Have you ever wished that you could make your illnesses and injuries disappear simply by willing them away? With biofeedback and the power of the mind, you may be able to do just that!
Biofeedback is a type of alternative medicine that is part of mind-body therapy. This type of therapy proposes that you can use your mind as a vehicle to help improve your health by using signals from their own bodies. Confused? Think “mind over matter”—using the power of positive imagery and thoughts to control what is going on inside you. Biofeedback is based on the concept that every person has the potential to influence the automatic and involuntary functions of their bodies with their minds.
To help you harness this ability, biofeedback experts use signals from a special type of monitoring machine, similar to how we use a thermometer or a scale. This machine can detect what’s going on inside a patient’s body, acting as a kind of sixth sense that allows the therapist to see internal activity. For example, one type of machine detects electrical signals in the muscles. When the muscles become tense, a flashing light or beeping sound goes off, and the patient learns how relax trying to slow down the signals. The biofeedback therapist acts as a type of coach, letting the patient know how to alter the signals and giving hints on how to improve their performance.
Biofeedback is used to treat a huge variety of conditions, both physical and mental. They include:
- Migraines and headaches
- Digestive disorders
- High blood pressure
- Epilepsy
- Paralysis and movement disorders
- Asthma
- Hot flashes
- Chronic back pain
So, what makes biofeedback so appealing to many people? The practice has the potential to help patients:
- Reduce or eliminate a need for medication
- Put themselves in charge of their own health by giving them the tools and support they need to heal themselves
- Decrease medical costs
The health practitioners who specialize in biofeedback range from psychiatrists, nurses, dentists, internists, and physical therapists. The practice is commonly used in conjunction with relaxation exercises to help patients cope with stressful events. Biofeedback is definitely not magic—it can’t cure a disease or make a patient healthy on its own. It is a great tool to increase self awareness, and remind patients that their thoughts and feelings have the potential to make a huge impact on their health and actions.
To find a biofeedback practitioner near you, contact The Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.
