Effective therapy for ADHD cannot be without the best stress management techniques, stress management methods that aim to achieve calm. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neuropsychiatric disorder that affects the patient’s entire thinking and behaviour. Unfortunately, increased stress levels, distressing situations and environmental influences can intensify the symptoms of ADHD, which is why daily effective stress management is of paramount importance in ADHD, and this is where biofeedback therapy methods can help.
The link between ADHD and stress
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurological disorder, congenital or developmental, with attention deficit as a main symptom and accompanying symptoms of hyperactivity and poor impulse control. Not all ADHD patients have all these symptoms, but in most cases it is a combined ADHD where they are present.
Anyone working with children today, for example as a teacher or developer, can see first-hand how many children are affected. Of course, it can also be present in adults, but it is often undiagnosed and hidden. In children it can be as high as 9-10%.
A child with ADHD usually has difficulty concentrating, sitting still, always maths something, has less control over their emotions, is forgetful, distracted. At school, they can fall behind easily, find it difficult to organise information, have mood swings and struggle with stress. The pressure to conform and the possibility of falling behind can cause internal stress, not to mention external influences.
In the case of ADHD, conscious stress management is key to improving the quality of daily life, and children with ADHD are inherently more sensitive to stress and find it more difficult to cope with stressful situations.
Biofeedback methods for stress management in ADHD patients
Research has shown that biofeedback therapy can be very effective in the treatment of ADHD, and can even complement drug therapy, psychotherapy and behavioural therapy. There is no fear of side-effects, biofeedback therapy does not cause pain, it simply teaches the child to consciously manage his or her body’s reactions to stress at the very first, biological level.
The most innovative biofeedback tools provide the opportunity to learn and analyse the body’s electrophysiological signals and help the person undergoing biofeedback therapy to learn to influence their body’s unconscious reactions.
When our body is under stress, our pulse rate immediately increases, our palms start to sweat, our blood pressure goes up, even if we don’t realise it, „automatic” processes are taking place inside us. During therapy with biofeedback devices, the patient can control these processes, such as heartbeat, breathing, muscle tension, brain waves, with their mind, for a harmonious, balanced functioning.
There are several biofeedback methods, each of which aims to change a different physiological process in biofeedback treatment.
- Muscle (EMG/electromyogram) biofeedback: measures muscle tension, helps to change muscle tension and learn conscious, targeted relaxation.
- Temperature biofeedback: measures skin temperature. In times of stress and anxiety, blood flows from the skin to the organs and muscles, but reversing the flow reduces anxiety and relaxes the body.
- Skin resistance biofeedback: in times of anxiety the skin starts to sweat, if we can reduce this, the autonomic nervous system stabilises and relaxation can be achieved.
- Cardiac biofeedback: in stressful situations, the heartbeat and pulse increase immediately. By consciously slowing down, a relaxed state can also be induced and the risk of circulatory disease can be reduced.
- EEG biofeedback (neurofeedback): helps to achieve a balanced, optimal brainwave function.
Practical applications of biofeedback
Biofeedback is an effective treatment method for ADHD, but it is also recommended for many other conditions:
- headaches, migraines
- chronic pain
- Chronic pain, chronic pain, chronic anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, anxiety
- hyperactivity
- attention disorders
- stress management
- treatment of blood pressure disorders
- enhancing individual performance
- maximise mental performance
- improve sleep quality
- digestive disorders
Today, the latest biofeedback devices offer anyone the opportunity to participate in biofeedback therapy and treat and heal their health problems without medication by becoming aware of their body.
Benefits of biofeedback therapy
Among the benefits of biofeedback, the most important is that the therapeutic effect is achieved without any intervention in the body, no unpleasant tests or treatments, no pain, no side effects. In a calm, relaxed state, we learn to activate our body’s self-healing processes and remove obstacles to healing.
Biofeedback therapies can help us to achieve a more balanced physical and mental state. The benefits of biofeedback include better sleep, improved concentration and performance, a calmer mind, more effective stress management and relief from chronic pain.
A much better quality of life can be achieved. It is not only for people with complaints that biofeedback sessions are worthwhile, but also for healthy individuals, as everyone can have blocks and barriers that block the body’s regeneration.
Tips and advice for everyday stress management
In everyday life, it is almost impossible to avoid stressing your body. However, how we react to it and how effectively we manage it is not always the same. Can we let go of the feeling of stress, or do we feel cramped and tense all day?
To effectively manage stress on a daily basis, it’s worth attending a set number of biofeedback therapy sessions according to your individual treatment plan. This is always set by the biofeedback therapist, with the individual aiming for maximum effectiveness.
We ourselves can learn a number of stress management techniques that can be incorporated into our daily routine to best manage stressful situations.
- regular sport, exercise: exercise 2-3 times a week, run, cycle, do gymnastics or, if this is not possible, go for a long walk in the evening!
- learn conscious breathing techniques: we can reduce our own stress response. It’s worth learning!
- meditation: to achieve mental calm, choose the meditation that is most comfortable for you from a range of meditations!
- Taking ‘me-time’: it is important to find the time to do something that recharges you, calms your mind, gives you a sense of security and well-being. For some, it’s reading in the evening, for others it’s cycling in the woods, cooking or just talking to friends. Let’s not let these experiences and feelings be taken out of our everyday lives!
- Eat healthily and consciously! If our body has access to the necessary nutrients, minerals and vitamins, it can function in a more balanced way and cope better with challenges!
Biofeedback therapies are excellent for effective stress management.
People with ADHD need to pay more attention to potential stressors and use effective therapeutic methods such as biofeedback or neurofeedback to reduce their symptoms!