Biofeedback

Are You Stressed?

Well, then we here at Beaumont Psychological Services might have just the answer for you. Of course, we are all told how we should watch our food intake, get plenty of rest, and remember to relax, but sometimes we follow all the rules and still feel like a nervous wreck or sometimes we don’t and follow all the guidelines and still want to find a different solution. Biofeedback may be another solution to stress reduction.

The basic idea of Biofeedback is to be aware of the cues your body is sending to let you know it has become overloaded due to a number of reasons. Your body reacts to everyday stresses and to major life stressors in different ways, but if one can become tuned into these cues, this is the first step to control of mind and body.

How Does It Work?

At Beaumont Psychological Services we provide two basic instruments to measure Biofeedback: one works by measuring temperature, the other focuses on measuring tension. When gathering information by monitoring temperature, research shows that when the human body is stressed, it stores warmth at the central portion closest to the heart and abdomen area. As a person becomes more relaxed the body carries the warmth further to include the head and extremities. The increase in body temperature results in increased relaxation. A second instrument is used to measure muscle tension. It focuses on the muscles around the head, neck, and shoulder area. The results are opposite as when measuring temperature; here as tension decreases, relaxation increases. This sounds simple, but measuring Biofeedback requires two key elements: the instrument used to measure signals given by the body and the ability to become relaxed and focused on the signals. A client learning biofeedback is able to choose which technique provides the maximum level of relaxation. Both the instrumentation and the relaxation techniques enable a person to (a) tune in to physiological changes in their body and then (b) teach themself on how to increase control, both mentally and physically.