Decades
of neurological research have led us to understand that the healthy functioning brain behaves in a certain way; it follows
a particular pattern. For example, brainwaves on the left are busier than the right and brainwaves at the front are busier
than the back. If these patterns are reversed then the mind experiences anxiety, depression, stress - and
these states impact on behaviour and relationships. In certain areas of the brain there are specific normal ratios of fast:slow
brainwaves. If these ratios are distorted then we may have problems with attention, lack of focus, poor concentration
and impulsivity. So dysregulation of brainwave activity negatively affects our reality.
So
what causes dysregulation? Certain conditions are genetically inherited, but many disturbances are caused by emotional, physical
or chemical encounters (sometimes called 'traumas') at some time in our lives. Examples of such
traumas could include birth trauma, life-threatening events, severe exam stress, bereavement, divorce, workplace stress/bullying,
physical injury or exposure to chemical toxins, or even recurrent infections.
The
good news is that although our brains can become dysregulated, they can also be restored, and, given the right circumstances,
they have the capacity to self-heal at any stage in our lives. The brain does not just grow to maturity
and then stop, as was once thought.
There are many
excellent ways of naturally restoring the brain to health, from cognitive and behavioural therapies to optimum nutrition to
mindfulness meditation. And, in some cases, medication can play a vital part.
Importantly, neurofeedback is the only therapy
that works directly at a neuronal level, allowing you to improve your brain function and see the healing process
in action.
How Neurofeedback changes the brain
