Cognitive Behavior Therapy:

These useful techniques go a long way in helping to recognize triggers for the feelings as well as how to change the thinking attached to the anxiety.  Often systematic desensitization of the offending fear or phobia can lessen its impact and remove the anxiety.

Advanced Treatment:

In some patients with anxiety, brainwaves show an excessive amount of fast activity (beta waves) in the frontal lobes.  When discovered, these may be retrained for lasting relief.

What kind of testing is done?

Computerized brainwaves are collected and analyzed.  A cap (like the old-time bathing cap) with sensors inside to collect brainwaves is placed on the head.  This is known as Quantitative or Digital EEG.   The data is then analyzed, processed and submitted to databases for comparison to an aged matched population.  The testing is non-invasive and only collects brainwaves - no electricity is ever put into the brain.

EEG Neurofeedback:

This may be one of several treatment options, depending on the results of the Digital EEG testing.  If applicable, and chosen as a treatment by the patient, then therapy consists of retraining the brainwaves back to a more normal pattern by decreasing the excessive frontal "beta" activity.  The patient sits, with sensors on the scalp, in front of a computer screen  The sensors monitor the brain's electrical activity and transmit it to the computer.  The brainwaves are converted into pictures - like an F14 Fighter Jet or moving bar - and the patient has to fly the plane or enlarge the bars, for example, through focus and concentration without joysticks or control pads.  When the brain initially masters the computer game, the training parameters are made more difficult.  Throughout the training process the brain is challenged until it plateaus, thereby refocusing and reshaping the brainwaves into the desired patterns and ameliorating the patient's symptoms.  This learning process is similar to what the brain has to do when it first learns to ride a bicycle.