Understanding the Link Between Neurofeedback and Reducing Panic Attacks

Dealing with panic attacks can make you feel like you’re lost and alone in a sea of fear. However, you’re far from alone. Over 3% of the population of the United States suffers from a similar or related disorder, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. While you may be one of the millions of people living with anxiety, you do not have to continue to suffer. Neurofeedback is a safe and effective approach to alleviating these symptoms, often completely and for good.

What Are Panic Attacks?

Panic attacks are sudden symptoms that can occur due to an underlying anxiety disorder or on their own. Each person may experience them slightly differently, but common symptoms include:

• A faster-than-normal heart rate
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Tightness/ pain in the chest
• Nausea
• Shaking, shivering, or trembling
• Intense fear or anxiety
• Feeling out of control

What Causes Panic Attacks?

There can be a vast array of causes and factors that contribute to panic attacks. For some, they are more ‘biological’ in nature and are mainly due to genetic predispositions, medical conditions, or even certain medications. It is not uncommon for panic symptoms to have an onset related to physical exertion and becoming overheated, either by exercise or environment.

Psychological factors can also increase susceptibility. Exposure to stressful or traumatic events or a co-occurring mental health condition can be risk factors for experiencing panic symptoms. Anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD and depression may co-occur for some.

No matter the cause, frequent panic attacks can leave you feeling exhausted and less able to engage in your life.

Common Treatments for Panic Disorder

Managing panic attacks with medication may offer a short-term solution, but it comes with risks and side effects. According to Pamela Downey, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and founder of Emerald Coast NeuroFeedback, “Certain psychotherapy approaches can be helpful for some, but even effective psychotherapy often takes a lot longer than Neurofeedback before relief is consistent with panic disorder. It is also true that even good therapists can miss underlying biological contributions that we are not trained to treat as therapists. We have seen many clients who tried counseling approaches to treat something that is more biological, and then feel hopeless after seeing little to no improvement.”

How Panic Attacks Affect the Brain

The amygdala is the part of the brain responsible for processing fear and anxiety. While the amygdala might save your life by telling you to run when you spot a man-eating tiger, that same adrenaline can also cause the body to feel those same sensations when nothing is life-threatening. When the brain misinterprets that something dangerous is occurring, panic attacks can be the result. Maladaptive brainwave patterns contribute to the frequency and intensity of panic attacks. The good news is that these patterns can be trained to self-correct.

What Is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is brain learning, and it leverages two fundamental concepts: CAS (the brain is what is known as a ‘complex adaptive system’) and neuroplasticity. Simply put, the brain is designed to self-correct, learn and adapt. And if you give it specific feedback about what it is doing in real-time (in this case, in the form of audio and visual feedback from your protocol), it can self-correct, improve and optimize how you feel, think and function in vast and profound ways. Neurofeedback is non-invasive, drug-free and requires little more than sitting in a chair and following a few simple instructions while you take in the sounds and images from your protocol. This kind of learning is very similar to when you learn how to walk, snowboard or ride a bike via feedback from gravity.

When you come in for your sessions, our friendly team will place sensors on your scalp and ears to pick up your brain waves via an EEG (nothing is going into your brain; the sensors are just reading your brain waves). Your brain waves appear on a computer screen, providing a kind of mirror for the brain to see what it is doing and self-correct in real time. Gradually, across approximately 20-30 sessions, the brain learns to correct these patterns on its own.

How our Neurofeedback process Helps Reduce Panic Attacks

EFFECTIVE

ECNF takes a holistic approach with a 90-minute evidence-based symptom cluster evaluation with a Licensed Therapist. This ensures that your protocol speaks to the causes of your symptoms, which may be very different from one person to another.

EFFICIENT and SAFE

Another advantage of Neurofeedback is how quickly it can impact clients. Clients who are suffering from regular panic attacks can come in for up to 2 sessions a day and gain relief in a matter of days or weeks, not months. Because this process helps the brain relearn how to regulate the nervous system, it means no risky side effects and lasting results. Your brain is no longer stuck in a loop of reactivity, allowing the nervous system a ‘reset button’.

Emerald Coast NeuroFeedback’s Approach to Reducing Panic Attacks

Founded by Pamela Downey, MS, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Emerald Coast NeuroFeedback is a wellness-based option following the same model as personalized medicine. From the initial evaluation through each session, ECNF follows specific research-supported practices to get you the best results while tailoring the process to your specific underlying factors and overall goals. Licensed therapists and trained technicians work as a team to provide a client-driven experience and deliver an alternative solution to reduce and eliminate panic attacks.

What To Expect During Neurofeedback Sessions at Emerald Coast NeuroFeedback

With a curated set of evaluation questions (mostly ‘yes’ or ‘no’), a licensed therapist uses specialized software to assess the most appropriate set of protocols for you. We will also work with you collaboratively to establish measurable outcome goals to keep track of progress each session.

Next, you will sit for an EEG with one of our technicians to customize the protocol for your unique brain. We are now ready to see you 2x a week for your feedback sessions! This is a passive process for you (with the expectation of clicking on the mouse periodically as instructed).

While you can expect to see initial progress in 5-8 sessions, more significant and lasting improvements are typically seen between 20 and 30 sessions.

Long-Term Benefits of Neurofeedback for Reducing/Eliminating Panic Attacks

Neurofeedback is a wellness-based solution that helps your brain correct its own patterns to alleviate symptoms of panic. Training your brain with Neurofeedback is similar to learning to ride a bike. It’s learning that lasts. This kind of learning is different from therapy, which typically trains the mind. Implicit learning occurs without conscious effort and lasts without having to remember how to do it.

ECNF tailors each person’s training program to meet their needs specifically. Some clients want faster relief and choose to come in more frequently to get results quicker. For others, twice a week fits their schedule and needs best. With either approach, your Neurofeedback team will look for a plateau in your progress (less than 10% growth across the last five sessions). This indicates that your brain has learned those skills and solidified that learning. While each person is different, most clients have gained significant improvements with staying power by 20-30 sessions.

Why Choose Emerald Coast Neurofeedback for Managing Panic Attacks?

Emerald Coast NeuroFeedback offers a safe, effective and efficient alternative to other treatment options for panic attacks. With a systematic research-driven approach unmatched anywhere on the Gulf Coast, they are a team of professionally trained therapists and technicians using the most evidence-based practices to advance your results. Most importantly, your experience and results matter to them. They care and want the best outcomes for all clients.

If you’re looking for a holistic alternative to other treatments and want to build better mental health while eliminating panic attacks naturally, call or message Emerald Coast NeuroFeedback today.