Neurofeedback Therapy

[ilusa26]

Does neurofeedback  help?  I would like to hear your opinion.

Thanks

Our objective is to better understand the struggles our child faces and to learn the skills to improve our relationship and provide a supportive environment and also improve on our own emotional responses, attitudes and effectiveness as a family leaders

[pessim-optimist]

Hi ilusa26,

I don't have experience with neurofeedback, but there is a thread here about it that you might find interesting:

https://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=202562.0

From that I gather that neurofeedback isn't for everyone, but it can do wonders for some... .

Hope that helps.

[ilusa26]

Thanks.  I will check that. 

[Rapt Reader]

Does neurofeedback  help?  I would like to hear your opinion.

Thanks

Hi, ilusa26... .Neurofeedback Therapy has helped my adult son who was recently diagnosed with BPD. He has long-term diagnoses of ADD, Depression, Social Anxiety, Substance Abuse and Suicidal Ideations. His NFT has been designed to address his symptoms and behaviors, not specifically for the BPD, but is working. He has his life back, and still has a reticence to go out in the world and live on his own right now, but he is happier and clean & sober (7 months!), and way easier to live with.

He does still have a ways to go, and may never actually live a "normal" life (wife, kids, house with the white picket fence, great job, etc.), but for now he is feeling much happier and eager to see how far he can make it to normal... .Not sure if this would help everyone (he is Low Functioning BPD, and majorly interested in "getting better" and was never violent or outwardly raging), but it has been a life saver for our family.

[ilusa26]

Rapt reader,

Thank u for replying.   I appreciate you taking time.

I don't know if my daughter is low functioning or high.  She has been diagnosed  ADD, depression,  bipolar and then BPD.

She hasn't been vilent with us but had rages which got better with abilify.  She did one year of dbt but that didn't help that much.  After last hospitalization her therapist said she cudnt help her and she needs intensr residential .


She has been at a residential place for last two and a half months.  Next week she starts intensive outpatient.   This place has helped some.

I asked this question on the board cause I was doing research on different therapy and someone here had mentioned that neurofeedback had helped.

Thanks again.

[Rapt Reader]

Hey, ilusa26... .

I'm really happy to hear that the RTC she's been in recently seems to be helping, and that she's got IOP Therapy lined up. If your daughter is interested (even just some) in "getting better" (and she's doing T, so it's a good chance that she is!), then I think you might want to look into Neurofeedback Therapy if it's something you can afford. My son absolutely loves it; feels better, emotionally and mentally healthier, and doesn't have to be forced to do it.

This NFT is just part of his treatment for his many diagnoses. He sees an Out Patient Therapist once/week; his Neurofeedback Therapist twice/week; his Psychiatrist once/month; his GP once/month. Out of all of his therapies, he likes the NFT sessions the best. I ran a search on it, found someone nearby, and gave her a call (turned out she is related to my best friend, so I was able to get a reference I could trust).

It seems to be the "missing link" to recovery for him; the other things have been in his life for the last year, and only after the addition of the NFT has he become himself again! He is in it for the long haul, but at least now there is light at the end of the tunnel... .

[lbjnltx]

The concept of using nft was first introduced to us while my daughter was in residential treatment.  Her therapist believed that she needed to have more balanced brain activity to combat her impulsivity to give her a better chance to use her skills.  Our daughter graduated from the rtc before they had their nft program full time and so she did not get to participate while at the rtc.

I began to do my research and read a book called "The Neurofeedback Solution"  it was a fascinating read and we found a therapist within driving distance (1.5 hours).  We were to go 2x week at the beginning.  After the 3rd week we did 2 sessions each trip to cut back on traveling.   About 1/2 way through the 40 sessions the therapist gave us a machine to take home and hook up to our computer.  Through "go to meeting" he would take over the computer, control the machine, and monitor her sessions.  We did this until she finished the 40 sessions and then added on 10 more.

The treatment was focused on impulsivity and concentration (for her borderline add).

It worked well for her.  The nft recommended a homeopathic for her to use to continue to help aid her in concentrating. She no longer takes the homeopathic.   So far... .so good.  This was 2 years ago.

[ilusa26]

Do you think nft would work for depression.  My daughter has been at a residential place for last two months and a half.  She still talks about being depressed or sad all the time, and i wouldnt say she is depressed all the time.  she seems to have her good moments too, so the clinical director there says no need for ect or tms.  we just dont know what to do about her depression.

any other suggestions would be welcome too.

thanks.

[lbjnltx]

There are specific areas of the brain that nft  can change the activity in. Increasing activity in one area and decreasing in others affects brain function.  From what I understand depression can be addressed through NFT. 

[Rapt Reader]

Depression has been a problem for my son for years; he is 36 now, and was diagnosed with ADD, Depression & Social Anxiety when he was 20, and he suffered from all of that (and then we found out about his BPD) ever since. Until now, and I do believe the NFT is helping with that; he hasn't been depressed--except for one short stint that ended quickly--since starting that.

His NF Therapist has been working on all of his specific symptoms, and Depression is one of them. It's worth it to ask a NF Therapist if this is something he/she works on; my hunch is that it is a common malady they all work on. Good luck!