Welcome to The Ultimate Relaxation Guide
Book On Anxiety Stress Management Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Book On Anxiety Stress Management. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
Biofeedback: An Instrument of Relaxation
from: Tony RobinsonIn the 1970s, in some restaurants, you could find biofeedback
machines. They offered you all sorts of information about your
body. Today, biofeedback is still considered a legitimate way to
attain relaxation. It's a technique that uses monitoring
equipment in order to help control stress.
Biofeedback is rooted in the idea that the autonomic nervous
system can be trained. For instance, equipment can determine
heart rates, muscle tension, and blood pressure while
individuals try to change their breathing, thinking, or posture.
By working with the machines, individuals can conceivably learn
the best methods for relaxation. However, the equipment can only
be monitored by someone with specific training in biofeedback.
According to Dr. Leonard Holmes, feedback can come in a variety
of forms: a line on a computer screen, a tone of a certain
pitch, or a blinking light. A typical type of biofeedback is the
EMG, which indicates the tension in your muscles. It is
important to note that biofeedback is not active treatment. It
is up to you decide what you can do in order to lower your
heartbeat and reduce your stress level. If you suffer from
migraines or neck pain, biofeedback can also help you to relax
your muscles so that you don't experience as much--or possibly
any--pain.
In order to determine whether biofeedback would be effective in
your particular case, a stress profile might be used. Monitoring
device will determine your heart rate, blood pressure, and
temperature. You are then exposed to stress, such as a history
quiz. As a result, the biofeedback professional will have some
idea how your body reacts to stressful situations.
Interestingly enough, insurance companies have been known to
cover biofeedback treatment. For instance, biofeedback may be
covered for headaches. However, other companies view biofeedback
as entirely experimental. When biofeedback first came onto the
scene, some practitioners believed that it would enable us to
have nearly complete control over our bodies. However, that is
not the case. In many situations, our bodies are basically
operating under "automatic pilot." However, it is true that
biofeedback can be helpful to some individuals, particularly
those who are looking for a means for relaxation.
Biofeedback is used in a number of cases today. For instance,
it has been used to treat headaches, stomach problems, high
blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, epilepsy, and paralysis.
A number of different kinds of health professionals use
biofeedback, including physical therapists, nurses,
psychologists, psychiatrists, and dentists. Once the biofeedback
machine detects certain physiological reactions, patients
usually engage in various relaxation exercises. Also, you as a
patient may learn about the triggers that cause certain
physiological problems. You can also learn how to deal more
effectively with stressful issues that appear in your life.
It is important, however, to note that biofeedback is not a
quick fix. It cannot in itself cure any illness. It is simply a
tool that you can use to take control of your health and
well-being. With biofeedback, individuals can be empowered to
seek solutions to common health problems. Unlike other treatment
programs, biofeedback requires of great deal from the patient in
order to be successful.
Would you personally benefit from biofeedback? That depends on
your willingness to experiment and your own comfort level. If
you believe that biofeedback could be beneficial, you should
discuss it with your doctor. He or she might want to determine
first whether traditional treatment would be better in your
particular case. In most cases, you will need to have a complete
physical exam before you engage in biofeedback. You may even
have to undergo a neurological test.
If you're considering biofeedback, you should ask your family
physician for a referral to a biofeedback expert. You'll want to
make sure that you are dealing with a trained professional. Keep
an open mind during the treatment. If it makes you
uncomfortable, you might be better off looking at other
treatment options. While it first began in the 1960s,
biofeedback remains an experimental technology. Therefore, don't
be disappointed if it doesn't seem to work in your particular
case. However, there is little harm in trying it. In fact, it
could make you more attuned to your body and better able to
manage the stress in your life.
About the author:
Tony Robinson is a husband, parent, webmaster and international
author. Leading a full and busy lifestyle he is fully aware of
the needs of a stress free life. For tips, techniques and
further information visit http://www.stress-gone.com
Book On Anxiety Stress Management News
No relevant info was found on this topic.