Case A

This case involved a thirty-two year old female who was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder with a history of panic attacks, mild paranoia, depression and mood swings. She had poor focus, was unable to get to sleep and stay asleep, engaged in ritual hand washing and other repetitive behaviors, and had suffered recurring panic attacks since adolescence. She also had a history of addiction to alcohol, drugs and casual sexual relations. She had been hospitalized once as an adult after a
drug-induced psychotic episode and was medicates with antidepressants and a mood stabilizer. She was on disability and had successfully completed a Narcotics Anonymous program when a close friend passed away. Thereafter the woman became so anxious that she was not sleeping at all, and was considering self-admission to a psychiatric ward. Prescribed medications were not reducing her symptoms adequately.

After completing an initial Neurofeedback training session the woman reported that had slept through the night and was feeling noticeably calmer. As training progressed she reported that she was “breathing better”, and that she had gotten up that morning and “forgot” to engage in some of her usual ritual behaviors. She reported that although she was still grieving, she was better able to focus on “normal things” instead of repetitive and unproductive behaviors. Thereafter the woman continued to sleep through the night and eventually reported feeling better “then I have in I don’t know how long” with less and less preoccupation and preservation, and no episodes of panic. Midway through training the woman reported she had cleaned up “fifteen years of junk” from her front room and had started on other rooms as well (she had always been a hoarder). Her psychologist of some years commented on her new behaviors, apparently remarking the woman “was not the same person”, and that she seemed to be overcoming “years of fear and devastation”. Indeed, the woman reported by her last training session that she was going back to school to become a counselor, and remarked “I finally have a life worth living”.

Case B

This case involved a thirty year old male with severe daily panic attacks who was fearful of leaving his home. His physiological symptoms included tachycardia (pressure in the chest and a feeling of asphyxia), trembling and a feeling of weakness in his limbs, perspiration, nausea, chills, tingling sensations, and feelings of lightheadedness and depersonalization (feeling detached from his body).
The attacks never lasted for more then thirty minutes but left him feeling devastated and drained. He sought medical help and was diagnosed with Anxiety, Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia (fear of leaving home). Prescribed antidepressants and sedatives were nominally helpful, but the man complained of side effects that included hypotension (a drop in blood pressure), weight gain and jitteriness. The man had taken a leave of absence from work and was very fearful about his future.

After the man received several Neurofeedback training sessions he reported feeling no significant improvements but thought he might be slightly more relaxed. After a subsequent session the man reported sleeping without disruption, and a feeling of hopefulness. Thereafter he reported steady improvement in his ability to relax and breathe. He had initiated cognitive behavioral therapy and was addressing some of his previously latent obsessive and compulsive tendencies. He described a deep sense of relief as treatments progressed and he was able to start driving again. By mid-treatment he had returned to work and was coping well with physician supervised medication titration. The man reported that he was able to be “more detached from issues” that had previously bothered him, and that he was feeling “terrific”. His sleep quality remained good, and it had been months without any physiological sign of panic, or a single medication side effect. The man decided he would try transitioning to some home training and some office treatments. By end of in-office training the man was fully transitioned to home training and was medication-free, stabilized and energized in anticipation of an “unencumbered future before me”.