What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback was popularized in the 1960s and is utilized for treating certain mental health conditions, such as anxiety, and improving performance. Biofeedback’s scientific credibility is driven by years of research demonstrating that the mind and body are connected and that people can be taught to harness the power of this connection to improve physical and mental functioning.
Biofeedback is a training technique that helps individuals learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance. Biofeedback instruments measure and monitor heart function, breathing, and skin temperature. These instruments rapidly and accurately provide feedback information to the user. This information is incorporated with feedback on thinking, emotions, and behavior, which supports desired physiological changes. After practice, the ability to change one’s physiological state can be done without instrumentation. Biofeedback facilitates self-regulation of your own physiological state.
Can biofeedback help decrease my anxiety?
Biofeedback has been found to be especially effective for anxiety reduction. Anxiety can become a problem when the body’s normal responses to stress are exaggerated and do not return to normal after a particular stress has been resolved. Biofeedback shows patients the abnormal physiological response levels, such as abnormal breathing and reduced heart rate variability. In turn, patients use this knowledge to recognize when they are becoming abnormally anxious and they are then better able to control their anxiety. Thus, biofeedback helps patients learn how to better manage their body’s response when anxiety occurs. Biofeedback sessions are often incorporated into an overall treatment plan to reduce anxiety symptoms.
Can biofeedback help with depression?
Some research has found that biofeedback can relieve depressive symptoms. In particular, anxiety that often accommodates depression is helped with biofeedback therapy. Furthermore, biofeedback works by rebalancing the autonomic nervous system and teaches a self-regulatory skill helpful to depressed individuals. Biofeedback improves emotional responses to stress, which is often associated with depression. From a physiological standpoint, biofeedback improves heart rate variability and activates the vagus nerve, thereby helping to improve functioning and well-being. Biofeedback can also be a helpful therapy for chronic pain and migraines. Biofeedback works well when incorporated into other depression therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Dr. Mazzei conducts biofeedback and received Board Certification in biofeedback from the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA), which demonstrates adherence to carefully developed standards as a healthcare provider. BCIA is the only institute recognized worldwide that grants certification to biofeedback practitioners.
Get Started with Biofeedback Today
If you have any questions about biofeedback or would like to start biofeedback therapy, the best place to start is by speaking to our staff, who can answer any questions about the process and schedule a confidential appointment. Simply follow these steps:
- Text today at (480) 448-6755 or e-mail us for a free consultation
- Or, you can book directly online with Dr. Mazzei
- Begin your journey towards a fulfilling and healthier life
Dr. Mazzei’s private practice is located at 3377 S. Price Rd., Suite 2104, Chandler, AZ.