For people doing neurofeedback

[89abc123]

Just creating a place for people doing neurofeedback to share experiences 

[Dutch Uncle]

There's an elaborate thread on this in the Types of Therapy section: Neurofeedback - worth serious discussion, imo...

[89abc123]

Hi yes I just started this thread because I wanted to track my progress (I started Nf today) and we were commenting on a really really old thread. Thought this might be a better place to share our experiences. Hope this is ok

[Dutch Uncle]

Oh yes, as far as I'm concerned it's OK.

I just wanted to point out the other thread.
And I'd like to add that it's my personal preference (and nothing more than that) to keep subjects as much together as possible.
We are a small community, and I think it's better to concentrate our efforts rather than spread them thin.
Our recovery is a long term process as well (alas, in a way) so adding to 'old' threads is 'par of the course'.


I might be rambling.

I'm wishing you well with neurofeedback for sure! And I, and many others I'm sure, are interested in your experiences, so please share them. 

[steamy]

I am not a big advocate of therapy, not that its not worthwhile, simply because for the treatment of CPTSD there is a lifetime need, and what we really need are people who will listen without prejudice and provide loving care and others who will show wisdom and guidance, a mentor.  The need for therapists really highlights that our society lacks those people. I am interested in self administered neuro feedback, wondering if there are units that are affordable.

[steamy]

I just looked around the web, there are a number of units around, you can buy an EEG system for $1000 for a 16 channel setup, specialist neuro feedback systems start at $100. However, I would be cautious I just found this article in Psychology today. Learning to play the guitar might be more beneficial
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-myths/201302/read-paying-100s-neurofeedback-therapy-0

[89abc123]

I didn't go down the self Nf road. I go to a clinic where they do a brain scan first. Mine found that certain areas are operating too slow, and one specific area is too fast.

They recommended 20 sessions then get another scan. I'm putting a lot of faith into this but I'm also an intensive talk therapy as well.

Neurofeedback helps repair the brain.

Therapy helps repair the mind.

Yes I've read that article but if u read the comments at the bottom there are a lot of people who have done Nf that are arguing against what he's saying.

I already play guitar and it's done nothing for recovery.

[89abc123]

So I've just done my second session.

Massive placebo effect right now. My mood has lifted because I feel like I'm being pro active in recovery. I'm aware it's a temporary high, but I'm enjoying the rare positive mood while it lasts.

They said I shouldn't start noticing changes til around session 10.

I'm doing 5 sessions per week, so I'll update at the end of next week.

[Kizzie]

Just my two cents but imo it's beneficial to have a separate thread about your experiences as you go so we will have a detailed account for others who are considering it .  My posts in the other thread are mixed in with the discussion about NF as a therapeutic tool so not as apparent how the process unfolds as yours will be.   So please do keep us updated. I for one am really interested in your experience with it as you go along.   

Wow, five sessions a week is alot.  I did two sessions and found I was quite tired out.  Are you working with a movie or images to stimulate a particular area?

I talked to my T about doing self NF and he suggested it was complex and something best done with a trained T.  I am not overly versed in NF but given the charts and readings etc I am not certain it would be something I would undertake on my own anyway. I do see a lot of faddish info about NF on the internet which brings its credibility into question, but there is also a fair amount of clinical research which supports its use.  See for example Bessel A. van der Kolk's trauma institute site - http://www.traumacenter.org/about/about_bessel.php.  The Centre is doing quite a bit of research into the use of NF and trauma - http://www.traumacenter.org/clients/neurofeedback.php.   

Hope the positive feelings stay!    

[89abc123]

Hi kizzie, I thought a new thread was a good idea because our last one did get a bit messy.

I'm watching a movie. They are increasing the areas working too slowly and decreasing the areas working too fast at the same time. They show me the results at the end which look really promising.

Yes I get exhausted during. It only goes for 20mins but i struggle to keep my eyes open.

I know 5 sessions per week is a lot but if the studies are anything to go by, if I do 40 sessions of this then I could see a complete change in  8 weeks which is amazing in cptsd recovery terms.

Please note I do NOT expect nf to be my only recovery tool. I do therapy but don't do the work needed to change. I want Nf to improve my motivation concentration and focus to be able to complete therapy tasks. If it reduces anxiety it would be an added bonus and I will be very grateful.

[Kizzie]

It is surprisingly tiring isn't it lol.  I would go home and sleep for 2-3 hours afterward.  I have to laugh as the movie I watched was "Mr. Deeds" and it was the silliest movie ever and there I was working hard to keep the screen lit up.     The second one was "The Matrix" and I enjoyed seeing it again.

I agree that it is only one tool.  I'd like to go back for some relational and/or somatic therapy since realizing I still have some deep fear of abandonment hanging about.  Hard to find where I live now unfortunately.   I did some biofeedback with this T and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy online and that helped a lot too.  I just feel like the NF directly gets to the areas of the brain that are over or under functioning  more quickly and effectively than talk or other kinds of therapy and then you have more brain function to combat this disorder which in turn may help with motivation, perseverance as you're hoping it will. 

Hope it goes well and let us know how you're doing 

[89abc123]

1st positive result...

So I've always had very very bad pms, to the point of depression, intrusive thoughts and suicidal ideation before my period starts. I get severe mood swings and severe cramping.

First time ever, zero mood swings! Zero suicidal ideation! Zero depression! I did get some racing and intrusive thoughts but very minor compared to normal. I still have severe cramps but I think that's semi normal for women anyway.

The only change has been the Nf.

Unless it's a placebo...but I guess I'll find out in another month haha.

[89abc123]

6th session

I've noticed some subtle changes. The first one is I feel more emotional than before. I feel like my feelings are more intense, which is a good thing but at the same time I'm really sad because i never realised how painfully lonely I am. I mean, I've always been lonely...but I've never FELT this lonely.

I am feeling sad. But I am not feeling depressed. I'm also quite * delighted that I'm not feeling depressed.

I still don't know if this elevated mood is because I know I'm helping myself, or if it's because of the neurofeedback. Either way, it's nice

[89abc123]

Session 10

So I've decided to slow down the frequency of sessions because they said it takes time as well as consistent training, so I'm only going to do 3 a week from now on. It's important to rest, just like the gym.

I've done 10 sessions now, the most instant change was my mood... It is now completely stable. I feel like i did the first time I tried lexapro which worked great for a short time. It's only early days, but my mood has been stable for 2 weeks now which is pretty unheard of for me. It's a huge relief.

I feel emotions more then before.

I seem to be better at taking care of what I'm eating, even with tempting foods in the house. Still though, I'm known to swing between great self discipline to impulsive behaviour every 3-4 weeks so it's a bit early to tell if nf has helped.

I seem to be having deeper sleeps.

Apart from that, no other noticeable changes yet.

[89abc123]

So I did session 11 this morning and I have been very tearful and emotional the last few days.

After consulting doctor Google, apparantly it's common for trauma survivors to release emotion during neurofeedback.

It's validating in a way because everybody has always doubted me. I even always questioned myself whether what I went thru was actual abuse or not. I guess this confirms it was.

I feel sad though, I was always kinda hoping I hadn't gone through anything and that I just had a few symptoms of cptsd and not the full blown disorder and that I could make a full recovery. Time to say goodbye to that fantasy.

Floodgates have been opened. Hello grieving. Goodbye sanity.