Back-to-Work Nerves

Neurofeedback is a non-pharmacological solution to ease back-to-work nerves so that you can walk into the office as your most confident self. Going back to work, much like school, can bring about a mosaic of complicated feelings. You may be about to take off in a new role, new job, or new career path. This change can inspire mixed feelings of nervous excitement followed by a spiral of self-doubt. To counteract these emotions, Erin Badour, B.A., BSC., M.S., CCC-SLP, BCN, and her expert team of neurofeedback clinicians have helped eliminate the stress and anxiety of many patients with personalized neurofeedback protocols. From anxiety to ADHD/ADD to sleep disorders, Erin can accurately diagnose your ailment and propose a subsequent treatment protocol with a qEEG Brain Mapping and Evaluation session. This brain map will serve as the launchpad for your neurofeedback protocols. Begin the road to a more confident you by scheduling a complimentary initial consultation with Erin at either her Playa Del Rey or Redondo Beach office. To contact our office please call (310) 821-3640. 

A “Post-WFH” World

Many of us have spent the last year and a half converting our homes into make-shift offices and liveable workspaces. From finding the perfect lighting for our Zoom calls to designating a specific corner in the den as our break room, we have become accustomed to the comfort and solitude of our house. The countless days of rush hour traffic, in-office meetings, hurried lunch breaks, and gossiping at the water cooler seem so long ago. Because of COVID-19, human interaction is now mostly through screens. At home, we have more control over our surroundings, schedule, and activities. While in the first few months, we may have pulled our hair out at the idea of remaining at home for much longer, now we may be unable to imagine any different circumstances. 

But with vaccination rates on the rise and offices opening back up, many people are digging into their closets, searching for slacks to replace the standard “pajama-uniform” they’ve adopted over the past 18 months. While some may be excited at the prospect of rekindling old office friendships and jumping into a foreignly familiar routine, others might be anxious about the idea. 

Psychologists at Harvard Business Review say that this is because transitions spike anxiety.^[1] It is normal for anxiety to rear its head when situations or circumstances change. But there can come a point where this anxiety is detrimental to your health and well-being. If left untreated and unresolved, these feelings can fester and rob you of your health and well-being. Symptoms that could be caused by chronic anxiety include:

While many of these symptoms are common to the human experience, if they endure chronically you may have an anxiety disorder. The most popular way to treat anxiety disorders is through pairing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with carefully prescribed anti-anxiety medications. For some people, these medications can act as a splint to help their minds heal from the damage caused by chronic anxiety. But for others, the anti-anxiety medications bring various side effects without alleviating the anxiety. That’s where Erin and her approach to neurofeedback enter the conversation. 

Neurofeedback for The Working Professional

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive device that monitors the brain’s activity by measuring and regulating brainwaves from leads placed on the scalp.^[2] These leads are sensors that monitor the brain’s electrical activity. The frequency of waves your brain is producing right now affects your behavior and emotions. When the frequency is altered, the behavior and emotions are altered as well.^[3] By monitoring your neurological waves, we reward your brain with positive feedback whenever desired waves are produced. This change in brainwave pattern causes new neural pathways to open up in your brain’s wiring. After only a couple of sessions in their protocol, patients report feeling lower levels of anxiety and clearer states of focus. So, what does this mean exactly for the working professional?

A Shift in Perspective

Originally created to illicit a relaxed mindset in meditation, the science of neurofeedback has shown promising results to alleviate anxiety by regulating the brain’s wave patterns.^[4][5] By monitoring the brain’s electrical activity, Erin can set neurological boundaries for your brain to operate within. When the brain’s waves fall or rise between these boundaries, positive feedback is played either auditorily or visually. This positive feedback trains the brain to operate within this “Anxiety-Free Zone”. Throughout your protocols, your perspective will shift. Those triggers that used to send your anxiety in a spiral now have little to no effect. Your brain will rewire itself to reside and operate within this optimal zone. 

Quick Procedures With No Downtime

When you come to our Redondo Beach or Playa Del Rey office, you can sit back and relax in our recliner as a neurofeedback clinician applies the leads on your head. Once you are ready and your neurological boundaries are set, you will either comfortably recline with your eyes closed or sit back and play a variety of brain games. For the next 30 minutes, the neurofeedback device will reward your brain with positive feedback every half second. With a procedure that is easily squeezed into a lunch break, neurofeedback is perfect for the working professional who doesn’t have space in their schedule for long treatments and even longer downtime.

A Viable Alternative to Medication

A popular treatment option for anxiety is the pharmacological route. While this may be a great avenue for some people, for others anti-anxiety medications only bring a host of new, unexpected side effects. However, with neurofeedback, you can expect no side effects whatsoever. That’s because the technology uses the brain’s own activity to retrain and rewire itself. Neurofeedback doesn’t introduce foreign chemicals into the body. The brain is only becoming aware of its functions and alternative modes of more efficient operation.  

If you are a working professional who wants a refreshed perspective with no downtime and no side effects, then you are a perfect candidate for neurofeedback. Going back to work does not have to include anxiety. With neurofeedback, you can see real, lasting change. If you would like to experience what Erin and her team of neurofeedback clinicians at Neurozone can do for you please schedule an initial, complimentary consultation at one of our two offices. 

Complimentary Consultation

During your consultation with Erin, she will want to get a sense of what your concerns may be regarding your mental state. Next, she might ask about your overall interest in your work and if any office anxiety was felt before COVID-19. After acquiring an overall sense of where you are in your mental health journey, she will want to have a qEEG Brain Mapping and Evaluation session scheduled. During that session, she will be able to expertly pinpoint where exactly your neurological problem resides in the brain and then coordinate your personalized protocols. 

FAQ

References

1. Boyles Ph.D., A. (2021, July 9). Why You’re So Anxious About Going Back to the Office. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2021/07/why-youre-so-anxious-about-going-back-to-the-office
2. Neurofeedback and Biofeedback for Mood and Anxiety Disorders: A Review of the Clinical Evidence and Guidelines – An Update. (2014). Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25411662/
3. Banerjee S, Argáez C. Neurofeedback and Biofeedback for Mood and Anxiety Disorders: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2017 Nov 13. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531603
4. Biofeedback, Mind-Body Medicine, and the Higher Limits of Human Nature | AAPB. (2021). Aapb.org. https://www.aapb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3383
5. Weerdmeester, J., van Rooij, M. M., Engels, R. C., & Granic, I. (2020). An Integrative Model for the Effectiveness of Biofeedback Interventions for Anxiety Regulation: Viewpoint. Journal of medical Internet research, 22(7), e14958. https://doi.org/10.2196/14958