Biofeedback for Anxiety

Biofeedback has been shown to help with anxiety, depression, headaches, chronic pain, incontinence, and high blood pressure.
Basically, biofeedback is a simple way to improve your mind-body connection and learn to regulate your nervous system. In this video you’re going to learn all about biofeedback, and by the end of this video, you’ll know how to do it on your own, without any equipment.
Biofeedback is literally feedback about what your biology is doing. About 90% of the things going on with your body right now are subconscious: your breathing, heart rate, digestion, blood pressure - your autonomic nervous system is just running those without you thinking about it.
With biofeedback you can actually measure what is going on with your autonomic nervous system and learn to calm it down. This can be super helpful with anxiety and other physical conditions.

Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC, and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.

In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
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[deion]

I've been on a recovery journey from a chronic illness for 2 years. Your videos have given me so much insight, knowledge, and guidance on my recovery. Thank you

[Merryyy]

I have been meditating daily since March (1 - 15 min.).
When I remember to just breathe, I immediately feel incredibly calm. The next step would be to do it when in stress, but in those moments I forget to breathe at all.
I have noticed that I do not react as much as I used to, sometimes I do not even react at all. If something goes wrong, I accept it and move on. The parasympathetic is starting to wake up in me and I like it.

[zucchinis]

I LOVE Flowly!!! It changed my life and helped me manage my anxiety and chronic pain (from both EDS and fibro) to the point where I feel I can actually start work again. Totally didn't expect the shout out to them here but Emma is always so on top of the newest research and approach I'm not surprised. The VR combined with biofeedback helped me focus on the biofeedback exercises. Super recommend this one VR world in Flowly that's on the beach.

[warlockofwordsreturnsrb]

Some of these biofeedback theraputic techniques, can help you overcome shyness as well.

[jrg]

This is excellent. I was taught that biofeedback helps with blood pressure 10 years ago in a lifestyle therapies for medical conditions class...but they never said what it actually is and how to do it.

[donnabolt]

Great video!! Thank you :)
I used heartmath and it was extremely beneficial. I have autoimmune disease (MS) and stress is known to make my condition worse.
I have learned living in chronic stress actually hurts our bodies.
What you are teaching people really truly matters and can help their quality of life 👍

[sans]

emma...this series is exactly what i need...my body has acting up so much lately and i cant seem to calm it down even when my mind is calm..hopefully ill learn to calm down by body by the end of it..thank you so so much u are a life saver😇🙏❤

[ricka]

There’s only one thing to say you are absolutely amazing in so many ways

[glenngibson]

Great job and thank you! As always you are informative and concise. I have been battling chronic anxiety/depression/stress that sent my cortisol levels to critically low levels several years ago. My endo eventually sent me to Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. The chair of the endo dept said my depression/anxiety/stress was the cause of my low cortisol (they did two days of testing on me). He said he had only seen it two other times in his practice. That was two years ago. Your videos have been a part of my healing process along with several other therapies. Thanks for your time and expertise.

[mollyney]

This was a great video, thank you. I really found it helpful. I would like to publicly say that I was appalled by Better Help. I could not believe was a disgrace the entire process was. I highly HIGHLY recommended you don’t waste money with them.

[danielgriffin]

I appreciate any help, living a more peaceful life, that anyone can give me. Thank you, your video is very informative, and very helpful.

[muirl]

Your videos are very helpful for me. I just had my second burnout of my life. You really are helping me out. Between my first and my second burnout I learned a lot about psychology and more precisely about art therapy. I need to finish my license of art therapist.

[soniaromero]

I am very grateful for your valuable videos. Thanks a lot for your generosity to help people like me who has have trouble with my heart jumping because of anxiety.

[SiothaVest]

Emma, thankyou for continuing to publish content which includes techniques to try or use. Your videos have greatly helped me as a mom with 2 daughters who have been on an emotional tornado since the pandemic started.

[Benbeebop]

Can you do one on neurofeedback or the difference between neuro and biofeedback

[RawlinsonTavares-mg]

Awesome! I've just come across your channel. Your videos are really informative and easy to understand. Thank you!

[MarioProvini]

I did Direct Neurofeedback five days a week for two months and it works....it worked. And it was fun, interesting and very cool it was work and well worth it.

[floridanativelh]

Yes!!! Please do more like this. It's such a great tool and can be done one anywhere. I'm teaching my son about breathing so this was profoundly helpful. Thank you Emma 🙏🏻

[mimiteas]

Hello Emma,
I missed your last live stream, but I had a question for you... Hopefully you can answer here or in some of your future videos...

I want to feel better and do better in life, and I always search and watch videos or read articles, yet I am unable to actually "do".
I don't know how to get out of that loop of constantly watching the videos without actually implementing anything. 😓

Even if you don't answer, I am so so thankful for your presence here on YouTube and all you do. ❤️

[actsrv]

Thank you so much Emma. I've said this before, you remind me of a teacher I had in school who was better than a mother to every kid. The most troublesome, troubled and mischievous boys loved and respected her.