Neurofeedback for Insomnia – A Natural Remedy

Insomnia is a sleep disorder where people have trouble sleeping. People with insomnia often complain of difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. The harmful effects of sleep deprivation are wide-ranging. Sleep deprivation can affect your mood and performance at work or school. It can also affect your health if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or heart disease. In the past sleeping pills were often the go-to treatment for insomnia. However, all prescription sleeping pills have risks and it is now considered best to treat insomnia through cognitive behavior therapy or neurofeedback therapy in many cases.

What Causes Insomnia?

Insomnia can be caused by a number of things, including stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that as many as 50 million Americans suffer from chronic insomnia. Anyone of any age can experience insomnia but it does seem to affect women more than men statistically.

There are different types of insomnia including transient insomnia, acute insomnia, chronic insomnia, and secondary insomnia.

• Transient insomnia is when you have trouble sleeping for a few nights but then your sleep pattern returns to normal.
• Acute insomnia is when the problem lasts for at least three weeks.
• Chronic insomnia is when the problem has lasted for more than three months, and it becomes difficult to function with little sleep on a daily basis.
• Secondary insomnia is when there are other medical conditions that cause difficulty in sleeping such as pain, asthma, or arthritis.

Side Effects of Sleeping Pills

As mentioned earlier, sleeping pills were once prescribed as the most common treatment for insomnia. However, sleeping pills often have side effects, some of which can be quite serious or have just as much of a negative impact on the patient as the insomnia condition itself.

Some side effects of sleeping pills include drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, memory loss, tremors, bowel issues, burning and tingling sensations in the limbs, and loss of balance. There are also other side effects that can happen while you’re taking sleeping pills such as feeling detached from your body or reality, hallucinations, sleepwalking, and nightmares.

Sleeping pills can be addictive if they are used for too long or in high doses. Long-term use can also lead to tolerance, which means that the user needs more of the drug to get the same effect. Some people may also experience withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and headaches when they stop taking the medication.

It is recommended that adults over the age of 65, those with chronic lung conditions, and pregnant women avoid the use of sleep medication as a treatment option.

A reliance on sleeping pills is not a long-term solution to sleep problems and more holistic treatments, such as behavior and neurofeedback therapies, have now been proven to be effective, safer, and with long-lasting results.

Neurofeedback for Insomnia

Neurofeedback is a form of brainwave therapy that has been shown to be an effective treatment for insomnia. It is preferred by many as an insomnia remedy because it is drug-free, non-invasive, and without the side effects of sleep medications.
The process of neurofeedback therapy for insomnia consists of monitoring brain waves, providing real-time feedback to the patient, and providing a reward when the brain produces the desired frequency band. This feedback helps the patient learn how to control their own brain waves, essentially training their brain to create healthier patterns that will positively impact their ability to sleep.
Neurofeedback therapy works best with an individualized sleep schedule and relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation.

What is a Neurofeedback Session Like

The science behind neurofeedback is complicated but the process of neurofeedback is simple. At Dutchess Braincore and Wellness Center, Dr. Will prefers to use the BrainCore Therapy system. This is a propriety technology that utilizes media like music during therapy sessions as the medium to provide brainwave activity feedback to the patient. For example, the healthier the brainwave pattern the further the song advances or the volume increases. The familiarity of music serves to help patients relax and adapt more easily to the process than more traditional, graph-like feedback displays.

Braincore Therapy like all neurofeedback is painless and non-invasive. During the initial brain mapping process (QEEG) a cap is placed on the patient’s head to record their brainwave patterns, identify dysregulation, and establish a baseline for determining a therapeutic treatment protocol. During the therapeutic sessions, just a few electrodes are placed on the patient’s head to facilitate brainwave activity monitoring and feedback. No needles or sticky residue. You’ll sit in a comfy chair and be able to relax during each session.

Braincore Neurofeedback therapy helps people with insomnia fall asleep faster and stay asleep for a longer period of time. Neurofeedback therapy is safe and effective for all ages, during pregnancy, and for those with chronic lung conditions.

If you suffer from insomnia and would like to learn more about Braincore Neurofeedback therapy, call our office at (845) 592-2237 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Will and start getting some quality sleep, naturally.