Neurofeedback is becoming more common in addiction treatment. It’s an outcropping of biofeedback. How does it work? More importantly, are there any neurofeedback therapy side effects?
How Neurofeedback Works
This treatment focuses on brainwave activity. It’s non-invasive. When you sit down for a session, the clinician explains the process to you. Next, she attaches sensors to your head that connect to a computer that measures your brainwave activity.
You might begin interacting with the program via a video game or similar input. A neurofeedback therapy program looks at waves that the various areas of the brain generate. Similarly, it allows for the creation of a brain map. Doing so lets the clinician show you how your brain waves in specific regions compare to those in others.
How the Therapy Helps You Heal
Neurofeedback is a suitable modality for people who struggle with addiction as well as trauma. Because addiction’s a brain disease, it makes sense that working with brainwave patterns can lead to healing. For example, training your brain to boost specific wave activities could prevent relapse and cravings. Besides that, the treatment helps individuals who underwent traumatic experiences and might struggle with PTSD.
Adding Neurofeedback to Other Treatments
This intervention isn’t enough to help you overcome psychological addiction. There are additional treatments that need to work together. Examples include:
- Medical detoxification to help you withdraw safely and painlessly from drugs or alcohol
- Dual diagnosis therapy for program participants with underlying depression or anxiety
- Trauma treatment that benefits individuals whose past experiences influence drug cravings
- Polyaddiction therapy, which helps you overcome multiple chemical dependencies
- Family therapy as a way to reconnect with loved ones, rebuild trust, and receive support
Against this backdrop, neurofeedback lets you and the therapist focus on areas of the brain that need healing. With an eye on relapse prevention, you work on recovering and reaching lifelong sobriety. Many program participants decide to continue neurofeedback treatments after they graduate from the program. Doing so, along with support group attendance, is an excellent idea.
Neurofeedback Therapy Side Effects
The treatment is non-invasive, which means that nothing enters your body. Similarly, you don’t use any medications. These steps minimize any side effects. That said, it’s possible that you might experience dizziness from interacting with the video game or other input option.
Besides that, you might encounter reactions to the treatment as you continue the sessions. Depending on which brainwaves you focus on during treatment, you may have emotions that go along with them. There’s also a chance of encountering neurofeedback therapy side effects if you have epilepsy. Discuss any health concerns or neurological conditions with the therapist before beginning.
You now know about neurofeedback therapy side effects as well as the advantages of the treatment. Isn’t it time to learn more? Most importantly, how can this therapeutic intervention help you quit using? Contact Santé Center for Healing by dialing 866-238-3154 for answers.
