What is Biofeedback?

What is biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a tool used to measure, monitor and display one's psycho-physiology elements connected to/and or created by the body's responses to environmental factors.
It is a complementary approach used in conjunction with other therapeutic procedures to help people understand their emotional and physical responses to various environmental stimuli.

Psychophsyiological Response to Stress
Psychophysiology is the relationship between the psychological and physiological aspects of behavior. In other words, the mind and body connection. It is the connection between how we think and how we feel. Stress is defined as an emotional or physical tension, which is a reaction to a change or an imbalance. It is a normal part of life. When we react to stress, our sympathetic nervous system kicks in and we go into what is known as a "fight or flight" response. Some typical signs of this include sweaty palms, cold hands, tense muscles, and rapid heart rate. If we are not able to down regulate these responses however, it is possible to remain in and even adapt to this state.

Stress Management
It is important to learn valuable techniques to manage stress effectively and prevent the wear and tear on the mind, body, and spirit. By maintaining a sense of balance, we are able to function more efficiently in daily activities.

How does it work?
Non-invasive sensors are used to measure electrical activity of the body in relation to an individual's phsyiological state. Parameters include heart rate variability, skin conductance, skin temperature, and electromyography. The biofeedback device is connected to a computer where this information is displayed through visual/auditory cues. The therapist teaches effective techniques to enable a person to recognize and effectively manage control over these parameters.
By implementing modalities of biofeedback, one is able to better understand how their body reacts to stress, gain control over these responses, alleviate physical and emotional distress, and promote well being.