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Transformation through Self-Regulation
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| June 2013 | |
Biofeedback, Mental Health Counseling
& Creative Arts Therapy, PLLC Newsletter
(formerly:Network Biofeedback Services, Inc.)
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Greetings!
We are continuing with a series of articles describing how Biofeedback and/or Neurofeedback can help with a variety of stress triggered symptoms in both children and adults. We hope you will share these with friends, family members and colleagues who might benefit from the information. Thank you for your interest and please feel free to give us "feedback" about this series of articles. |
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Video Game Addiction
With video game addiction, and addictions in general, there are biological as well as psychological components. The biological components are, that game addicts show an increased release of the mood regulating chemicals dopamine and glutamate in the brain for the  user. It is biologically rewarding and motivating.
The release of dopamine and glutamate reach a threshold in the brain where a higher amount is required to experience the rewarding effects. The brain becomes desensitized and the individual will seek more of the addictive source or behavior. The addiction becomes life-consuming and takes priority over families, friends, jobs, school, and so on. The addictive source then becomes a need, and the individual feels it is part of their survival.
Psychologically, the user escapes reality by immersing herself in the fantasy world, similar to how a drug addict will use heroine to escape from an emotionally painful situation.
 Excessive use of video game playing can cause problems with social development, mental health, relationships, hygiene, and self-care. Playing games for over 4 hours a day straight for children and adolescents can be detrimental to their school work, social life and development of social skills, and can also lead to irritability, anxiety, and depression. For adults, it can become problematic for work, relationships, and family life.
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Biofeedback/Neurofeedback Therapy
for Video Gaming Addiction
When the brain becomes flooded with excess amounts of dopamine and glutamate, the balance between the midbrain and forebrain becomes blurry and impaired. Decision making and logical reasoning
 are then also impaired.
Biofeedback/Neurofeedback can help strengthen the metabolic activity of the forebrain and restore the checking system of the brain, in order to lessen the addictive behavior of gaming. To read more about the different techniques of biofeedback and neurofeedback, please visit our website.
For children, negative effects of excessive video game playing are "body shakes", rapid heart and respiratory rates, and hyper acute vision and hearing. These symptoms are similar to how adults feel when stressed and in high adrenaline states, suggesting that gaming can be inducing a stressful state in children.
Biofeedback and neurofeedback techniques can help the child become aware of what is occurring in his body when stressed, and it can alleviate the negative side effects created. |
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We look forward to hearing from you. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for future articles as related to Biofeedback and Neurofeedback applications.
Sincerely,
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Susan Antelis, MPS, BCB, BCN, LMHC
Biofeedback, Mental Health Counseling & Creative Arts Therapy, PLLC (formerly:Network Biofeedback Services, Inc.)
211 Broadway, Suite 207
Lynbrook, NY 11563
516-825-6567
susan.antelis@gmail.com
www.nybiofeedback.com |
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