Neurofeedback for Anxiety

After depression, anxiety disorders are the second most prevalent psychiatric disorders among the global population. Anxiety can range from mild to severe, and stems from various sources. 

Fortunately, anxiety is highly treatable and, with the proper help, you do not have to let it rule your life forever.

What Happens in Your Brain When You’re Anxious

We once believed that the amygdala was the sole part of the brain causing anxiety. However, new research and technologies have shown there is a lot more of the brain in play than just the amygdala alone.

FMRI imaging has shown that anxiety is a complex disorder involving the interplay of many parts of the brain, neurons, and hormones. Different parts of the brain are usually working together. With anxiety disorders, different brain regions and landmarks are working more or less actively than they would in a typical brain. 

The Amygdala 

The amygdala serves many purposes. Two of these are emotional processing and memory. The amygdala specifically processes strong emotions such as pleasure and fear. People with anxiety disorders have an overactive amygdala

The Hippocampus 

Located right next to the amygdala, the hippocampus is associated with memory formation. It communicates with the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala and has the ability to help or exacerbate anxiety. 

The hippocampus can bring memories to light in times of fear that either dampen the fear, or heighten it. 

Say someone is getting ready to jump off the diving board. Their fear and anxiety rises as they near the edge. The hippocampus could recall a memory from the past of them doing a perfect dive off where they then resurfaced and swam easily to the side of the pool. This memory would help ease the fear and anxiety the person is experiencing. 

Conversely, the hippocampus could resurface a memory of a time the individual accidentally belly flopped off the diving board and gasped for air as their head rose back up above the water. This memory would heighten the fear and anxiety that the individual is already feeling. 

Researchers have found that the hippocampus of individuals with anxiety disorders are smaller and lighter than those in typical brains. This could affect the way someone's brain encodes memories and how they resurface.

The Prefrontal Cortex

The frontal lobes are the largest lobes of the brain that house a plethora of human functions. The prefrontal cortex within the frontal lobe is home to many areas that play a role in anxiety disorders.   

MPFC

The medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) is associated with information processing of ourselves and other people. People with anxiety and stress disorders have reduced connectivity, and therefore communication, between the MPFC and the amygdala. 

When anxious feelings arise, this lack of connectivity leads to a lower ability to regulate those feelings.

dACC

The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) is hyperactive in people with anxiety and other disorders. It increases our response to fear or a threat. When it is overactive, it heightens our anxiety and fear.

rACC  

Fear and threat responses are regulated by the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC). People with anxiety and other disorders exhibit reduced regulation within this area.

These are the main areas of the volume working too hard or not enough in people with anxiety and stress disorders. Anxiety is a complex, “whole brain” disorder. 

Neurofeedback for Anxiety 

Biofeedback for anxiety is a viable option for people wanting to take hold of their anxiety disorders. It is a safe and noninvasive therapy that monitors a person’s reaction to stimuli. The information gathered from the monitoring is then used to retrain the brain to respond in a healthier manner.

Biofeedback utilizes a variety of sensors and monitors to observe body and brain functions such as breathing, heart rate, muscle tension and movement, body temperature, sweat, and brain activity. The feedback are those functions displayed back in real time. 

How Neurofeedback Works

Neurofeedback is a subcategory of biofeedback therapy that focuses on brain activity responses to stimuli. Sensors are placed on the scalp to monitor brain wave activity. The activity provides real time feedback to both the client and the therapist in the form of audio or visual responses.

Many people with anxiety do not know what triggers the anxious feelings and or the signs that they are coming. Neurofeedback therapy for anxiety helps teach them of their signs. 

Once people are aware of their signs and triggers, they can train themselves to have a healthier response. This can be done through practice and repetition in neurotherapy sessions and everyday life.

Neurofeedback utilizes positive reinforcement to stimuli to change the response. Dysfunction and lack of connectivity between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex are big culprits in what is atypical about the brains of people with anxiety disorders. 

Increasing Brain Connectivity

Studies have shown neurofeedback therapy can help increase the connectivity and communication between the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus through exposure to stimuli that may have previously been anxiety inducing. However, a healthier response is learned through the neurofeedback process. 

Enhanced connectivity among these areas of the brain helps people regulate their emotions and fear. This is useful when they are exposed to a real or perceived threat.

It’s All About Communication

People say communication is key for relationships. Well, this is true for the relationship with your body and brain, and within your brain, too.

Mental health disorders often affect how the brain communicates. Parts of the brain may over-communicate, under-communicate, or not communicate at all.

Fortunately, just like you can train your body, you can train your brain. Through trial and error and practice with the right therapists and techniques, you can rewire your brain to a healthier circuit. 

If anxiety is taking over your life, know that it can get better. Neurofeedback therapy is a great treatment option to help you regain control of your anxiety and your life back.

Find Neurofeedback Therapy in Arizona

Sequoia Behavioral Health has both inpatient and intensive outpatient treatment programs run by a compassionate team who looks and treats each individual holistically. The Sequoia Behavioral Health has team members experienced in neurofeedback and prepared to guide you through the process. Anxiety should not run your life. You should. Call today at 480-690-9304 or request a consultation online to chat about how we can help you.