Neurofeedback for Anxiety
Anxiety can present as a feeling of fear, dread, or uneasiness. It might cause one to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress, such as when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. Anxiety can also help someone cope with a situation or give a boost of energy to help with focus. However, for individuals with anxiety disorders, the fear is not temporary and can be overwhelming.
An anxiety disorder is defined by conditions in which someone has anxiety that does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships.
There are several types of anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Individuals diagnosed with GAD often worry about ordinary issues such as health, money, work, and family. Experiencing daily excessive worrying for a period of six months or more would qualify as the criterion for GAD.
- Panic disorder. Those experiencing a panic disorder have panic attacks regularly. A panic attack is a sudden, repeated period of intense fear when there is no “real” danger present. The attacks come on quickly and can last several minutes or more, often based on thoughts patterns of perceived danger.
- Phobias. Individuals with phobias often experience an intense fear of things that pose little or no actual danger. This may include fears of spiders, flying, crowded places, or social situations (known as social anxiety).
The cause of anxiety is unknown. Factors such as genetics, brain biology, chemistry, stress, and your environment may all play a role in anxiety.