Antipsychotics are used to treat patients suffering from any number of mental health problems such as depression, bipolar disorder and other mental health disorders. These drugs have undesirable side effects such as weight gain, lowered life expectancy, low white cell count and many other problems.
The other problem with antipsychotic drugs is that they can occasionally cause the initial problem to become worse. Aside from the mentioned problems, antipsychotics can cause patients to feel ‘spaced out’, weak and robotic. There is also the teething phase of starting any new medication, since prescribing antipsychotics that work for a patient can be a case of trial and error.
Because of this, psychiatrists prefer to use alternative treatments such as cognitive behavior therapy and hypnosis among other treatments. These treatments are often used alongside antipsychotics to help control and manage symptoms to the point where patients feel they are able to cope.
Unfortunately, because the antipsychotics affect the brain and nervous system directly (in particular mood patterns, behavior and sleep), they become reliant on them and find it near impossible to manage without them.
Psychologists are now looking at using brain training to help patients to manage their condition better. This type of brain training is known as neurofeedback training. Studies on over 40 unstable bipolar patients at the Pisgah Institute in North Carolina found that neurofeedback had had a significant impact on their overall well-being.
Patients were reported to have fewer mood swings, were able to sleep and concentrate better, and most of all, their tendency to be hospitalized due to outbursts was remarkably reduced. The other positive side effects that were observed over the course of a year included the ability to think more clearly and rationally, become calmer and less aggressive and in general patients were able to function much better.
Most astonishing though, was the fact that some patients that had been on medications for over 20 years were now able to go drug-free thanks to the remarkable power of brain training. Of those patients that were not able to completely go drug free, they reported needing only lower doses – something that they would never have considered before.
How does brain training work so effectively? The answer lies in the brain’s ability to become stronger and more stable due to the training exercises it undergoes. Learning to self-regulate gives a patient more control over their current situation. This can be a lifesaver for those with mental health disorders who commonly feel ‘out of control’ and out of their depth in certain situations.
Although brain training cannot cure mental health problems, it can certainly help patients exercise more control and calm into their lives. It can allow patients the chance to recover on reduced medication doses (or in some cases, no medication at all) and feel better about themselves.
Neurofeedback cannot replace a good doctor, nor can it replace medication altogether. Along with brain training, patients need to eat nutritious foods and get lots of rest and support from family and friends. These measures can go a long way in helping patients feel more ‘normal’.
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