A great treatment for anxiety, chronic stress, and panic attacks …

We live in a time and culture that pushes us to live too fast and too busy lives. The result is increasing numbers of people suffering from anxiety disorders, chronic stress, and terrifying panic attacks. While there are a few key components for successfully treating these problems, one treatment is less known but can be a powerful method for finding relief for the worst symptoms that plague the anxious person.

That treatment is biofeedback.

First, let me give you the “formal” information about this treatment, as provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health:

Biofeedback is a mind–body technique in which individuals learn how to modify their physiology for the purpose of improving physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Much like physical therapy, biofeedback training requires active participation on the part of patients and often regular practice between training sessions. Clinical biofeedback may be used to manage disease symptoms as well as to improve overall health and wellness through stress management training. Research has shown that biofeedback interventions are efficacious in treating a variety of medical conditions, and many Americans are turning to biofeedback and other less traditional therapies for their routine healthcare.

Biofeedback is a self‐regulation technique through which patients learn to voluntarily control what were once thought to be involuntary body processes. This intervention requires specialized equipment to convert physiological signals into meaningful visual and auditory cues, as well as a trained biofeedback practitioner to guide the therapy. Using a screen such as a computer monitor, patients get feedback that helps them develop control over their physiology. Just as looking into a mirror allows one to see and change positions, expressions, etc., biofeedback allows patients to see inside their bodies, with a trained practitioner serving as a guide directing them to use the feedback to regulate their physiology in a healthy direction.

Let me explain in more plain language how biofeedback can provide powerful benefits.

The person struggling with anxiety disorders, especially those that lead to panic attacks, or the chronically stressed person usually experience various physical symptoms that become out of control and feel overwhelming to them. Many years ago, I investigated the use of biofeedback as a treatment for such persons and saw great results.

In my exploration of biofeedback, I was seated in a comfortable, over-stuffed chair and multiple electrodes were placed on my body to measure my breathing, heart rate, skin temperature, etc. The focus of this experiment was to identify how anxiety and stress impact our breathing patterns. Usually unconscious to us, when we become anxious or stressed, our breathing pattern becomes more shallow — so much so we develop more of a “panting” breathing pattern. A shallow breathing pattern provides a less effective oxygenation of our bodies, which then can result in a feeling of light-headedness, increased heart rate, increased skin temperature, and can induce the feelings of panic.

By the use of biofeedback, the electrodes placed on my body registered my breathing pattern that was shown as a “wave” or chart on a computer screen. I could see how fast and shallow my breathing had become, and could feel the physical effects of such a breathing pattern. By using the visual aid of biofeedback, along with the instruction from a trained practitioner, I learned how to control my breathing by consciously inducing a more deep, slower breathing pattern. By doing so, all the physical effects and feelings of near panic and anxiousness subsided.

I was impressed!

What this experiment demonstrated to me is that people can learn how to modify their breathing patterns, especially in moments of high anxiety when they feel panic overcoming them, and be able to overcome the panic to calm and relax themselves. When we can modify our physiology away from the negative physical effects of stress and anxiety, we greatly improve our capacity to deal with stress and defeat our anxiety, especially when coupled with competent clinical counseling and robust spiritual health.

if your struggle with chronic stress or an anxiety disorder, talk to your physician or a counselor about the potential of biofeedback being a possible treatment to help you. Adding biofeedback to your toolbox of treatment options could be life-changing!

Scotty