ABOUT DEPRESSION
Depression, or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), is a mood disorder that affects how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities. It can cause persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and emotional numbness, impacting relationships, work, and quality of life. Depression can affect individuals of all ages, and the symptoms may differ between young people and adults.
Depression Symptoms in Young People:
Irritability and mood swings: Instead of sadness, young people often show irritability, frustration, or angry outbursts.
Withdrawal from friends and activities: Loss of interest in hobbies or social activities that used to be enjoyable.
Decline in school performance: Difficulty concentrating, remembering information, or staying motivated in schoolwork.
Changes in sleep patterns: Sleeping too much or too little, often accompanied by frequent nightmares or trouble falling asleep.
Physical complaints: Frequent headaches, stomach-aches, or other unexplained physical symptoms.
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt: Expressing negative thoughts about themselves, blaming themselves for problems, or feeling hopeless.
Increased sensitivity: Feeling overly sensitive to criticism, rejection, or failure.
Depression Symptoms in Adults:
Persistent sadness or emptiness: Ongoing feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emotional numbness.
Loss of interest: Disinterest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyable, including socialising and physical activities.
Fatigue and lack of energy: Feeling tired and drained, even after getting enough sleep.
Difficulty concentrating: Trouble focusing on tasks, making decisions, or remembering details.
Changes in appetite and weight: Significant weight loss or gain, often linked to changes in eating habits.
Sleep disturbances: Trouble falling asleep, waking up early, or sleeping excessively.
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness: Intense self-criticism or guilt, often without a clear cause.
Thoughts of death or suicide: In severe cases, individuals may have thoughts of death or contemplate suicide.
If you or a loved one are seeking support for depression, help is available through alternative techniques like QEEG brain mapping and Neurofeedback, which are non-invasive and medication-free approaches. It is important to note that neurofeedback brain training is not a suitable intervention for those in crisis.
qeeg brain mapping for DEPRESSION
QEEG is a brain mapping tool that measures electrical activity in the brain to identify areas with inefficient brainwave patterns.
Depression is often associated with imbalances in brain activity, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for mood regulation. In people with depression, QEEG brain mapping often reveals excessive slow-wave activity (alpha, theta or delta waves) or reduced activity in brain regions that control mood, motivation, and energy.
QEEG brain mapping allows our team at Optiminds, Manchester, to identify areas of the brain that are dysregulated and contributing to symptoms of depression.
HOW NEUROFEEDBACK CAN HELP symptoms OF DEPRESSION
Regulating Brainwave Activity: By training the brain to produce healthier brainwave patterns, neurofeedback can improve mood, energy levels, and motivation.
Improving Emotional Resilience: Neurofeedback can help enhance emotional regulation, allowing individuals to manage stress and negative emotions more effectively.
Boosting Motivation and Focus: By optimising brainwave activity, neurofeedback helps improve cognitive functioning, making it easier to focus and engage in daily activities.
Reducing Negative Thought Patterns: Neurofeedback can help reduce overactive brainwaves associated with rumination, leading to fewer intrusive or negative thoughts.
Improving Sleep: Neurofeedback can regulate the brainwave patterns associated with sleep, helping individuals fall asleep more easily and achieve more restful sleep.
Supporting Long-Term Recovery: One of the benefits of neurofeedback is that it helps the brain develop long-term self-regulation skills. This means that improvements in mood and emotional balance can continue even after neurofeedback sessions are completed.
Research from the last decade, including a systematic review of neurofeedback for major depressive disorder (MDD), highlights that neurofeedback can significantly reduce depressive symptoms by regulating brainwave activity, particularly in regions linked to mood regulation. These studies, conducted across multiple European academic centres, consistently demonstrate neurofeedback's ability to normalize abnormal EEG patterns, leading to improved emotional resilience, focus, and reduced rumination.
Further systematic reviews demonstrate significant improvements in mood, cognitive function, and overall emotional regulation through neurofeedback.
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.
