Brainworks Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback for PTSD & Trauma

In the context of brain function, trauma can be defined as any event or experience that changes your vision of yourself and your place in the world.

It may occur as the result of one single event, or it could build up gradually due to a threatening or lonely environment.

The imprint of trauma exists in our society in epidemic proportions; from war and its victims, to victims of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. As everyone with trauma knows, when brain activity is altered by traumatic events it can be a heavy burden to carry. What may have served us as a necessary self-preservation response in the past seldom serves us in the present.

Trauma is broadly classed in two categories. The most commonly recognised is hypervigilance; the less widely known is freeze and dissociation. Trauma can often manifest as a combination of the two, as the nervous system shifts between one and the other.

HYPERVIGILANCE & TRAUMA

A heightened state of awareness is part of the fight / flight response, resulting in a state of chronic hyper vigilance. This state is akin to being locked into permanent ‘battle stations’; brain resources are on constant alert, causing inappropriate or even aggressive reactions in everyday situations.
PTSD article here…

FREEZE & DISSOCIATION

When a threat is utterly overwhelming and too much for the fight / flight system to cope with, the brain goes into a ‘Freeze’ state; a numbing or collapse response. This sort of trauma is experienced as a general shutdown, lack of vitality, emotional separation and detachment.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR TRAUMA

Neurofeedback works at a deep subconscious level, breaking the cycle of trauma and post-traumatic symptoms. By identifying and training the areas of concern, we precision tailor your sessions to help you shift out of these patterns and back into a natural, neutral state.

Neurofeedback gives the brain the tools to shift your viewpoint and move past traumatic events – without having to talk about them, explore them, or relive them.

Our goal has been to make our military leaders, policymakers, and military families dealing with the effects of PTSD aware of the tremendously positive benefits that neurofeedback can offer. The findings make clear the need for this powerful treatment option as well as the expansion of pilot programs beyond Camp Pendleton and into VA medical centers and in all of our military branches.
Pam Tarr
Homecoming for Veterans Executive Director
In my 38 years of practice, I have never seen any treatment that comes close to producing the results that Neurofeedback offers... I have seen results achieved in days and weeks that previously took months and years to achieve, using the best methods available to us.
Jack Woodward
MD, Board Certified Psychiatrist

Neurofeedback For PTSD & Trauma

More and more people these days are looking into how neurofeedback training for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma more generally can work, and how effective it might be.

So, let’s start by answering why people would even consider using neurofeedback therapy to help with the symptoms of their PTSD and trauma.

Neurofeedback training is a non-invasive therapy approach which does not require people to inject any additional drugs and/or medicines to work. Many studies have shown it to be a effective, safe, and complimentary treatment option.

How Does Neurofeedback Training Work?

Neurofeedback training is all about strengthening the connections within the brain which in turn can allow you to have more control and mental stability, alongside other benefits. You are essentially exercising your mind.

Such training can also have benefits on symptoms of anxiety and stress, which is why those suffering from PTSD and trauma have sought it out as a complimentary therapy when trying to alleviate symptoms.

Related Resources

SPECT
Pre & Post Neurofeedback on PTSD
Dr Robert Scaer
Trauma and the Brain
Neurofeedback for PTSD sufferer
NCCOSC
Navy LT neurofeedback results
Treatment on PTSD: ``It Works``
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Frequently Asked Questions

Neurofeedback training is all about strengthening neural pathways and gaining more control over your mind, which people often feel results in a calmer and more stable experience.

There have been studies which have shown that neurofeedback can have a positive impact on those suffering from trauma, and any training program should compliment any medicine and/or therapies recommended by your licensed doctor or healthcare professional.

So far the studies on such patients have been limited to fairly small sample sizes, so new studies are needed on larger samples.

There are many different kinds of neurofeedback training, and studies have shown some (like Alpha-theta trainig) have been shown to be particularly effective in alleviating trauma symptoms.

At Brainworks Neurotherapy we use LoRETA neurofeedback training because of the detailed imaging that it offers which is widely regarded as offering more accuracy and faster results (which is why we use it!).

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