Biofeedback and Neurofeedback Applications for Military and Law Enforcement

 

Military service people and law enforcement officers have a lot in common.  In fact, many military veterans go into law enforcement after their military careers end.  Two other similarities are that both military service and law enforcement involve high stress and require high levels of performance.  Both, at times, can come with daily life or death high-stress situations.  These service people and officers naturally would experience their fight or flight responses being activated more often than most other people. It is also super important that they both perform their duties at a high level.  Many lives may depend on how well they perform.

Biofeedback and neurofeedback can apply to both, helping people manage stress and improve performance.  We don’t have to wait until there is a clinical problem.  These interventions can be used to prevent problems, help people manage stress, and improve performance.

When working with military service people and law enforcement officers it may be helpful not to use terms like relaxation or stress management.  Many of the people who work in these areas have negative thoughts about relaxation or the thought that they might need stress management.  They might be more accepting of working on learning self-regulation or improved control of their nervous system in order to improve performance.  You can make the case that in these lines of work you need to use your mind and body together at a high level to perform at your best.  Learning to be more aware of how your body reacts to your thoughts and learning better control of things like your muscles, breathing, and focus sound obviously helpful.  Biofeedback and neurofeedback can help in these areas.

Biofeedback uses instruments that measure and feedback signals from the body including surface EMG (Electromyograph) for muscle activity, skin temperature for peripheral blood flow, skin conductance for sweat activity, Heart Rate, and Heart Rate Variability for cardiovascular responses, and Respiration for breathing.  Neurofeedback uses instruments that measure EEG (Electroencephalograph) which measures and shows brain activity.  Through reinforcement, the subject can learn to change the activity to improve mind-body wellness.

Through the use of surface EMG biofeedback, one can learn to contract the muscles that need to contract for a task and keep the others relaxed.  Through regulation of breathing, using respiration biofeedback, one can either become more alert and activated or become calmer under pressure. By using skin conductance biofeedback, one can learn to regulate the level of emotional reaction during stressful conditions.  Through EEG biofeedback/neurofeedback training, one can learn to improve mental focus or decrease nervous brain states which help allow better decision making, clear thinking, and performance.  This type of training can be very beneficial for military service people or law enforcement officers.  These applications can be considered non-clinical so that a person who is not a licensed health care professional can learn to use biofeedback and neurofeedback with military service people or law enforcement officers in an educational model.

Harry L. Campbell

914-762-4646 – Harry@biofeedbackinternational.com

Author of What Stress Can Do, Available on Amazon.com

Biofeedback Resources International Corp.

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How to Use Biofeedback Equipment

Biofeedback is a process that uses instruments that record physiological signals from a person’s body and then display the information so that a person can learn to change the signal that is being measured.  One therapeutic application of biofeedback is for helping people with stress-related disorders.  In this context sensors may be attached to a client and signals including muscle tension, breathing, and heart rate is measured and displayed on a computer screen.  The client with the help of coaching from a therapist learns to control these signals and bring them to a more relaxed level.

Signals that are recorded with biofeedback instruments include:

Surface EMG (Electromyograph) – measures electrical signals produced when muscles contract.  These signals are picked up by sensors that are placed on the skin and attached to an instrument.

Skin Temperature – Measured from the hands or feet giving an indication of peripheral blood flow.  Skin temperature tends to increase when a person is more relaxed due to dilation of the local blood vessels which causes more blood to flow to the fingers or toes increasing the temperature.  Skin temperature tends to decrease when a person is stressed due to constriction of the local blood vessels causing a reduction of the amount of blood in the fingers or toes.

Skin Conductance – Measured from the palm side of the hands or feet gives an indication of changes in the amount of sweat on the skin.  Increased sweat on the hands or feet is an indication of emotional reactivity or arousal.

Respiration – Breathing is recorded by using a belt sensor that is placed around the abdomen.  It senses how often and how deeply a person breathes based on how often and how much the belt is stretched.  Breathing tends to be faster and shallower when a person is anxious and deeper and slower when a person is more relaxed.

Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability – There are two ways to measure heart rate.  The first is by use of a photoplethysmography sensor.  It is like the pulse oximeter used in hospitals. This type of sensor shines a light into the skin, usually on the palm side of a finger, and then records how that light comes back to the sensor.  This gives information about how much blood is traveling through the blood vessels, how fast the heart is beating as well as other data.  The other type of sensor that measures heart activity is the ECG or EKGelectrocardiogram.  It uses electrodes that are placed on the torso, or wrists to measure electrical impulses given off each time the heart beats.  The signals picked up from the heart are more complex than just how fast the heart is beating.  It is also possible to look at the variability of the heartbeat and the balance of the frequencies which have a great deal of meaning related to overall health and emotional state.

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Celebrity Suicides Bring Light To A Hidden Problem | Conquering Concussion

 

On June 5, 2018 fashion designer Kate Spade hung herself.  Her husband Andy said, “Kate suffered from depression and anxiety for many years.  The most recent stressor may have been her husband filing for divorce after 24 years of marriage.  This led to severe depression according to a Page-6 article by Yaron Steinbuch.

Soon after the death of Kate Spade Anthony Bourdain, celebrity cook, best-selling author of Kitchen Confidential and star of TV series A Cook’s Tour, and Parts Unknown, was found dead in a Paris hotel room.  He also apparently hung himself.

Here are some statistics from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

It is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States of America

44,965 Americans die each year in the USA

For each actual death there are another 25 attempts

The costs to the USA is $69 Billion annually

One of the statistics that surprised me is that 7 out of 10 people who killed themselves in 2016 were white males.  This seems unusual in a way because this is the group that appears to be the most privileged in America.  You would think that they would have the least reason to want to kill themselves.  This brings to mind the saying that money doesn’t buy happiness.

Another disturbing statistic is related to deaths in the military.  More service members are killing themselves than are dying in combat.  Give that a minute to sink in.  According to the AFSP there were 295 combat-related deaths in the year 2012, which is a terrible loss of life.  Even worse though, in that same year were 349 service people killed themselves.  They also state that 20% of all suicides are committed by veterans.  Obviously, the military is not looking to broadcast this information.  It could have a negative effect on the morale of service people and public support, as well as for recruitment and retention.

It would be very safe to say the people who serve in the military are under high levels of stress that can be chronic.  Many of them have suffered from physical and or mental trauma, and some brain injury. Some have never been assessed or treated properly.

Continue Reading :  Celebrity Suicides Bring Light To A Hidden Problem | Conquering Concussion

Biofeedback Training for Mental Health Disorders

Mental health disorders including anxiety, PTSD, and depression seem to have become more widespread over the past several years.  Is it that more information has become available and there is less of a stigma for people to seek mental health services?  Is it a combination of effects of the pandemic, mass shootings, and national and international unrest?  Whatever the reason is, the fact is that help is needed.  Biofeedback training is among the many effective tools that mental health professionals can use to help people suffering from mental health challenges.

Psychologists and other mental health providers tend to do a lot of talking and paperwork as a part of their routine.  Some of this can become monotonous.  Biofeedback can introduce technology that helps the clients of mental health providers to learn about themselves.  It helps them to learn how to make real, physiological, measurable changes.  They learn to change how their body reacts to stress using biofeedback.

Some mental health providers may have had minimal exposure to biofeedback or neurofeedback during their initial education.  Most have not had extensive training in these areas.  The most recognized body offering certification in biofeedback is the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA).  The didactic educational requirement for BCIA peripheral biofeedback certification is 42 hours.   With a course approved for APA continuing education credits for biofeedback, a psychologistcan receive a large number of required hours in a short amount of time while learning an exciting and effective skill.  Note, you don’t have to be a psychologist to attend training.  Social workers, mental health counselors, physical therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, and nurses also get trained in biofeedback.  However, this can be a great opportunity for psychologists to gain required hours while learning an evidenced based therapy tool that can also bring some variety to their work and help their clients as well.

More information is available on the American Psychological Association (APA) continuing education program on the APA website: https://www.apa.org/education/ce/index

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Unique Training Options for APA Continuing Education Credit

Most psychologists in the United States need to attend training to keep up with new developments in the field and to remind them of things that they may have learned a long time ago.

There are many options for training including face-to-face programs, online programs, and material that psychologists can read.  There is a multitude of different topics that can be studied.  Since psychologists have to take training, it makes sense to make it something interesting, enjoyable, and useful.  Biofeedback and neurofeedback are subjects that check all of those boxes.  Psychologists tend to do a lot of talking and paperwork as a part of their routine.  Some of this can become monotonous.  Biofeedback and neurofeedback use technology that helps the clients of psychologists learn about themselves.  It helps them to learn how to make real, physiological, measurable changes.  They can learn to change how their body reacts to stress using biofeedback.  They can train their brain to become more regulated through neurofeedback.

I have spoken to many practicing psychologists who have only had minimal exposure to biofeedback or neurofeedback during their initial education in psychology.  Most have not had extensive training in this either area.  Many professionals that get trained in an area want to become certified if certification is available.  The most recognized body offering certification in biofeedback and neurofeedback is the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA).  The didactic educational requirement for BCIA peripheral biofeedback certification is 42 hours.  The requirement for neurofeedback is 36 hours.  With a course approved for APA continuing education credits for biofeedback or neurofeedback, a psychologist can receive a large number of required hours in a short amount of time while learning an exciting and effective skill.

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Biofeedback and Neurofeedback Training for APA Continuing Education Credit

 Many psychologists in the United States of America are required to take training to keep up with new developments in the field and to remind them of things that they may have learned a long time ago.

There are many options for training including face to face programs, online programs, and material that psychologists can read. There are also many different topics that can be studied. As long as you have to take training you might as well make it something interesting, enjoyable, and useful. Biofeedback and neurofeedback are subjects that check all of those boxes. Psychologists tend to do a lot of talking and paperwork as a part of their routine. Some of this can become monotonous.

Biofeedback and Neurofeedback introduce technology that helps the clients of psychologists to learn about themselves.  It helps them to learn how to make real physiological measurable changes.  They can learn to change how their body reacts to stress using biofeedback.  They can train their brain to become more regulated through neurofeedback.

Some psychologists may have had minimal exposure to biofeedback or neurofeedback during their initial education in psychology.  Most have not had extensive training in these areas.  The most recognized body offering certification in biofeedback and neurofeedback is the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA).  The didactic educational requirement for BCIA peripheral biofeedback certification is 42 hours.  The requirement for neurofeedback is 36 hours.  With a course approved for APA continuing education credits for biofeedback or neurofeedback, a psychologist can receive a large number of required hours in a short amount of time while learning an exciting and effective skill.

This can be a great opportunity for psychologists to gain required hours while learning an evidenced based therapy tool that can also bring some variety to their work and help their clients as well.

More Info :  Neurofeedback Training for APA Continuing Education Credit

Effects of Stress on Performance | Stress Minimizing Books

 

Our nervous system is constantly at work partly as an interface between our mind and body.  It reacts to our environment, physical activity, and our thoughts.  It causes changes heart rate, blood pressure, blood circulation, contraction level of our muscles, our breathing, and many other things.  When the changes are appropriate and useful for the situation this is a very good thing.  When the changes are due to an overreaction related to stress then it can be harmful.   There are many ways that stress can cause problems with health and I have discussed these in other places.  Here I want to focus on effects on performance.  This type of negative stress reaction can happen with various types of performance including athletes, singers, speakers, students, business people, and actors to name a few.

When a performer becomes anxious the same kinds of changes happen in their brain and the rest of their body that would be helpful to get them out of physical danger in a situation where there is no need for the type of physical reaction the body is prepared for.  That state is usually not what is ideal for a high-quality performance.  Let’s go through a few examples.  A basketball player who has practiced thousands of free throws for years and has an excellent percentage of making them, say 85% is in position to win the game by making only one out of two free throws, misses them both badly, not even hitting the rim or backboard.  Maybe before he went to the line one of the opposing players made an insulting comment (trash talking).  His reaction might be to become angry and think about getting revenge.  His brain and body are now in fight mode which is not ideal for the task at hand.

Another example is when Greg Norman lost the Masters golf tournament after having a comfortable lead.  After making a few mistakes it seems as though he lost focus and never recovered, missing several easy short puts along the way.  This type of performance may have been due to the brain going into more of a fear rather than focus mode.

Continue Reading :  Effects of Stress on Performance | Stress Minimizing Books