The Scottsdale Neurofeedback Institute in Arizona have been offering a successful and alternative non-invasive evidence-based treatment called QEEG Brain Map based Neurofeedback to treat individuals suffering from alcohol abuse for nearly twenty years. Our alcohol abuse treatment program, although primarily based on Neurofeedback, uses a multimodal approach.
Have you struggled with strong cravings for alcohol? finding that you need to drink greater amounts to experience the sensations you felt previously, or have received a DUI or others are telling you that you drink too much?
Have you found yourself being unable to control your drinking, being unable to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home, getting in trouble with the law, having social or interpersonal problems, or driving a vehicle while intoxicated?
If you have answered yes to any of the above then it is crucial you seek treatment.
Research with QEEG topographic brainmaps has demonstrated that the group average for alcohol dependence, in every study, is significantly elevated fast electricity in the brain which causes brain over arousal resulting in some or all of the following symptoms;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
People with these issues often find that alcohol reduces these uncomfortable feelings and helps them relax, feel peace, and sleep. In reality, they are self-medicating to calm these fast brainwaves. The problem is that alcohol is habit forming and people develop tolerance where it takes higher and higher doses to obtain the same effect.
Alcohol reduces the fast electricity called Beta and increases slower electricity called Delta, Theta, and Alpha, calming down the brain. This elevated fast electricity is inherited and thus alcoholism/anxiety/insomnia usually are present in others in the family tree, especially identical twins.
Our research has found that in addition to the group average of too much fast (beta) electricity that there are five other frequently appearing patterns;
|
|
|
|
|
Often two or more of these brainwave patterns are present and all can be treated with EEG neurofeedback to significant degrees. In the process we can also successfully see and treat co-existing disorders such as depression, Attention Deficit Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Learning Difficulties, anger issues, and Post Concussion Syndrome among others.
The first step is performing a QEEG topographic brain map which is painless and non-invasive is that we place a cap with 19 electrodes on the scalp which picks up the brain electricity (EEG). The recorded EEG is processed through 6 normative databases including the New York University Medical School Normative Database. The statistical data will demonstrate which abnormalities are present and the degree of severity.
QEEG based EEG neurofeedback accesses for the unique individual abnormal patterns of brain overarousal and then trains these abnormalities towards the normal range. When this brain over arousal is normalized the presenting symptoms are greatly reduced and there is no longer a need to self-medicate. People in fact will no longer tolerate the same dosages because they will quickly become sedated on their past dosages.
Treatment can also include other interventions such as;
|
|
|
|
|