Biofeedback is a therapy that can be used to help you learn to control various physiological processes. These include your rate of breathing, heart beat, sweat gland activity and muscular tension. Biofeedback can be a helpful addition to standard Western medical treatments for chronic pain and illness. It can also help you learn to manage stress. Once you have a better understanding of what biofeedback therapy is, you can talk to your healthcare providers about incorporating this technique into your overall plan. In some cases insurance will cover it.
Identification
Biofeedback therapy is a technique by means of which you learn to change certain responses in the body with the aid of a machine that takes precise measurements of physiological activity, according to the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. It is a noninvasive technique (the skin is not punctured). Electrodes are placed on your skin in various areas of the body. Wires attach the electrodes to a device that can measure your pulse, rate of breathing, sweat gland activity, brain wave activity, skin temperature and muscular tension. As your therapist teaches you how to control these activities, the machine gives you feedback as to how you are doing. The machine may use sounds, lights or a display on a computer screen that tells you how your body is responding during your session.
Stress Control
Biofeedback treatment assumes a connection between stress and many chronic conditions. If you learn to control stress, you may get some relief from your symptoms. Part of controlling your stress level is examining and changing your reaction to stimuli. Feeling stressed is not just about the event that is happening, it is also about how you choose to respond to the event. You may not be able to eliminate the stressor, but you do have control over how you respond. According to the Mayo Clinic, your body is designed to respond to stress. It does so by releasing chemicals that help you to fight or flee. These chemicals raise your heart rate, increase your breathing and sweat gland activity and send more blood to the brain and necessary muscles. The activity of your immune system and digestive system is decreased to help conserve energy. Once the threat is resolved, your physiology should go back to a resting state. Problems occur when you are under constant stress. This leaves your body in a constant state of arousal which over time can contribute to illness.
Benefits
The process of changing your reaction to stress involves a conscious decision to respond differently. This may mean choosing to not get angry when stuck in traffic or choosing to not participate in an argument. It also involves learning techniques to help calm the body down after becoming stressed. The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback website has an extensive list of the many conditions biofeedback can help. These include anxiety, most types of chronic pain, substance abuse, heart conditions, immune system disorders, digestive problems, incontinence, sleep disorders and many other disorders.
Techniques
Your therapist will do an evaluation to help design the right program for you. During your session, which lasts about one hour, the therapist will teach you techniques to control your physiology, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. These can involve relaxation techniques, relearning how to move without straining your muscles, guided imagery, Autogenic Training techniques, mindfulness meditation or retraining yourself to respond to situations in a healthier manner. Initially, you will rely on the machines to tell you how you are doing. For example, as you become more relaxed your heart rate and breathing rate will slow, your sweat gland activity and muscular tension will lessen and your brain wave activity may change. Eventually you will learn how to achieve this state on your own without the machine.
Certification
Make sure you receive your training from a qualified therapist with accurate machines. Schools such as the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America have strict standards when it comes to certifying technicians. Biofeedback therapists should be clinical healthcare professionals. The professions include doctors, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists and exercise physiologists. Training involves taking courses, participating in a mentorship program and passing a written exam. The length of the training depends on the therapist's previous training and the type of certification being pursued.
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