Bio- & Neurofeedback for stress & Burnout
What is stress and burnout?
Burnout is a psychological reaction to chronic work stress. When you work in a high pressure and chaotic situation, you might feel excessive stress which can turn into burnout. Usually, people who have too many responsibilities, do not get enough sleep, and do not receive enough support can end up feeling burnout. Moreover, people who have perfectionist and high-achieving characteristics might be more at risk of burnout. Further down on this page, I will explain the benefits of neuro- & biofeedback for stress and burnout, but first a bit more about the short and long term effects of stress on our brain.
How our brain functions in stressful situations?
When you are under stress your brain produces lots of fast brainwaves (beta and high beta) because you are trying to process and analyze and solve the problems. In this situation, you will find it difficult to relax, keep yourself calm and concentrate because your brain is working so hard, and it is unable to produce enough slower waves that cause concentration and alertness (alpha and SMR).
Symptoms of burnout
In a situation that a person is experiencing burnout, the brain most of the time produces excessive slow waves, like the brainwaves our brain produces when we are daydreaming or sleeping (theta and delta). This happens because the brain has been under too much stress for a long time so, it is tired and cannot process effectively any longer . The brain of this person is unable to generate enough brainwaves which are responsible for alertness and relaxation (alpha and SMR). So, the person might experience following symptoms:
- Constant fatigue and exhaustion
- Difficulty concentrating and focusing
- Difficulty keeping motivated
- Feeling rejected
- Feeling helpless
- Feeling angry
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
Benefits of Bio- & Neurofeedback for Stress and Burnout
Studies show, using Neurofeedback, alone or along with Biofeedback, is a strong tool that helps with improving the burnout symptoms. During the process of Neurofeedback training, different parts of the brain will learn to communicate to each other properly and generate appropriate brainwaves considering the situation. With the help of Biofeedback, the body of the burnout person will learn how to react in stressful situations and the brain and body will work in harmony with each other.
At DynamicBrain, during the assessment session, I will find out which brainwaves are dominant and associated with your symptoms and according to the findings we can start your personalized brain training.
References
Dunham C. Michael, Burger Amanda L., Hileman Barbara M., Chance Elisha A., Hutchinson Amy E., Kohli Chander M., DeNiro Lori, Tall Jill M., Lisko Paul. Brainwave Self-Regulation During Bispectral IndexTM Neurofeedback in Trauma Center Nurses and Physicians After Receiving Mindfulness Instructions. Frontiers in Psychology. 10.2019, [Ref.]
Hardt JV. Alpha brain-wave neurofeedback training reduces psychopathology in a cohort of male and female Canadian aboriginals. Adv Mind Body Med. 2012 Fall;26(2):8-12. PMID: 23341412, [PubMed]
Weon, H. W., Yi, S. G., & Kang, H. G. (2008). Effects of a Neurofeedback Program on Brain Function and Stress in High School Students. Journal of Korean Academy of Child Health Nursing , 14 (3), 315–324. [Ref.]