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Biofeedback for Veterans

Tackling stress, pain, addictions, and other disorders is a major problem in the life of many veterans. In many cases, prescription medications just don’t do enough to fight these disorders or simply don’t seem to work at all. Because of that, many vets search for other therapies and treatments to help relieve their suffering.

For many years, veterans have looked to biofeedback to help with issues, such as anxiety and panic disorder, chronic pain, migraines, sleep disorders, and Attention Deficit Disorder, hoping to find a non-invasive solution that can potentially produce lasting results. Furthermore, even very traditional doctors have begun to embrace the successes of alternative or “complementary” therapies like biofeedback for the problems frequently faced by veterans, often suggesting the use of these therapies in addition to traditional treatments.

How Does it Work?

Biofeedback, which came to the attention of the medical community in the 1970s, is sometimes known as mind-body therapy because it works to establish a connection between the processes of the mind and those of the body. Specifically, by use of a monitor, biofeedback “feeds back” to the patient physiological information of which they are normally unaware and helps them understand how those physiological reactions trigger things like stress or pain.

There are several different kinds of biofeedback techniques available, including:

Electromyogram (EMG):The most widely used form of this therapy, EMG uses sensors to measure the levels of muscle tension in the patient’s body. The sensors alert the patient to the presence of tension and, later, the patient can recognize the signs which indicate that tension is coming or is present, allowing them to control the tension before it causes anxiety, headaches, or any number of other issues.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) : Also known as neurofeedback, this technique monitors how the activity of brain waves links to certain mental states like calmness, relaxation, and deep sleep. It is most often used in the treatment of sleep disorders such as insomnia.

Galvanic Skin Response Training :This form of biofeedback alerts the patient to anxiety by measuring the amount of perspiration on the skin and levels of sweat gland activity. It is most often used for phobias or overall panic disorder.

Temperature biofeedback :This kind of biofeedback uses sensors that attach to fingers and feet to measure changes in skin temperature. Low temperature indicates the onset of stress and learning to recognize temperature change can help the patient control the stress.

Will It Work for Me?

Biofeedback works best if the veteran is a willing participant and is patient with the procedure. Some who try the technique are able to see results in just 10-15 sessions while others take much longer. The goal, however, is to take the knowledge learned during the sessions and transfer it to the long term. That means patients will strive to learn how to control their body without the use of technology, allowing them to continue using feedback outside the clinician’s office.

Many successful biofeedback users have been able to cut down their medications or totally dispense with some of them. Also, biofeedback has also been known to aid with disorders that previously did not respond at all to standard treatments or medication.

Is It Safe?

Though not all doctors recommend alternative therapies and sometimes are wary of how they may interfere with traditional treatment, biofeedback has been in use for almost 40 years and is proven to be safe in most cases. Experts, however, do not recommend the treatment for those with severe mental health problems like serious depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or schizophrenia. Biofeedback has also been known to interfere with insulin production, so diabetics using the technique should be monitored carefully.

Where Do I Go?

Once it’s been determined that biofeedback is appropriate for you, you’ll want to gather information on therapists in your area. Some are licensed psychologists while others are commonly licensed in another area of healthcare and may be a physical therapist or perhaps a nurse practitioner. To be certain that you’ll receive the best care possible, look for a therapist who is trained and certified by the BCIA, the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America.

Last modified: December 09, 2009.