drs. Sella and Donaldson, which incorporates
sEMG, and EEG in the treatment of Fibromyalgia. Special attention
is also given to improving sleep consolidation and quality.
- MusculoSkeletal
Disorder: (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Repetitive Use Injury)
In addition to the psychophysiological profile, an ergonomic
assessment is often needed when the disorder appears to be linked
to work/occupation.
Other pain
syndromes treated are post-herpetic neuralgia, myofacial pain
syndrome and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).
Cognitive
Difficulties
The cognitive rehabilitation program involves both cognitive skills
training and biofeedback training. Both GSR biofeedback and EEG
biofeedback are used to maximize attentional focus.
- Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI): This treatment is designed for patients
suffering from mild traumatic brain injury. The treatment is
offered as an adjunctive therapy while the patient is under
the care of a medical doctor.

- Cognitive
Slowing Due to Aging: A special Brain Brightening Program
is designed for seniors who are experiencing cognitive slowing.

- Attention
Deficit Disorders: There
are many varieties of attentional problems which unfortunately
get lumped together under the heading of ADD/ADHD. However,
there are several sub-types of attentional disorders and each
requires selective treatment strategies (including medication
variations). A thorough diagnostic
assessment is done prior to treatment.

Epilepsy
Working with your neurologist, the Sterman EEG protocol
is utilized as well as using traditional biofeedback to decrease
physiological hyperarousal, which may act as a seizure trigger.
It should be noted that biofeedback is only an adjunct therapy
for epilepsy and that the patient must be in the care of a medical
doctor.
Biofeedback for epilepsy can, for some patients, give the patient
more control over seizure activity. One patient reported, "Biofeedback
has enabled me to actually keep my seizures under control. Whenever
I felt an aura coming on, I was able to stop it from fully progressing
into a seizure."
Migraine
and Tension Headaches
Psychologically, migraine's #1 trigger is stress. Physiologically,
migraine is both a blood flow and an electrophysiological disorder.
Biofeedback offers a comprehensive psychophysiological treatment
that works to decrease both vascular and electrical instabilities.
Thermal biofeedback reduces vascular reactivity to stress and
EEG biofeedback decreases cranio-electric instabilities.
Peak Performance
Training
The training is often interplay of motivation, cognitive focus,
and neuromuscular flexibility. Biofeedback has been used for years
by elite Olympic athletes, astronauts and test pilots. Training
involves learning to decrease hyperarousal and to remain focused.
These programs are ideal for overcoming test and performance anxiety.
Pregnancy
Issues
Biofeedback is one of the techniques used in our
work with women who wish to get pregnant or who are pregnant.
Lowering stress helps a woman get pregnant, and lowering stress
helps the developing fetus. Recent studies have shown that stress-reduction
programs can improve the rate of conception. In addition, the
work of Dr. Janet DiPietro at Johns Hopkins shows that high levels
of stress during pregnancy can contribute to premature births
at lower birth weight and may even adversely affect a baby's temperament.
Sleep Disorders
One reason people are having so much trouble sleeping is that
their own bodies are over producing one of the strongest stimulates
available andrenalin.
Sleep disorders
are significantly helped through the use of biofeedback, neurotherapy
and by implementing a sleep hygiene program. Biofeedback helps
reestablish our body's natural energy levels and natural sleep
cycles.
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