Three Types of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety

Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety is widely considered by psychiatrists and psychologists in Farmingdale and elsewhere to be one of the most effective and best supported treatments for anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other related psychological conditions. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which the therapist helps the patient identify irrational ways of thinking and feeling that lead to maladaptive behaviors, in order to change the client’s response to anxiety-triggering situations and events.

There are six key phases involved in cognitive behavioral therapy:

1.       Psychological assessment of the client by the therapist

2.       Reconceptualization, in which the client learns to reexamine their ways of thinking about anxiety-triggering situations or events

3.       Skills acquisition, in which the client learns new skills for coping

4.       Skills consolidation and application, in which the client applies their newly learned skills

5.       Generalization and maintenance

6.       Post-treatment assessment and follow-up

There are several different approaches to cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety available in Farmingdale. Some of these include rational emotive behavior therapy, cognitive emotional behavior therapy, and structured cognitive behavioral therapy.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety that emphasizes the resolution of emotional disturbances and related behavioral problems. REBT was originally developed in the 1950s by American psychiatrist Albert Ellis, who continued to develop this approach until his death in 2007. The central premise of REBT as cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, is that people tend to become upset not so much by unfortunate circumstances or adversities in and of themselves, but by their own ways of thinking about these adversities.

This is shaped by the person’s overall philosophical outlook and how they construct their view of reality. Albert Ellis described the relationship between events and the person’s reaction to them in terms of the A-B-C Model:

·         A for adversity or activating events

·         B for the person’s beliefs regarding the events

·         C for the emotional and behavioral consequences of the person’s beliefs toward the activating events

Ellis’s REBT aims to help patients realize that, although they cannot control certain events and circumstances in their lives, they can control how they think about, feel about, and respond to those events or circumstances. Many people have cognitive and behavioral tendencies, often developed early in life, that become self-defeating; REBT aims to help people reexamine their feelings, behaviors, and ways of thinking to respond in a more healthy manner to adversities.

Cognitive Emotional Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive emotional behavioral therapy (CEBT) is another form of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety. CEBT aims to help clients self-evaluate the basis of emotional distress, and to better understand what causes and contributes to their emotional states. Achieving a better self-understanding reduces the need for dysfunctional coping behaviors. CEBT is distinct from CBT, per se, in that it places more emphasis on the emotional component of anxiety and other disorders. Although CEBT was originally developed for treating eating disorders, it has also proven to be effective for many individuals as a form of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety.

Structured Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A third approach to cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in Farmingdale and elsewhere is structured cognitive behavioral therapy (SCBT). SCBT is distinct from CBT in that it is considered less of an indefinite therapy and more as a finite form of training. In SCBT, clients undergo a program divided into progressive sessions arranged into a particular order. The design of SCBT is tailored more to the disorder than to the individual. SCBT stresses willpower, in the form of urge conditioning and desensitization. Although SCBT is most commonly used for addictive behaviors, it can also be effective for some individuals as cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety.

ALLEVIATE ANXIETY WITH NEUROFEEDBACK! OFFERED IN THE NEW YORK AREA

Sleep State Misperception: When Insomnia Isn’t Really Insomnia

Many people in New York and elsewhere suffer from insomnia, the inability to fall asleep and to stay asleep that can severely affect the person’s ability to function during the day. However, there are some cases where a person may be convinced that they have insomnia, even though in reality the duration and quality of their sleep is absolutely fine. This is called sleep state misperception or paradoxical insomnia, and is recognized by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine as a legitimate sleep-related disorder. Although people with sleep state misperception are sleeping just fine, the idea that they are losing sleep can cause considerable anxiety and stress.

Signs and Symptoms

People with sleep state misperception underestimate the time they spend sleeping, and are often mistakenly under the impression that they were awake at times when they had actually been asleep. They often report to their healthcare providers that they are not sleeping much at all, requesting treatment for insomnia. However, when they are given a polysomnograph test—a clinical test incorporating EEG, EMG, and other measurements to evaluate for sleep disorders—it is revealed that there is nothing wrong with the quality or duration of their sleep. Although they sometimes do report excessive daytime sleepiness, which is typical of insomnia, evidence suggests that this effect is more likely to be “in their heads” or due to a cause other than lack of sleep.

Sleep State Misperception, Anxiety, and Stress

Even when polysomnographic studies indicate that they’re actually fine, a person with sleep state misperception may remain convinced that there is something wrong with their sleeping patterns. Often this causes considerable anxiety and stress. Sometimes doctors will prescribe the patient a sleep medication anyway, such as Lunesta or Ambien, but this can be dangerous because these drugs can be habit-forming and can also cause unwanted side effects. Chronic sleep state misperception is associated with increased risk of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, which are often exacerbated by stress over the fact that doctors “can’t figure out what’s wrong” with the patient.

How Can Sleep State Misperception Be Treated?

Since people with sleep state misperception are not actually having trouble sleeping, treatment should theoretically differ from the typical treatments for actual insomnia. Some psychologists suggest that a major component of treatment for paradoxical insomnia should be cognitive restructuring. A person with sleep state misperception is not “malingering,”, or deliberately lying to deceive healthcare professionals; they are legitimately concerned that they are suffering from insomnia, and are generally surprised when sleep studies indicate that they are not. Although they are sleeping, some evidence also suggests that over arousal could be compromising the depth and quality of their sleep, contributing to the misperception that they have only slept for a few hours. Sleep state misperception may be best treated with cognitive behavioral approaches, including addressing underlying anxiety or depression that may contribute to the person’s worries about possible insomnia. Although research has yet to be conducted into using neurofeedback therapy for sleep state misperception, this may theoretically prove a fruitful field of research.

Identifying Anxiety Disorders

There are several kinds of recognized panic disorders and suffers across the nation, especially in largely populated areas where life is fast paced. There are a range of anxiety treatment options for residents of the Port Washington, NY area – one being BrainCore’s revolutionary neurofeedback therapy. It’s important to understand the different signs and symptoms so you know when it’s a matter that needs to be addressed by a doctor. The following is a list of the different disorders and the treatments available.

Types of Panic Disorders

Anxiety is really a natural human emotion and feeling anxiety every now and then when dealing with challenges at home or the office is totally normal. However, when a person experiences a panic disorder, their lives are completely disrupted. The attacks can be constant and overwhelming. It’s important that those that suffer with a panic disorder find a treatment that works for his or her specific disorder. Back to life Chiropractic in Port Washington offers a natural treatment option for panic disorders including the following:

·         Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Individuals with this Obsessive-compulsive disorder have repeated and undesirable ideas, feelings, actions, or obsessions which make them feel driven to do certain rituals or do things in a certain manner.

·         Panic Attacks - Individuals with this problem have sudden feelings of terror and fear that occur with virtually no warning. Physical signs and symptoms include heart palpitations, trouble breathing, sweating, chest discomfort, and also the sense of cardiac arrest.

·         Fears (Phobias) - Phobic individuals have a persistent and irrational anxiety about a particular object or situation. The amount of fear is generally disproportionate towards the situation, and frequently interferes with the person leading an ordinary existence.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of panic disorders vary with respect to the type of disorder. Here are a few key items to watch for:

·         Excessive worrying or anxious ideas

·         Trouble falling, or remaining, asleep

·         Overwhelming self-awareness

·         Irrational fears

·         Near-constant muscle tension

·         Stress attacks

Just because you show one of these symptoms, doesn't always mean you are having a panic attack. If you think that you might have a panic disorder, consult your physician.

Treatments

There are several treatments available for panic disorders; however, not every treatment works for everyone. You need to discuss the different remedies with your physician in order to insure you find a method that works for you. The different treatments available are:

·         Medication - Drugs such as MAO inhibitors and anxiety medications are generally recommended for panic disorders; however, they also carry a risk of dependence and unwanted side effects.

·         Psychiatric therapy - This type of therapy involves working with a mental health professional who will help the individual develop methods to cope with their disorder.

·         Cognitive- Behavior Therapy - This type of therapy concentrates on teaching the individual to acknowledge their disorder and to learn to alter thoughts and behaviors in order to eventually stop themselves before they have a panic attack.

Neurofeedback Therapy - This helps to retrain brainwave designs using an EEG machine. Neurofeedback therapy has no side effects and is completely non-invasive.

·         Nutritional Habits and Changes In Lifestyle – Changing certain dietary behaviors, such as staying away from caffeine and alcohol, eating organic meals, and keeping an ordinary sleep schedule can considerably improve panic disorders. Being aware of your body and staying away from unnecessary demanding situations can assist in combating these disorders.

If you are a resident of the Port Washington area and you feel that you may be suffering from a panic disorder, contact your local BrainCore clinic. You can call us: 516-944-4469 or visit our website http://braincoreny.com/

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Paranoid Personality Disorder

Paranoid personality disorder in New York is a psychological disorder characterized by longstanding, pervasive patterns of paranoid, mistrust, and suspiciousness that permeate an individual’s entire personality structure. People with paranoid personality disorder tend to be hyper vigilant and very suspicious, often mistakenly seeing clues in their environment that they misinterpret as evidence confirming their fears and biases regarding the malicious intent of others. This often causes anxiety and social withdrawal, and overall corresponds to a decidedly “warped” worldview that is, at its core, decidedly irrational. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which is focused on identifying and correcting irrational thought processes and maladaptive behavioral patterns, is well established for helping people with paranoid personality disorder in New York. 

Symptoms and Subtypes of Paranoid Personality Disorder 

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies the following symptoms for paranoid personality disorder. To be clinically diagnosed, a person in New York must fit the majority of the criteria:

·         Excessive sensitivity to setbacks or disagreements with others

·         Tendency to persistently bear grudges against people

·         Suspiciousness, and a tendency to misconstrue the actions and intents of others as malicious

·         A sense of combativeness and personal rights

·         Recurrent suspicious, often not justified by evidence, regarding the fidelity of romantic partners

·         Tendency toward excessive self-importance

·         Preoccupation with “conspiracy theories”

In addition to these criteria, many psychologists in New York recognize multiple subtypes of paranoid personality disorder. These subtypes were originally outlined by psychologist Theodore Millon, who is known for his work on personality disorder subtypes. Millon’s subtypes of Paranoid Personality Disorder include:

·         Obdurate. This subtype has compulsive features, and tends toward self-importance, self-righteousness, and stubbornness.

·         Fanatic. This type of paranoid personality in New York tends to be prone to grandiose delusions, often wild conspiracy theories. They often feel arrogance and contempt toward others, and use extravagant and self-important fantasies to maintain ego and pride.

·         Querulous. This subtype is often argumentative and fault-finding.

·         Insular. This type of paranoid personality tends to be socially withdrawn, secluding themselves to protect against imagined threats and dangers.

·         Malignant. This type of paranoid personality in New York, with sadistic features, is prone to persecutory delusions and tends to be vengeful and spiteful toward others.  

Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients with Paranoid Personality Disorder

Patients with paranoid personality disorder in New York can be challenging for therapists to treat, since they tend to be suspicious and are often hesitant to comply with therapy. Nonetheless, cognitive behavioral therapy is widely recognized as one of the most effective approaches to addressing this condition. Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by irrational thought patterns, generally revolving around delusions about other people’s malicious intent and sometimes permeated by a sense of self-importance and grandiosity. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help to make the person aware of these processes, and to recognize that they may not be rational or rooted in fact. By recognizing that the paranoia and fear are largely delusional, maladaptive behaviors like social withdrawal and a contentious style of interpersonal interaction can be addressed. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to help the person self-evaluate how they think about what happens around them, so that more productive and enriching behavior patterns can be developed.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS: NEW YORK

Biofeedback History and How It Works

The methods in the first steps toward biofeedback have really existed for nearly 150 years. In those days, it was initially recognized that systems - especially individuals of humans - often regulate themselves to be able to maintain stability. This idea is known as homeostasis. Building with that theory, the medical science behind biofeedback once we presently realize it has advanced in a remarkably rapid pace. Starting in the second part of the twentieth century, scientists and researchers launched into a mission to have the ability to eventually make use of the precepts of homeostasis to enhance the lives and health of individuals all around the globe. Within the last two decades we've finally become there, and we're all lucky to become alive at any given time such as this.

Generally, the biofeedback looks something similar to this: instruments are utilized to measure specific physiological activity inside our physiques, whether it's brainwaves, breathing, the center, or any other individual function. Measurement gives us feedback (thus the title biofeedback) that enables us to create choice about how exactly effectively things are carrying out. After we determine if a particular body process needs some training or retraining to obtain look out onto speed, professionals can guide patients through treatment with the aim of fixing health issues without surgery, drugs, or long term therapy. Essentially, biofeedback can help you feel free.

The Astonishing Mind

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to discover which kind of biofeedback can take advantage drastic changes. In the end, our brain can serve as the mind in our nervous system and also the director for essentially every vital bodily function. Biofeedback coping with the mind is known to as neurofeedback, which therapy has created some truly astounding results during the last decade approximately. Studies have proven that neurofeedback could be especially effective being an intervention for a number of nerve conditions, including headaches, insomnia, anxiety, autism, and many more.

As pointed out before, fundamentally of biofeedback treatments may be the proven notion the body really wants to operate like a highly-functioning whole. The mind, particularly, adheres for this principle. It's amazing how little of the start working at the receiving end it requires to obtain our minds normal again, and neurofeedback can serve as the very best type of catalyst. Although it appears just like a process as potentially existence-altering as neurofeedback could be absurdly strenuous, it is extremely the alternative.

Neurofeedback is completely noninvasive, and targeted at supplying lengthy-term tools for coping with nerve issues so patients do not have to help keep returning. Correction from the problem typically takes the type of a led brain exercise, and patients won't have to see any discomfort or discomfort to reap invaluable benefits. If you've been battling with the aforementioned nerve issues, medication, and therapy with simply limited success, it might be time for you to start thinking about new approaches.

Stick to the linked text o find out more about biofeedback and BrainCore’s dynamic neurofeedback therapy.

BIOFEEDBACK IN NEW YORK

How Dangerous Are the Side Effects of Insomnia Medications?

Although doctors in Farmingdale often recommend improved sleep hygiene, such as adhering to a regular sleep schedule, as a first line treatment of insomnia, more severe or chronic sleeplessness is often treated with prescription or over-the-counter medications. Sleeping pills are known for having unwanted side effects, but usually these effects are fairly benign, although they may be inconvenient or uncomfortable. However, there are occasional risks associated with insomnia medication side effects.

Over-the-Counter Insomnia Treatment Medications

Most over-the-counter sleeping pills, such as Tylenol PM, include diphenhydramine as the active ingredient. Diphenhydramine is perhaps better known under the brand name Benadryl, and is primarily marketed as an antihistamine for allergy treatment. However, diphenhydramine also causes drowsiness and somnolence, so it is marketed as a sleep aid as well. Diphendydramine is known for having side effects including dry mouth, dizziness, cognitive “fogginess,” and urinary retention. The side effects are generally tolerable at low doses; however, tolerance to diphenhydramine develops very quickly. After only a few days of continuous use, it becomes no more effective as an insomnia treatment than a placebo. This can cause insomniacs in Farmingdale to increase their dose, which increases the drug’s side effects. At higher doses, side effects are more likely to occur, including hallucinations, delirium, confusion, dizziness, irritability, and increased body temperature in the extremities. Although unpleasant, these higher-dose side effects are not truly dangerous; however, a diphenhydramine overdose can be fatal.

Prescription Eszopiclone (Lunesta) for Insomnia Treatment

Eszopiclone, better known by the brand name Lunesta, is a type of drug in the sedative-hypnotic class used for treating insomnia in Farmingdale. Most side effects of eszpiclone are fairly benign; they often include dry mouth, daytime drowsiness, mildly upset stomach, and reduced sex drive. However, Lunesta can also cause confusion, agitation, or aggressive behavior in some patients. Eszopiclone also carries a risk of dependency or abuse.

Prescription Zolpidem (Ambien) for Insomnia Treatment

Zolpidem (Ambien) is a drug related to Eszopiclone that is also used for insomnia treatment in Farmingdale. It has a similar side effect profile, including:

·         Headaches

·         Nausea

·         Dizziness

·         Vomiting

·         Increased appetite

·         Changes in sexual libido

However, other side effects, which are more rare or are more likely to occur at higher doses, can be problematic. Zolpidem can cause psychological side effects, including:

·         Hallucinations

·         Delusions

·         Anterograde amnesia

·         Altered thought patterns

·         Impaired judgment and reasoning

·         Decreased social inhibition

·         Increased impulsivity

Although the side effects listed so far are not particularly dangerous, there is one reported side effect that is. There are numerous case reports of patients on Zolpidem sleepwalking, without a prior history of this. Some of these patients have been injured or killed while attempting activities like driving their car as they are sleepwalking. When Zolpidem is discontinued, it can cause rebound insomnia and even a withdrawal syndrome similar to benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Conclusion

Both over-the-counter and prescription drugs for insomnia in Farmingdale produce side effects. Most sleep medication side effects are benign, although they may produce mild to moderate discomfort; however, occasionally they can be more serious.

INSOMNIA TREATMENT IN NEW YORK

What is Bruxism?

“Bruxism” is the medical term for excessive tooth grinding or jaw clenching. Bruxism is a relatively common problem in Melville, with a nationwide prevalence rate of around 8-31% of the general population. Bruxism can occur either during sleep, or while the person is awake. Often bruxism occurs largely unconsciously, but although the person may not realize that they’re grinding or clenching their jaw, it can cause jaw problems and dental problems. The underlying causes of bruxism are variable, and not yet entirely understood; it is thought that bruxism during sleep occurs for different reasons than bruxism while awake. 

Sleep Bruxism versus Awake Bruxism 

Bruxism in Melville is often divided into two main subtypes: sleep bruxism and awake bruxism. These two types are thought to have different causes, with sleep bruxism generally classified as a sleep disorder. Sleep bruxism occurs at night while the person is asleep, and generally involves both jaw clenching and tooth grinding movements. The pain is often worst in the morning. It occurs equally in both males and females, and there is some evidence that this trait is heritable. Awake bruxism occurs for different reasons than sleep bruxism, and is more likely to be associated with psychological stress. Awake bruxism is more likely to involve clenching than grinding, although both can occur, and it tends to worsen over the course of the day. Awake bruxism is more common than sleep bruxism overall, although it is more likely to occur in females than in males. 

Symptoms of Bruxism 

Many people with bruxism in Melville are unaware of the problem until symptoms of bruxism, including jaw pain and dental problems, become apparent. Some of the common symptoms of bruxism, including both the nocturnal and waking varieties, include:

·         Excessive tooth wear, often flattening of the biting surface and notches around the “neck” of the teeth at the gumline.

·         Tooth fractures

·         Hypersensitive teeth; this effect is caused when dentin and enamel become worn away

·         Inflammation of the periodontal ligament, the tissue connecting the teeth and gums; this causes soreness and can cause the teeth to become loosened over time

·         Increase in the size of the jaw muscles as a result of the clenching

·         Pain and fatigue in the jaw muscles

·         Pain or tenderness in the temporomandibular joints

·         Headaches, often localized at the temples

  

Treatments for Bruxism in Melville 

Treatments for bruxism in Melville generally depend on whether the bruxism occurs during sleep or during wakefulness. Awake bruxism often has psychosocial underpinnings, such as stress or an anxiety disorder. Addressing these issues with psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or neurofeedback therapy can reduce the bruxism by alleviating the stress that causes it. Neurofeedback therapy, a form of biofeedback using EEG measurements of brainwave activity, is a safe and noninvasive treatment for anxiety available in Melville through BrainCore New York. Bruxism during sleep appears to be associated with neurotransmitter abnormalities. For sleep bruxism, researchers have investigated drugs including clonazepam, a benzodiazepine; levodopa, a dopaminergic drug usually used to treat Parkinson’s disease; clonidine, a sympatholytic usually used for ADHD and hypertension; L-typtophan, a serotonin precursor molecule; and several others. None of the research into pharmaceuticals for sleep bruxism has yet produced enough evidence to prove that it is a safe or effective treatment, however. Symptoms secondary to the bruxism, often involving tooth wear, are generally addressed by dentists and orthodontists in Melville. 

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: MELVILLE, NY

Mapping Madness: What qEEG Analysis Reveals About the Schizophrenic Brain

Schizophrenia is a well-known disorder, and it affects around 1% of the population nationwide; however, it is not yet fully understood from a scientific perspective. First documented in the 19^th century as dementia praecox, it was later renamed schizophrenia, from the Greek words for “split mind.” Historically, schizophrenia has often had a poor prognosis, but findings in the neuroscience of schizophrenia have illuminated potential new treatments that could be more effective than the antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics that have traditionally been used to manage the disorder. qEEG studies have revealed that brainwave dysregulation is a major factor in schizophrenia, leading to the intriguing possibility that neurofeedback therapy could be used to treat this debilitating condition. Luckily for residents in the New York area there are several BrainCore clinics that specialize in neurofeedback for schizophrenia. 

The Problems with Pharmaceutical Schizophrenia Treatment 

Schizophrenia is usually treated with prescription medications. Currently, a class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics is used most often; examples are Seroquel and Risperdal. These are considered to have a lesser side effect profile than earlier antipsychotics, such as Thorazine and Halperidol, which could cause extrapyramidal side effects similar to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Drugs for schizophrenia work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. Although drugs that work on these receptors were known to be effective before evidence was produced to support the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, more recent research has verified that excess dopamine availability is a factor in schizophrenia.

Antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics are usually effective for some symptoms and types of schizophrenia, but not always. In schizophrenia, there are two classes of symptoms:

·         positive symptoms

·         negative symptoms

Positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and other traits that are absent in normal individuals but present in those with schizophrenia. Negative symptoms include poverty of speech, apathy, lack of motivation, anhedonia (the inability to experience pleasure), and other normal features that are absent in schizophrenic individuals. Antipsychotics tend to be successful for treating positive symptoms; however, the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, the onset of which is often insidious, often prove more intractable despite medication. Neurofeedback therapy guided by qEEG mind mapping could be a promising modality for managing negative symptoms of schizophrenia and related disorders.

  

qEEG Mind Mapping of Schizophrenia 

Research into the neurophysiology of schizophrenia using qEEG (quantitative encephalography), an imaging technique that uses software to perform calculations to compare EEG readings of an individual to databases in order to look for abnormalities, has produced new findings about brainwave dysregulation in schizophrenia. Mind mapping of schizophrenia brains has revealed poor self-regulation of brainwave frequencies, as well as hemisphere asymmetry, a type of brainwave dysregulation found in different forms in many brain-based disorders in New York. Specifically, researchers have found that schizophrenic individuals show decreased alpha activity, but increased beta, theta, and delta activity. Research has also elucidated differences in brainwave regulation that distinguish schizophrenia from depression, making qEEG mind mapping a potentially useful biomarker and diagnostic tool for determining that a person has schizophrenia rather than another psychotic condition, such as depression with psychotic features.

Although researchers have yet to carry out enough large-scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials to confidently declare the efficacy of qEEG-guided neurofeedback therapy for schizophrenia, case studies that have been published thus far have produced very promising results. Furthermore, analysis of qEEG mind mapping data of schizophrenic patients on their antipsychotic medications reveals that medications result in the normalization of the neural dysregulation. This could mean that using qEEG mind mapping to plan neurofeedback therapy for schizophrenia could present an effective alternative to antipsychotics, minus the many negative side effects of the drugs. For more information or to schedule a consultation with your local BrainCore clinic visit our website or call: 516-587-7810

Neurofeedback for Peak Performance

Neurofeedback for Peak Performance:

Training Your Brain to Enhance Your Abilities

Much of the news and scientific literature surrounding neurofeedback therapy in the broader New York area has been focused on its promising applications for treating a range of brain-based conditions, including ADHD, autism, anxiety, insomnia, and more. However, treating abnormalities and pathologies is not the full extent of neurofeedback’s usefulness. Neurofeedback therapy can actually be used to enhance a person’s abilities, facilitating what is called peak performance. Neurofeedback has been successfully used for peak performance within a number of disciplines, including sports performance, musical performance, and even to enhance the abilities of surgeons. 

Alpha-Theta Training: Neurofeedback for Relaxation and Optimization 

The form of neurofeedback therapy most often used for peak performance training is called Alpha-Theta Training. This is often carried out using auditory stimulus, rather than the moving image displays used in most neurofeedback therapy. Alpha-Theta training is geared toward increasing and enhancing alpha and theta wavelengths. The protocol for Alpha-Theta neurofeedback training guides users into a deeply relaxed, trancelike state called the alpha-theta crossover state, which is similar to being in the very early stages of falling asleep. In this mentally relaxed state, repressed memories and old anxieties sometimes resurface and can be resolved. Many patients report having deeply transformative internal experiences during the course of alpha-theta neurofeedback training. Indeed, alpha-theta neurofeedback protocol is very similar to both hypnosis and to historically traditional methods of meditation found in Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and other spiritual philosophical systems around the world. The alpha-theta state of calm neutrality has been shown to enhance performance in a variety of areas.  

Applications of Alpha-Theta Neurofeedback Training 

Alpha-theta neurofeedback training in the New York area has numerous implications. Alpha-theta training has successfully helped:

·         Increase endurance and strength for sports and athletics by increasing mental relaxation and attenuating the effects of fear of failure, unpleasant memories of past failures, and other barriers to excellence

·         Musicians perform at their optimal capacity

·         Surgeons perform delicate procedures; in one study, the time surgeons took for microsurgical tasks was reduced by 26%

·         People manage stress and pressure in their jobs

The main benefit of alpha-theta training for these purposes is to facilitate a state of calm mental focus. This helps athletes and performers to avoid “choking up,” and can help reduce performance anxiety and test anxiety, and to enhance memory and recall abilities.

Like other applications of neurofeedback therapy in the New York area, alpha-theta training for peak performance generally begins with a qEEG (quantitative electroencephalography) brain mapping session, as well as a performance test to evaluate reaction time, speed, error frequency, and other parameters. It is usually performed over the course of several weeks, in 45-minute sessions, several days a week. This allows the neurofeedback provider to help you to encourage brainwave states that are associated with better performance, and to discourage states that correlate with reduced performance quality.

NEUROFEEDBACK IN NEW YORK

Mortality Risks of Medication for Insomnia Treatment

Beginning in the 20^th century, it became quite common in Port Washington to prescribe various sleep-inducing medications to patients who complained of subjective insomnia. Originally, the medications of choice were barbiturates and benzodiazepines. In later years, these classes of drugs were supplanted by non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics, such as Ambien and Lunesta, which were recognized as carrying a lesser risk of addiction and overdose. In 2010, an estimated 6% to 10% of the national population was prescribed one of these drugs for treating their insomnia.

Although Ambien and Lunesta remain a popular choice for insomnia treatment in Port Washington, numerous studies have produced evidence of significant health and mortality risks associated with long-term use of these medications, especially in elderly patients. 

1979: Sedatives Recognized as Cancer Risk—A Fact Summarily Swept Under the Rug 

Back in 1979, the American Cancer Society’s landmark Cancer Prevention Study 1 came to the conclusion that, without a doubt, cigarettes cause cancer. You may not know, however, that the same study also concluded that long-term use of hypnotic medications were just as strongly associated with excessive deaths. Because the study was not initially designed to study these drugs, these results were conveniently ignored. Since then, numerous studies have affirmed that there are risks associated with long-term use of hypnotic medications.

These medications are much safer when used in the short term; the real risks are with long-term chronic use. 

Why Is Long-Term Chronic Use of Insomnia Medication So Risky? 

Scientists have not yet fully determined the causes of the mortality risks of long-term hypnotic use for insomnia treatment. Some of the effects that may contribute to the risks of chronic sedative-hypnotic use include:

·         Impaired coordination, reaction time, memory, and alertness, which may increase the risk of falls and accidents, especially with the elderly.

·         Medication for insomnia treatment may depress the respiratory system. This could aggravate sleep-related breathing disorders, especially in people with a history of COPD or heart problems.

·         People who have difficulty sleeping may additionally self-medicate using alcohol or other depressant drugs, which intensify the effects of sedative-hypnotics and benzodiazepines to an extent that can potentially be dangerous.

Are There Safer Alternatives to Medication for Insomnia in Port Washington? 

Researchers involved in studies confirming the mortality risks of long-term use of sleep medication recommend that the public be informed of the risks of hypnotic sleep medication, and that physicians should take care in prescribing these medications—especially to elderly patients. The researchers also recommend that physicians discuss non-pharmacological alternatives with their patients.

There are several alternatives to medications for insomnia in Port Washington, many of which are strongly supported by clinical studies of their effectiveness. Some alternative treatments that may be safer than sleeping pills include:

·         Cognitive-behavioral therapy - a form of psychotherapy that focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that contribute to problems like insomnia and anxiety. Many people in Port Washington have trouble sleeping because they’re stressed, have poor sleep hygiene habits, or because of other reasons that can be remedied through changes in behavior.

·         Herbs and supplements - such as melatonin and valerian root, are effective for many people without the risks and side effects associated with synthetic pharmaceuticals.

·         Neurofeedback therapy - now available in the Port Washington area, is one of the most promising alternatives to pharmaceuticals for insomnia treatment, as well as anxiety and a host of other brain-based conditions. Neurofeedback therapy uses EEG neuroimaging to identify and correct brainwave dysregulation in certain areas of the brain, which has been identified as a key factor in insomnia.

Long-term use of sleeping pills, including benzodiazepines like Xanax and non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics like Ambien and Lunesta, has been shown to be associated with higher risk of mortality and may be dangerous. Better options for long-term insomnia treatment include CBT, herbal remedies, and neurofeedback therapy. These may be much safer and more appropriate choices of treatment for Port Washington insomniacs.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR INSOMNIA

Brain Training with Binaural Beats: Using Sound to Train Your Brain

Many people in the broader New York area are interested in using methods of brain training to reduce anxiety, increase creativity, and otherwise augment their mental capabilities. There are several methods of brain training, including neurofeedback therapy and computer games such as those found on Lumosity.com. However, one of the most accessible brain training methods is the use of isochronal tones and binaural beats. In fact, you can try this right now by searching “binaural beats” on YouTube, or checking out the links at the end of this post. Isochronal tones and binaural beats are proven brain training methods to change your mood and thought patterns using brainwave entrainment. 

What Are Binaural Beats? 

Binaural beats were discovered in the 19^th century, although it was in the 20^th century that their applications for brainwave entrainment were fully recognized. Binaural beats can be used to induce relaxation, creativity, and other positive mental states. They use two tones at different frequencies that combine together and are best experienced when using headphones. When two tones of slightly different frequencies are played, one into each ear, the brain will actually perceive them together as a beating tone. This effect results from the way the brain processes interaural time differences between each ear in order to localize sounds.

Binaural beats are known to have a relaxing effect, and different frequencies may facilitate different effects through an effect called brainwave entrainment. When a stimulus, such as a binaural beat, is a frequency in the range of brain waves, the predominant brainwave frequency is thought to move toward the frequency of the stimulus. Although auditory stimuli, such as binaural beats, are used most often, this effect can also apply to visual stimuli. Binaural beats with frequencies corresponding to alpha, beta, delta, gamma, or theta brainwave frequencies can facilitate a person’s brain to move into those brainwave states. Different brainwave frequencies correlate with different mental states. For example, beta brainwaves are associated with active thinking and willful concentration, while alpha brainwaves are associated with rest, mental tranquility, and peaceful Zen-like meditative states.

By using binaural beats, you can help move your brain into an alpha state to relax yourself, into a beta state to enhance alertness and concentration, and otherwise help facilitate certain mental states. Delta-frequency binaurals can be used to help you sleep, and theta and gamma binaurals have been associated with inducing out-of-body experiences and lucid dreaming.

Where Can I Find Binaural Beats Online? 

Finding binaural beats online is quick and easy. For best results, you will want to use a pair of high quality headphones. Since many people find the tones by themselves to be somewhat unpleasant, they are often superimposed onto a white noise background of soft music or nature sounds.

You can find a range of different binaural beats by simply searching “binaural beats” on YouTube. One good YouTube channel for finding binaurals for brain training is MindAmend, a channel run by Jason Lewis that contains a wide range of audio for brainwave entrainment including binaural beats, isochronal tones, whale songs, and more.

You can get to MindAmend by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrpFW99zAUaJT8cKmqeagkg

Different binaural beats have different frequencies and different effects. You may want to try several to find the ones that work best for you. The effectiveness of a given binaural beat can vary from person to person, and you may find that some have little effect, whereas others prove to be quite powerful. Try experimenting with several to find which ones work best for you. You can listen to binaurals while working or doing other activities; however, one of the best ways to use them is to put your headphones on, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and begin to enter a meditative state.

For Broader New York Area residents interested in brain training, binaural beats are an easy, accessible, and effective way to experiment with altering your brainwave frequencies and with them, your state of consciousness. Using binaural beats is relaxing, therapeutic, and can have beneficial effects. Depending on the state you want to achieve and which beats you use, you may find it easier to enter meditative states, to enhance your concentration, or even to enter out-of-body experiences (OBE), although OBEs can be jarring if you have never had one before, rest assured that yes, you do come back from them!

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Treatment for Brain Damage: Dealing with Anomic Aphasia

Brain damage can create a wide range of effects; many are strange or oddly specific depending on which areas of the brain are affected. When an area of the brain associated with language functions is damaged, aphasia can result. Aphasias are deficits in language ability and can take many forms. One type of aphasia is anomic aphasia, which involves difficulty remembering words or names. Generally the person can speak with correct grammar, but must circumlocute in order to express an idea that he or she can no longer recall the word for. For example, someone may be unable to name a raccoon, and instead resorts to something along the lines of “those grey animals with stripy tails and little bandit masks.” Generally anomic aphasia can be managed, but for the most part people do not recover completely. 

What Causes Anomic Aphasia?

Anomic aphasia is caused by damage to the parietal lobe or temporal lobe of the brain. In most individuals, this is more likely if the damage occurs on the left side of the brain, which is where language is usually processed. Damage can result from a stroke, traumatic injury, or a tumor. 

Types of Anomia 

There are three main types of anomic aphasia:

·         Word selection anomia occurs when a patient can recognize an object when it is named, but cannot name it. Sometimes the anomia only affects naming certain kinds of objects, such as animals or colors.

 

·         Semantic anomia involves a loss of word meanings. The person can no longer recognize the name of an object and is unable to say it when asked.

·         Disconnection anomia results from impairment in the pathways that connect sensory and language corticies. For example, the person may be able to name an object when the information is presented by sound or touch, but not when it is presented visually.  

What Kind of Treatment for Brain Damage Can Help with Anomic Aphasia? 

Anomic aphasia cannot be cured entirely, but exercises that help in word-finding and circumlocution skills can help people manage the disorder. These exercises include:

·         Circumlocution Induced Naming Therapy, in which the patient uses circumlocution to assist with naming, can help people with anomic aphasia by strengthening the relationship between semantics (word meaning) and phonology (word sounds).

·         Picture naming is a therapeutic method that can help for anomic aphasia. Pictures or props can be used to help prompt the patient.

·         Long-term speech therapy is often indicated in cases of anomic aphasia.

When an area of the brain associated with language functions is damaged, aphasia can result. One type of aphasia is anomic aphasia, which involves difficulty remembering words or names. While there are exercises available to help with this condition, there is no cure. If you are in the Port Washington area and would like more information on anomic aphasia and the ways to manage this condition, please contact us today.

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How Does A Neurologist Assess Visual Field Loss? 

Medical conditions including glaucoma, stroke, traumatic injury, and other diseases or injuries affecting the eye or the regions of the brain that process vision, can damage the extent of a person’s visual field. These conditions are usually assessed, diagnosed, and treated by a neurologist or an ophthalmologist, depending on whether the deficit is in the eye or in the brain. 

What Kinds of Visual Field Deficits Are There?

There are four main types of visual field loss:

·         Altitudinal field defects - Loss of vision above or below the horizontal center of the visual field. These defects are usually caused by a deficit within the eye itself, rather than in the brain areas responsible for processing vision.

·         Bitemporal hemianopia - A loss of vision at both sides of the visual field.

·         Central scotoma - A loss of vision at the center of the visual field.

·         Homonymous hemianopia - Vision loss at one side in both eyes. This usually results from an injury to the optic chiasm, the point at which the optic nerves partially cross.

There are also other types and variants. For example, instead of a hemianopia, in which half of the visual field is affected, someone can have a quadrantanopsia, in which one quarter of the visual field is affected. A scotoma, which is a blank spot, can also take the form of a scintillating scotoma, a bright shimmering region. It depends on the cause and nature of the damage that caused the visual field deficit to occur. An expert neurologist is highly trained to identify and distinguish between the types and causes of visual field deficits. 

What Are Visual Field Tests? 

There are several types of tests that can be used to assess the nature of a visual field deficit.

·         A confrontation visual field exam is often given by a neurologist or ophthalmologist as a preliminary examination. The patient is asked to cover one eye and look at the examiner. The examiner then moves their hand, usually with a finger extended or while holding a pen, back and forth. The patient is asked to tell the examiner when the hand is or is not in their field of view.

·         In a Tangent Screen test, different sized white or colored pins are attached to a black wand and moved across a black background.

·         In a Goldmann Perimeter test, a hollow white spherical bowl is propped up to face the patient and is positioned at a fixed distance. Moving a light tests peripheral vision.

·         In Automated Perimetry, a patient presses a button to indicate when they see lights of incremental brightness.

These are some of the tests that can help a neurologist or ophthalmologist determine the nature and extent of visual field loss.        

Can Visual Field Loss Be Treated Or Cured? 

It is very rare for a person to recover completely from visual field loss; however, the power of neuroplasticity does allow some recovery to occur. There are several methods and processes by which someone can be treated for visual field loss.

·         Spontaneous recovery - Although spontaneous recovery is rare, it has been known to happen. It usually occurs within three months of the injury.

·         Interventional approaches - Sometimes training is used to help reduce visual field loss. Methods include:

o   Restorative training - There is ample evidence demonstration visual system neuroplasticity in animals, including humans. In Visual Restoration Therapy (VRT), visual stimuli are presented in the border region between the blind region and field of vision, often in one-hour daily sessions over a six-month period. This method may be more effective for patients with optic nerve damage than for those whose loss of visual field has its basis in the brain.

o   Optical aids - Aids, such as prism glasses, can help shift a patient’s visual field to reduce visual field loss.

o   Compensatory training - This is aimed at helping patients cope more effectively with their visual field loss, rather than remediating or reversing the loss. Patients are trained to make larger eye movements and other methods to aid in day-to-day functions, such as locating objects in the visual field.

There are various forms of visual field, depending on where the damage has occurred. Strokes, tumors, or trauma can damage brain areas associated with vision that result in a reduction of the visual field. If you live in the New York City area and would like more information on the forms of visual field loss, please contact us today! 

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