Is biofeedback for you?
What is biofeedback?
According to an article by Bette Runck of the National Institute of Mental Health Biofeedback "is a treatment technique in which people are trained to improve their health by using signals from their own bodies." For example a physical therapist may use biofeedback to help stroke victims regain movement in paralyzed muscles. Biofeedback has been proven to alleviate pain and stress. Nobody can explain just how biofeedback works but most people benefit from biofeedback by learning to relax and modify their behavior. It is believed that relaxation is a key component in biofeedback treatment of many disorders, particularly those brought on or made worse by stress.
How Does Biofeedback Work?
Quantum Physics isn't the most simple thing to explain in an everyday context. Most patients who benefit from biofeedback are trained to relax and modify their behavior. Most scientists believe that relaxation is a key component in biofeedback treatment of many disorders, particularly those brought on or made worse by stress. Their reasoning is based on what is known about the effects of stress on the body. In brief, the argument goes like this: Stressful events produce strong emotions, which arouse certain physical responses. Many of these responses are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, the network of nerve tissues that helps prepare the body to meet emergencies by "flight or fight."
Clients' Responsibilities
Biofeedback places unusual demands on patients. They must examine their day-to-day lives to learn if they may be contributing to their own distress. They must recognize that they can, by their own efforts, remedy some physical ailments. They must commit themselves to practicing biofeedback or relaxation exercises every day. They must change bad habits, even ease up on some good ones. Most important, they must accept much of the responsibility for maintaining their own health.