How Biofeedback May Help with Stress

Have you ever heard of the term biofeedback, or read it somewhere and wondered what it actually was? Biofeedback is a technique that involves using visual or auditory feedback to gain control over our involuntary bodily functions, or functions we don’t even think about consciously on a daily basis. This may include gaining voluntary control over such things as heart rate, muscle tension, blood flow, pain perception and blood pressure. The ultimate goal is to help you improve your well-being and quality of life. During a biofeedback session, electrodes are attached to your skin, and therefore they are non-invasive. Finger sensors can also be used. These electrodes/sensors send signals to a monitor, which displays a sound, flash of light, or image that represents your heart and breathing rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, sweating, or muscle activity. When you’re under stress, these functions naturally change. Your heart rate speeds up, your muscles tighten, your blood pressure rises, you start to sweat, and your breathing quickens. You can see these stress responses as they happen in real time on the monitor, and then get immediate feedback as you try to stop them. Biofeedback sessions are typically done in a therapist’s office, but there are computer programs that connect the biofeedback sensor to your own computer. According to the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, “biofeedback is a process that enables an individual to lear...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Brain and Behavior Mental Health and Wellness Stress Treatment Biofeedback stress reduction Source Type: blogs