Department of Preventive Medicine your guide to health and well-being Positive Choice Wellness Center 7035 Convoy Court » San Diego, CA 92111 Main: (858) 573-0090 » Fax: (858) 573-5540 positive choice wellness center

Creating Inner Balance with Biofeedback Presented by Erik T. Sowder, PhD BCIA Certified Biofeedback Practitioner Kaiser Permanente, Biofeedback Program San Diego, California

with

Biofeedback

Presented by

Erik T. Sowder, PhD

BCIA Certified Biofeedback Practitioner

Kaiser Permanente, Biofeedback Program

San Diego, California

What does Biofeedback and stress management have to do with successful weight maintenance ? Stress is pervasive in our society today and levels are rising. A person’s state of mind and psychological well-being directly impacts their decisions about food choices. People may eat more when stressed, or eat comfort foods that hamper their weight loss efforts. The psychological component of the weight loss formula is just as important as the nutrition and exercise components.

Stress is pervasive in our society today and levels are rising.

A person’s state of mind and psychological well-being directly impacts their decisions about food choices. People may eat more when stressed, or eat comfort foods that hamper their weight loss efforts.

The psychological component of the weight loss formula is just as important as the nutrition and exercise components.

Weight Maintenance and Biofeedback Maladaptive functions of food: stress relief, manage anxiety, self-soothe, distract, reward. The mind-body relationship: becoming aware of internal states (satiety, tired). Research has found increased levels of the stress hormone Cortisol and autonomic dysregulation in obese patients.

Maladaptive functions of food: stress relief, manage anxiety, self-soothe, distract, reward.

The mind-body relationship: becoming aware of internal states (satiety, tired).

Research has found increased levels of the stress hormone Cortisol and autonomic dysregulation in obese patients.

Progressive Food Encounters (PFE) Stage of weight management program foods are progressively reintroduced Biofeedback is used as an adjunct to therapy to help patients in this stage. Patients learn to control their nervous system and their urges to overeat.

Stage of weight management program

foods are progressively reintroduced

Biofeedback is used as an adjunct to therapy to help patients in this stage.

Patients learn to control their nervous system and their urges to overeat.

What is Biofeedback? Electronic biofeedback sensors are connected to the body. During each session, real-time physiological information (feedback) is displayed to patients on a computer monitor using audio and video signals. The feedback is interpreted by a professional. Patients learn control over their nervous system activity and their symptoms.

Electronic biofeedback sensors are connected to the body.

During each session, real-time physiological information (feedback) is displayed to patients on a computer monitor using audio and video signals.

The feedback is interpreted by a professional.

Patients learn control over their nervous system activity and their symptoms.

Why Does Biofeedback Work? Symptoms may be caused by an imbalance in the nervous system. Biofeedback is used to educate patients about their symptoms and the effects of stress on their nervous system. Biofeedback assists in changing patients’ reactions to stress.

Symptoms may be caused by an imbalance in the nervous system.

Biofeedback is used to educate patients about their symptoms and the effects of stress on their nervous system.

Biofeedback assists in changing patients’ reactions to stress.

Why Does Biofeedback Work? A certified biofeedback professional guides the patient through techniques to balance the nervous system and reduce or eliminate symptoms. Home practice assignments reinforce techniques for better results.

A certified biofeedback professional guides the patient through techniques to balance the nervous system and reduce or eliminate symptoms.

Home practice assignments reinforce techniques for better results.

What are the benefits of biofeedback? Safe, painless, non-invasive technique. Interactive treatment modality for people of all ages. Research shows biofeedback is a successful treatment for many functional disorders. Biofeedback has long-lasting effects.

Safe, painless, non-invasive technique.

Interactive treatment modality for people of all ages.

Research shows biofeedback is a successful treatment for many functional disorders.

Biofeedback has long-lasting effects.

What is the success rate of biofeedback? Biofeedback has been found to assist with the following: Recurrent abdominal pain. Irritable bowel syndrome. Migraines. Tension headaches. Chronic pain. Non-cardiac chest pain.

Biofeedback has been found to assist with the following:

Recurrent abdominal pain.

Irritable bowel syndrome.

Migraines.

Tension headaches.

Chronic pain.

Non-cardiac chest pain.

What is the success rate of biofeedback? Biofeedback has been found to assist with the following: Fibromyalgia Arthritis Asthma Hypertension Insomnia Anxiety and/or Panic Disorder

Biofeedback has been found to assist with the following:

Fibromyalgia

Arthritis

Asthma

Hypertension

Insomnia

Anxiety and/or Panic Disorder

It appears to me, Mr. Rubin, that it’s all in your head.

Possible Mediators Sympathetic (gut,heart, muscle spindle, circadian rhythm, etc.) Over-arousal-providing the turbo-charge needed for mobilization of the body’s resources Parasympathetic (gut, heart, bronchi, etc.) Restoring homeostasis, restoration, putting on the brakes

Sympathetic (gut,heart, muscle spindle, circadian rhythm, etc.)

Over-arousal-providing the turbo-charge needed for mobilization of the body’s resources

Parasympathetic (gut, heart, bronchi, etc.)

Restoring homeostasis, restoration, putting on the brakes

If physicians and health psychologists can assess the patient’s nervous system activity for any imbalance, he or she can correct this imbalance through biofeedback training to help identify stress in the body that leads to symptoms.

Recovery from symptoms can be achieved in a brief amount of time. If the patient does not take steps to balance the nervous system, the symptoms could continue throughout life and cause life-long anxiety as they worsen and severely hinder work performance and social activities. Symptoms also will continue to interfere with day-to-day activities, such as paying attention or sleeping well at night without medication

The Latest in Biofeedback Wireless technology (Bluetooth) Ambulatory monitoring Wearable biofeedback devices Example: VivoMetrics LifeShirt

Wireless technology (Bluetooth)

Ambulatory monitoring

Wearable biofeedback devices

Example: VivoMetrics LifeShirt

The Latest in Biofeedback Improved computer animation Interactive games Heart Math Freeze-Framer The Journey to Wild Divine E-Z Air

Improved computer animation

Interactive games

Heart Math Freeze-Framer

The Journey to Wild Divine

E-Z Air

“ Controlling the breath, is a prerequisite to controlling the mind and the body .” Science of Breath S. Rama

“ Controlling the breath, is a prerequisite to controlling the mind and the body .”

Science of Breath

S. Rama

“ Breathing is one of life’s functions we can voluntarily control, and therefore we can cause it to malfunction .” Breathe Well, Be Well -Dr. Robert Fried

“ Breathing is one of life’s functions we can voluntarily control, and therefore we can cause it to malfunction .”

Breathe Well, Be Well

-Dr. Robert Fried

Department of Preventive Medicine your guide to health and well-being Positive Choice Wellness Center 7035 Convoy Court » San Diego, CA 92111 Main: (858) 573-0090 » Fax: (858) 573-5540 positive choice wellness center