We all know that feeling when it’s more than just I feel anxious right now. It’s the overwhelming, bugging-out, I-have-to-get-out-of-here feeling right before you snap. At that point, ten deep breaths won’t remotely touch the relief you need in that second. You’ve reached the edge and you’re staring into the bottomless pit of anxiety.
We never see it coming, because our neuroendocrine system isn’t properly calibrated. It’s a complicated chemistry kit that we assume starts in the brain but, ironically, has roots in the gut. Different neurotransmitters are responsible for things like excitement, calm, focus, memory, joy and mood.
Check the HPA axis
So when a nice deep breath makes no difference — especially when it used to — it’s time to look at the HPA (hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal) axis. On its own, this system self-regulates. But sometimes the right chemicals are out of balance, and when they are, basic relaxation techniques lose their usual effect.
What 25 years taught me
Over more than two decades of working with the electrical side of this electrochemical organ, I noticed something: the clients who did neurofeedback with less-than-optimal results were often reporting other “stresses” in life that made me ask, what’s happening with the chemicals?
It turns out a lot is happening — and a lot of it can be balanced. That’s why our program includes optional functional lab testing alongside brain training. When the balance is restored, you feel less anxious, you can take a deeper breath, and you can exhale the stress and feel normal again.
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Neurofeedback supports self-regulation; it does not diagnose, treat or cure any condition.