Anxiety Disorder Treatment for Children and Adults
Anxiety is “an emotional response to a potential future threat or danger” and can cause feelings of worry or fear, physical sensations like a racing heart and tense muscles, and behavioral responses like social withdrawal or avoidance of certain behaviors. While we all experience “normal” anxiety before a big exam, work presentation, or first date, anxiety disorders are illnesses where these feelings are chronic and debilitating, even with no immediate threat or anxiety-provoking situation.
Anxiety disorders, especially if left untreated, can dramatically reduce productivity and significantly diminish an individual’s quality of life. Individuals may have difficulty concentrating, experience unexplained, chronic pain, feel irritable, have difficulty sleeping, withdraw from social relationships, and can be at a heightened risk of suicide. Long-term, the heightened levels of stress hormones in the body can have system-wide consequences on the body.
Neurofeedback for Anxiety NYC
In individuals with anxiety, the limbic system (or emotional brain) is hyper aroused and hijacks the brain, limiting its ability to respond logically and neutrally to various stimuli. Neurofeedback down-regulates these overactive areas that are associated with stress and fear, such as the amygdala. In conjunction with CBT and other talk therapies, this can help you to regain control over emotional responses, and the physical sensations and behaviors associated with them. We can’t eliminate stressful situations and triggers from our lives, but with the right treatment, we can train our brains and bodies to self-regulate more effectively.
How does Neurofeedback work?
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1. Brain map
Brainwave assessment identifies imbalances and helps to create a personalized treatment plan.
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2. Treatment setup
Non-invasive sensors and headphones are placed on your head and the treatment session begins.
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3. Brain activation
Software translates your brainwave data and stops or starts audio/visual media based on your brain activity.
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4. Conditioning
In response to the audio/visual feedback, your brain adapts and learns to regulate your brainwaves and build new, healthy neural pathways.
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5. Brain Training
Over time with continuous brain training, healthy brain activity in target regions increases, and symptom-associated activity decreases.
Ready to start the process?
Step 1: Schedule an intake appointment.
This initial session is a time for you to meet with our clinical psychologist, Dr. Fallahpour, to discuss your medical history, symptoms, goals, circumstances, etc. Fill out the booking form here or call us directly at 212-877-2130 to schedule your intake session or inquire for more information.
Step 2: Complete brain assessments.
After your intake session with Dr. Fallahpour, we recommend that you complete a qEEG brain map and neuropsychological screening. This provides us a more objective understanding of what is happening in your brain and which issues we need to focus on treating.
Step 3: Start treatment sessions.
After reviewing the results of your brain assessments, Dr. Fallahpour will design a personalized treatment plan for you. Then you will be able to start treatment sessions in office or remotely if eligible. Click here to learn more about our treatment options.
Related Research
Real-Time Functional Connectivity-Informed Neurofeedback of Amygdala-Frontal Pathways Reduces Anxiety. Click here
Effectiveness of neurofeedback therapy for anxiety and stress in adults living with a chronic illness: a systematic review protocol. Click here
Treatment of Anxiety Disorder with Neurofeedback: Case Study. Click here