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Neurofeedback

Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor14 Mar 2017, 2:53 pm AEDT

Neurofeedback

Hi all,

I am feeling excited because I have found a place in Sydney which offers neurofeedback under the ATAPS program...meaning I can do 12 sessions of neurofeedback a year. I have previously done a little bit of neurofeedback, but stopped because my psychologist at the time wasn't very supportive. That time, I started to get really weird dreams after about 5 or 6 sessions. It is something I have always wanted to have another go at. To me, things like neurofeedback and EMDR are the future of treating trauma. It actually works on the physical structure of the brain...which appeals to this little Aspie Turtle far more than sitting around talking about stuff. I want to heal my brain. I don't want to "live with" the trauma, I want to HEAL it...and all the current research regarding the neuroplasticity of the brain suggests this is entirely possible. Even if I can just heal it enough to be able to concentrate better, that would really help me to try and create some sort of a life worth living. I'm excited.

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In response to: Neurofeedback

Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor16 Mar 2017, 9:44 pm AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

@Former-Member if I can ever get stable enough to complete the requirements to register as a psychologist, I would love to train as a neurofeedback provider. I know it isn't a magic cure by any means, but I think it is definitely a step in the right direction.

In response to: Re: Neurofeedback

Unknown userMember16 Mar 2017, 9:53 pm AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

Ah-mazing @Phoenix_Rising! Seriously cool stuff. It's also seriously cool to feel your enthusiasm. I too am looking forward to ep2 next week. Awesome 😄

In response to: Neurofeedback

utopiaSenior Contributor16 Mar 2017, 9:58 pm AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

@Phoenix_Rising. I remember at one session - I was doubting that it was working. I was thinking the computer was doing it all and it was all a load of cow dung.
So then I thought - I'll test it. I started to get angry. Focus on angry thoughts. Wow. The computer did the opposite. I then started thinking better calming thoughts - the images on the screen then did what they were meant to do.
At the end of that session - my psychologist said - were you testing it? I said yes how did you know? She said my reading that day - the print out of my brain waves - was very different to my normal brain waves when calm and when stressed. She said when she and other psychologists were training to use this - they also tried to manipulate the read out and that it was very obvious.
I think it has great potential too help a lot of people.

In response to: Neurofeedback

Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor16 Mar 2017, 10:00 pm AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

@NikNik wrote:
I learnt a lot from this thread! Like @Zoe7 I'm looking forward to the next episode 🙂

PS: Am I floating around in a giant nutella jar by any chance?

@NikNik Giant nutella jars don't float, silly...but you got me thinking about chocolate, and then I had a picture of you floating in the glass elevator from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and now I have Oompa Loompas singing in my brain. Er...and now I'm feeling self conscious that I just described all of that on this thread which is kind-of all about my brain...which is clearly a very high functioning brain!

In response to: Neurofeedback

utopiaSenior Contributor16 Mar 2017, 10:33 pm AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

@Phoenix_Rising. Now I'm singing "oompa oompa oompa dee doo. I've got another puzzle for you ..."
It will be stuck in my head all night

In response to: Re: Neurofeedback

Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor16 Mar 2017, 10:46 pm AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

Hi @Atalanta, here is the tag to my neurofeedback thread as promised.

In response to: Re: Neurofeedback

Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor16 Mar 2017, 10:47 pm AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

@utopia How good are Oopa Loompas! They are guaranteed to lift my mood just as much as Finding Nemo!!!!

In response to: Neurofeedback

utopiaSenior Contributor16 Mar 2017, 11:09 pm AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

Lol. @Phoenix_Rising. Love the Oompa Loompas. I love the original Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. The new one with Johnny Depp scares the behesus out of me. Very freaky.
Gene Wilder - not so scary

In response to: Neurofeedback

CherryBombSenior Contributor17 Mar 2017, 11:57 am AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

Thanks for the update @Phoenix_Rising, it sounds really productive, and interesting. Hope the dreams don't mean anything threatenning.

I can't wait for the next week's episode. Keep me updated.

In response to: Re: Neurofeedback

Phoenix_RisingSenior Contributor23 Mar 2017, 8:19 pm AEDT

Re: Neurofeedback

Ok...let's see if I can avoid forgetting anyone...

Good evening @CherryBomb @utopia@Former-Member@Former-Member@Shaz51@Zoe7@Former-Member@Appleblossom @Former-Member @Faith-and-Hope @Former-Member @Former-Member @NikNik @Former-Member @Kurra

Welcome to episode two of my neurofeedback adventure. I feel SLEEPY...though not as sleepy as I did during and immediately after the session. In the session I got to play two games today. In the first one there was a maze, and calm brainwaves made little orange dots move along the length of the maze. I didn't have to figure out the maze, I just had to be calm and the dots moved along by themselves. Less ideal brainwaves made the dots gradually disappear back along the length of the maze.

I went pretty well for a while, but then it all fell apart. We identified that this was when I got sleepy and I was working at overcoming the sleepiness. Apparently I should think "hmmm, I feel sleepy" and keep going in the calm state. Oh and in case you are wondering, each round of a "game" goes for about three minutes...so I got sleepy pretty darn quickly.

The other game I played was one in which a man was moving along a field with a wheelbarrow, collecting giant gold coins as he went. Calm brainwaves meant he kept moving along, whereas less ideal brainwaves made him go backwards and the coins came out of his wheelbarrow and back into the ground. Again, I did fine at the start but struggled when I got sleepy.

I was still super sleepy when I left the session, and ended up going to McDonalds for a coffee because I didn't feel safe driving home. However, since I got home a few hours ago, I have managed to get some things done and I am feeling super nice and calm.

I know this neurofeedback gig isn't magic, but I really am hopeful that it will help me to be less reactive to the approximately bazillion things that currently trigger my big feelings.

Thank you for taking an interest in my adventure.

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