How Neurofeedback Has Helped Me Personally

I’ve done neurofeedback at least twice a week for over a year in both forms that we offer here at Alternative Therapeutics. Every person is vastly different in how they will respond to neurofeedback training, but I thought it might be helpful to offer some real-life examples of how things can change. For more case examples, check out the book Neurofeedback 101 here.  

1.       Greater focus, concentration, and follow through on tasks

It’s much easier for me to follow through on tasks I know I need to do. I can sit down and finish something with greater efficiency and intention. That space in between, “I know I need to do something” and “I am doing that something” is smaller—I jump in there before procrastinating the task endlessly.

2.       Decreasing use of psychiatric medications

With strong family history of depression, I was on antidepressants as a support for many years. With neurofeedback training, I felt strong enough to wean down off of these medications. This has been a great personal triumph for me.

3.       Stabilization of emotional reactions

One of my favorite examples of this is when something frustrating happens in traffic. Instead of yelling alone in my car at the idiot who decides to slam on their brakes randomly, it rolls off of me like water off a duck’s back. I am able to recognize frustration but not get swept away into it, drowning in my own emotional reactions.

4.       Greater ability to examine past traumas

Instead of getting overwhelmed at certain memories, I can look at them with acceptance, without getting overwhelmed. Neurofeedback works in part by stabilizing the nervous system. So instead of my nervous system getting overactivated, I am better able to keep homeostasis even as I think through emotionally difficult topics.

5.       The ability to read a book

Okay, that sounds extreme. I can read books. But sitting down and just reading a book took a lot of effort for me before neurofeedback. The other night I sat down to read a nonfiction book that I had been intending to read for a while and sat there for a full hour, undistracted. That never happened before neurofeedback.

6.       More positive outlook

This was one of the first and most noticeable things I noticed from neurofeedback training. It’s like my brain takes hold of positive thoughts instead of negative ones more often than before. This has led to a less depressive outlook on life in general, which contributed to #2 above.

7.       Peak performance

I graduated with my master’s degree, studied for and passed my licensure exam, completed the licensure process, took a neuroscience course, started a new caseload, got trained in EMDR therapy, and completed my board certification for neurofeedback within a span of 2 months this year. I was also hitting neurofeedback training super hard during this time. I was efficient, focused, and goal oriented. This is not a typical standard of performance for me. I am more of the take it easy type than a super driven performer. But I was able to maintain focus on my goals and follow through with excellence. I believe I was able to perform these tasks smoothly without exhaustive effort because of neurofeedback’s incredible effects on my brain.

I always say everyone can benefit from neurofeedback. We can’t predict what it’ll do for you, the timeline it would occur in, or that it would work in the same way as it did for me. But I can say it is worth a try. You never know what might become a possibility.

Written by: Mary Beth Stevens, M.Ed., LPC, BCN