I’ve known Dr Goodman for several years, and he has helped me through some serious problems. Dr Goodman walked me through using some very helpful tools, journaling, mindfulness even breathing techniques when I am anxious . Dr G will help you because he listens to you. (He likes dogs? ) Thanks Dr!
Biofeedback
Real-time information about your body raises awareness, and with it the possibility of conscious control.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a non-medical process that involves measuring a subject’s specific and quantifiable bodily functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, sweat gland activity, and muscle tension, conveying the information to the client in real-time. This raises the client’s awareness and therefore the possibility of conscious control of those functions.
By providing the user access to physiological information about which he or she may be unaware, biofeedback may allow users to gain control of physical processes previously considered an automatic response of the autonomous nervous system. Interest in biofeedback has waxed and waned since its inception in the 1960s; it is, however, undergoing something of a renaissance during the early 21st century, which some experts attribute to the general rise in interest about all alternative medicine modalities. Small biofeedback machines are becoming available for use in the home.
Heart-Rate Variability
Dr. Goodman has come to realize that at the foundation of many of our illnesses is a lack of proper education regarding the art of breathing. Most of us when we become anxious begin a cycle of breath that serves to keep our sympathetic nervous system in a hyper-aroused state.
When taught the proper way to breathe, the para-sympathetic takes over and lowers our anxiety and allows our bodies and our minds to heal quicker. Heart-rate variability or HRV is the study of the stress placed on the heart between each beat. By regulating our breath, we can reduce the stress on our heart as well. Dr. Goodman uses computer-aided biofeedback equipment to facilitate this re-learning process.
The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System
The Human Body is the most amazing machine ever invented. At the speed of light, decisions are made regarding whether to run or whether to fight. When the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is engaged, the body hunkers down, goes into stress mode and begins releasing cortisol, adrenaline, epinephrine, and a whole host of other proteins, enzymes and hormones. This raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, raises body temperature and brings blood up to the head and heart to protect these vital organs.
Stress in a Modern World
While cave man probably only raised his SNS when he had to hunt the Saber Tooth Tiger, today, it seems everything is a Saber Tooth Tiger to us. We are on constant SNS overload feeling as if everything around us could attack us. Terrorism, finances, jobs, family, relationships, illnesses, etc all combine to keep the SNS engaged. Similar to driving a car where the idle is stuck on high which eventually causes the engine and all the parts to burn out.
Biofeedback, Hypnosis, Relaxation, visualization, breathing and Mindfulness, Meditation and ACT therapy all combine to provide coping skills for us to proactively engage the Para-sympathetic system thus shutting down the SNS and allowing that idle to finally come back down to normal. This is how we can return to a powerful state of health; becoming parasympathetic dominant.
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