ABOUT ANXIETY
Anxiety is a common mental health condition that affects both children and adults. It is characterized by persistent feelings of worry, fear, or unease that can interfere with daily activities, relationships, and overall wellbeing. Anxiety can manifest in different ways, from mild nervousness to overwhelming panic, and it often affects how people think, feel, and behave.
Anxiety Symptoms in Children:
Excessive worry: Constant concern about school, social situations, or personal safety, even when there is no clear reason for concern.
Avoidance behaviours: Avoiding activities, places, or people that cause anxiety, such as going to school or participating in group activities.
Restlessness and irritability: Difficulty sitting still, feeling on edge, or becoming easily frustrated.
Sleep disturbances: Trouble falling asleep, frequent nightmares, or waking up during the night due to worries.
Physical symptoms: Stomach aches, headaches, sweating, or a racing heart when feeling anxious.
Anxiety Symptoms in Adults:
Chronic worry: Persistent, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life, such as work, health, or relationships.
Difficulty concentrating: Struggling to focus on tasks or constantly thinking about potential problems or threats.
Muscle tension and restlessness: Feeling tense or restless, with difficulty relaxing.
Irritability: Increased frustration or irritability, often due to feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
Sleep problems: Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling tired due to anxious thoughts.
Physical symptoms: Racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or gastrointestinal issues.
If you or a loved one are seeking support for anxiety, help is available through supportive interventions like QEEG brain mapping and Neurofeedback, which are non-invasive and medication-free approaches.
qeeg brain mapping for ANXIETY
QEEG brain mapping is a non-invasive brain mapping tool that measures electrical activity in the brain.
In individuals with anxiety, QEEG often reveals sub-optimal patterns of brainwave activity, such as excessive high-frequency beta waves associated with overthinking or worry, or a lack of slower waves associated with relaxation and calm.
QEEG brain mapping allows our team at Optiminds, Manchester, to identify areas of the brain that are dysregulated and contributing to anxiety symptoms.
HOW NEUROFEEDBACK CAN HELP ANXIETY symptoms
Reducing Overthinking and Worry: Neurofeedback can help calm the overactive brainwave patterns associated with worry and rumination, reducing constant, racing thoughts that are common in anxiety.
Improving Relaxation: Neurofeedback can train the brain to produce more of the slower brainwaves associated with deep relaxation, reducing the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety.
Enhancing Emotional Regulation: Neurofeedback helps improve the brain’s ability to regulate emotions, allowing individuals to respond to stressors with greater calmness and control.
Reducing Physical Symptoms of Anxiety: Anxiety often manifests physically, with symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, or gastrointestinal distress. By helping the brain manage stress and reduce hyperarousal, neurofeedback can alleviate many of these physical symptoms, promoting better overall well-being.
Improving Sleep Patterns: Neurofeedback can promote healthier brainwave activity that supports better sleep, which in turn reduces daytime anxiety and improves cognitive functioning.
Recent studies have demonstrated the potential effectiveness of neurofeedback in managing anxiety symptoms. Research from 2020 showed that sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) neurofeedback training could significantly reduce anxiety levels in participants by modulating brainwave activity associated with calmness and emotional regulation. Participants reported reductions in anxiety and cortisol levels after just one session of SMR training, suggesting immediate benefits for emotional wellbeing. Additionally, evidence indicates that neurofeedback can enhance sleep quality, further alleviating anxiety-related symptoms.
WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY?
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
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If you or your child is struggling with ADHD symptoms, QEEG brain mapping and neurofeedback at Optiminds, Manchester can provide a personalised, non-invasive, and medication-free option. Schedule a free telephone consultation today to learn more about how QEEG brain mapping and neurofeedback can help improve your symptoms of ADHD.
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Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, medication-free therapy that uses real-time monitoring of brain activity to train the brain to function more efficiently. During a neurofeedback session, sensors are placed on the scalp to measure brainwaves. Individuals engage in activities (like playing a game or watching a video) that give feedback based on their brain's activity. When the brain produces optimal brainwave patterns, the activity continues smoothly, rewarding the brain and promoting lasting changes in brain function.
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A QEEG is a brain mapping tool that measures electrical activity in different parts of the brain, identifying areas where brainwave patterns are dysregulated.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE
At Optiminds, we do not diagnose or treat any medical or psychological conditions. Our services, including neurofeedback, are designed to support individuals by addressing specific symptoms related to attention, focus, mood, stress, sleep, and overall cognitive function. While neurofeedback has been shown to benefit many individuals with various challenges, our work focuses on improving wellness and self-regulation rather than providing medical or psychological treatment.
We encourage all clients to consult with a licensed healthcare provider for any diagnosis or treatment of medical or psychological conditions. Neurofeedback is intended to complement—not replace—any existing care plans or therapies under the guidance of your healthcare team.
