Self Training for Innate Wellness Biofeedback is used to both improve performance, health also to relieve stress and anxiety, by training one to become aware of signals emanating from our bodies. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines biofeedback as "The technique of making unconscious or involuntary bodily process (as heartbeats or brainwaves) perceptible to the senses (as by the use of an oscilloscope) in order to manipulate them by conscious mental control.” Biofeedback can increase one's performance and focus. Biofeedback is a way of achieving optimal performance training. In a nut shell, one could forgo much professional training using expensive equipment, if one could slow the breath down to six cycles a minute. The hot term in biofeedback is congruence. The heart has an irregular beat, with multiple smaller waves on the oscilloscope, and the large wave known as the “T Wave.” Inhaling simultaneously, at the highest peak or “T Wave” is referred to as congruence in biofeedback language or heart centered breathing. By slowing the breath down to six inhalations and six exhalations a minute, the strongest heart beat will naturally align with the inhalation. And congruence would be achieved. Yoga practioners and meditators are generally already performing this. Animals perform biofeedback techniques naturally. Have you ever seen a cat getting ready to pounce on its prey? At the moment that the cats freeze, when they become still, they are achieving congruence. They align their inhalations up with their strongest heartbeat, priming their systems, reaching maximum efficiency, readying to pounce on their prey. Biofeedback is a self training technique In biofeedback training the therapist is secondary to the healing process. The client directly sees on a computer screen, what is happening internally. The information is right there visually in front of you, increasing one's own sensory awareness. The biofeedback practitioner teaches skills of diaphragmatic breathing. Biofeedback can be a safe alternative to drug therapy. Information about oneself is mirrored back to you during the session. This leads to greater self regulation and can turn down stress levels and speed up the recovery process. The primary goal is self regulation, a learned skill that one monitors with a take home rented unit. The unit is about the size of an MP3 player and clients must agree to give the training process 10-15 minutes, seven days a week. Ideally one would practice three times a day for at least five minutes each time. Biofeedback is now widely recognized as a treatment modality Biofeedback has been around for more than three decades. In 1997 the American Psychological Association (APA) "recognized biofeedback as proficiency under APA guidelines. A "proficiency" is a circumscribe activity in the practice of general psychology or any of its specialties." Phil A. Hughes, PhD, Biofeedback Certificate Program. Power Point Slides 2008 Page A-6. Free biofeedback Assessment/treatment for Vets and Seniors over 65 Limited time only, June 2008, please call and schedule soon. I am currently licensed to perform biofeedback in the areas of stress reduction, relaxation, reducing anxiety, depression and PTSD. I am available for assessing and treating mental conditions. Physical complaints need a doctor's prescription. Always inquire with your physician first. Not surprisingly, children over age eight generally respond faster to biofeedback visualizations and the use of imagery, than adults. Biofeedback has been successfully used for treatment of ADD/ADHD. Biofeedback can increase sleep, in people with sleeping disorders. It has been used to decrease urine leaks after prostate surgery. Biofeedback has been utilized in treating secondary nausea and vomiting of chemotherapy and flight sickness. Traditional Approaches Falling Short We all know that stress and anger can cause many types of secondary health complications from anxiety attacks, to irritable bowel syndrome, to life threatening heart attacks. Many of us are moving away from the traditional western medication model. I have a doctor here in Willits that I have seen for almost three decades. I absolutely love this caring, competent, wise physician. He is very user friendly, and obviously keeps up on newer research. He listens to me well and appreciates the fact that I sometimes want to take alternative approaches. I have also seen an orthopedic surgeon here, on and off for decades. I cannot sing high enough praise for either of these two traditional healers. I personally think that our community is extremely blessed to have these fine doctors committing themselves to our care. However I have many long standing muscular/skeletal pains, migraines, and a sleep disorder from PTSD. Medications do assist in alleviating some symptoms, but as of yet, have not resolved my long standing issues. Last year I spent thousands of dollars, received no new treatment options, and continue with my joint pain, migraines and sleep disturbance. Yes the medications are helpful, and I’m not about to throw them away. However, I do not want to merely relieve the symptoms, but get at the root of the problems. Actually, with my biofeedback practice, I am sleeping better than I have in decades! I was not even expecting such quick results! Biofeedback and Sports Performance Biofeedback has been proven in sports medicine. There was extensive work done with the NBA. They trained some of their best players in biofeedback. After these players were well trained, they taught them a “quickie” five second biofeedback technique. The results were astounding in success rates on the three point shooters. Biofeedback and Test Anxiety Are you thinking of taking a huge exam? Wanting to get your contractors license? Taking SAT’s, performing before a huge audience, or preparing a speech? Biofeedback could be just the boost to give you that extra edge. Remember, once you have learned this, and with practice, it becomes part of your survival toolkit. Healthy Eating, Aerobic Exercise, and Deep Breathing Yes it’s the old adage again, but this is the path to a better you. For years I was skimping on lab work, but finally I went to my doctor and had my cholesterol checked. Well it was all bad news. Not only was the overall cholesterol up, but the LDL’s or bad cholesterol was elevated. Oddly enough a friend had similar cores with the same doctor. This friend sticks to traditional medicine. So our doctors quickly suggested pills for him. However, when I presented in his office, he asked “What are we going to do here, Divora?” I told him, I’ll clean up my diet, forget it I’m not taking medicine. And I’ll recheck in six weeks. Out went the chocolate, Hagen Das, fast food, and baking goodies at home. I worked harder in the garden. I headed over to the health food store, more and more......I was able to slash my overall & bad cholesterol within weeks, and was within the normative risk area quite quickly. We Were Not Designed for Prolonged Stress Primates are designed to be in the fight or flight mode for minutes at a time. Hear a suspicious noise, take action or flee. That’s how we are hard wired. In today’s society, we are sometimes stressed out for every waking minute! This is particularly true of the sandwich generation. Some of us are caring for children as well as looking out for elders. Some of us do not like our jobs, or our jobs do not bring in enough, as our expenses continue to rise. Biofeedback training just might be the tool to assist us in decreasing our anxiety enough, to really take a good long look at what we are doing. Perhaps opening the door to other options is what we need on many levels, new for strategies, for our stress filled lives.