EATING DISORDERS TREATMENT

Neurofeedback and CBT for Eating Disorders Treatment

Eating disorders are complex conditions that can have serious consequences for physical and psychological health. There are many types of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. They are generally characterized by abnormal eating habits, preoccupation with food, weight or calories, and body image disturbances.

Eating disorders can be very serious and potentially life-threatening conditions that require professional help. It is highly recommended to diagnose an eating disorder as early as possible to maximize the likelihood of physical and emotional recovery.

Eating disorders often represent an intense effort at self-regulation in the face of persistent states of heightened anxiety and arousal. This state of high anxiety and lack of self-regulation manifests itself in brain functions, peripheral nervous system abnormalities, and difficulties with regulating emotions and behaviors.

Therapy for Eating Disorders

Brain Resource Center uses neuromodulation techniques along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to retrain the brain and the peripheral nervous system for better self-regulation, and a reduction in the anxiety symptoms that can lay at the root of eating disorders.

The treatment protocol can have long-lasting and permanent effects. Symptoms such as anxiety, obsessiveness, impulse control, and repetitive and destructive loops of behavior are reduced and replaced by healthier thought patterns and behaviors.

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How is a Eating Disorder Identified?

Eating disorders can manifest in emotional, behavioral, and physical ways. Individuals can display preoccupation with body weight, diet, and calorie intake, refuse to eat certain foods or even whole categories of food, skip meals, dramatically gain and/or lose weight in short periods of time, experience general gastrointestinal discomfort, experience dizziness, sleep disruptions, and more. Many people with eating disorders also struggle with eating in front of others and experience shame that can cause them to socially withdraw.

Many individuals with eating disorders suffer from other illnesses like anxiety and OCD. Research has found particular abnormalities in electrical brain activity that can be targeted through neurofeedback therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and other psychotherapy techniques can help to target the range of symptoms that those with eating disorders may suffer from.

How does Neurofeedback work?

1. qEEG Brain map

Brainwave assessment identifies imbalances and helps to create a personalized treatment plan.
2. Treatment setup

Non-invasive sensors and headphones are placed on your head and the treatment session begins.
3. Brain activation

Software translates your brainwave data and stops or starts audio/visual media based on your brain activity.
4. Conditioning

In response to the audio/visual feedback, your brain adapts and learns to regulate your brainwaves and build new, healthy neural pathways.
5. Brain Training

Over time with continuous brain training, healthy brain activity in target regions increases, and symptom-associated activity decreases.