Treating Autism Without Medication
After a diagnosis of ASD or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) is returned to parents, the next recommendation offered to the family is often medication. The medications that are prescribed are done so to treat the specific symptoms of autism, not autism itself. Not every case has the same symptoms. Symptoms often include issues with behavior, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, mood swings, deficits in attention and hyperactivity.
Children that manifest symptoms of autism are commonly found to have brain activity patterns that differ from children who do not have autistic symptoms. These differences can be observed using modern brain mapping technology. After treatment with neurofeedback, brain maps can be taken again and the improvements in the brain wave patterns can be seen when compared to the pre-treatment maps.
Neurofeedback involves measuring brain activity and identifying areas of disregulation that interfere with cognitive processing and speed. These problematic areas are then targeted using a variety of different techniques that train the underlying brain mechanisms to improve function. After several sessions of neurofeedback, families often report that their child has experienced increased verbalization, eye contact, socialization and positive changes in behavior. Neurofeedback is a choice available that parents might want to consider when looking at their options of treatment for their children.
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc., BCN-T
Diaphragmatic Breathing for Better Brain Function
When mentally or emotionally stressed people tend to either hold their breath, or breathe using the abdomen and the chest. This creates physical tension and pain that reinforces our mental and emotional stress, and reduces the amount of oxygen that is available to the brain due to more shallow breathing. Because the brain prioritizes lower brain structures necessary for survival, the frontal lobes which are in charge of executive functioning are the first parts of the brain to be deprived of oxygen. As a result, in stressful situations where we need all of our resources to make good decisions, the front of our brain is offline and we behave inappropriately or make poor decisions.
Diaphragmatic breathing when under stress helps to optimize brain function. A common diaphragmatic breathing exercise is as follow;
- Sit or lie comfortably, with loose garments.
- Put one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach.
- Slowly inhale through your nose or through pursed lips (to slow down the intake of breath).
- As you inhale, feel your stomach expand with your hand. If your chest expands, focus on breathing with your diaphragm, located under your sternum.
- Slowly exhale through pursed lips to regulate the release of air.
- Rest and repeat.
Remember that your brain requires twenty percent of the oxygen and calories that your body needs, even though your brain only makes up two percent of your total body weight!
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc., BCN-T
DRINK so you can THINK!
An optimally functioning brain is a well hydrated brain. A brain that does not get enough water will have difficulty executing tasks because the fluid in our nerves thickens when dehydrated. This sluggish communication flow results in poor concentration, slow processing speed, and memory problems. Most popular beverages such as coffee, sodas, or energy drinks are full of sugar and caffeine that dehydrate the brain and body causing a “crash” of fatigue and irritability. On average, every adult needs 8 full glasses of water a day to meet minimal requirements for physical and mental functioning. So when you feel tired, cranky, and have difficulty focusing put down that caffeine-filled sugar drink and choose a cold refreshing glass of ice water.
Hydration Tips:
- Drink water consistently throughout the day
- Hydrate before, during and after exercise
- Substitute sparkling water for alcoholic drinks at social gatherings
- Drink 2 glasses of water in addition to every cup of coffee or can of soda to counteract the diuretic effects caused by these less healthy choices
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc.
ADD: Modifying the Poor Behavior of a Child with an Attention Disorder
Many children with an attention disorder also exhibit poor behavior. Why is this common? Children who have difficulties maintaining attention may regularly self-stimulate in ways, which are disruptive to others.In the classroom this behavior is presented as distracting to other children and often is frustrating to teachers. Although negative attention is given to a child when he or she misbehaves, the child is still rewarded with attention.Additionally, the child misbehaves because they might think he or she will get their way. All to often, this mechanism of reward is successful for the child and the child’s teachers, parents and caregivers reinforce the cycle of poor behavior.
So how does this cycle of poor behavior get interrupted? The child’s parents, teachers and caregivers need to form an alliance and determine the behaviors that need to be modified. Next, they should look at the way they react to the child’s poor behaviors. Are they rewarding the child with the attention that the child seeks out? The goal is to decrease the reward the child receives for the negative behaviors and increase the rewards for the positive behaviors. Find incentives that are motivating for the child. This may vary from child to child. Finally, follow through with your plan with consistency.
When your child’s behavior has improved, not only will the home life develop, academics and social life will soon follow!
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc.
Depression
What do we know about Depression? Individuals who show symptoms of depression may compensate by eating or sleeping a lot, or the opposite. The person might withdraw from friends and family and from activities they once enjoyed. It is estimated that approximately two-thirds of people who suffer from depression do not seek out the necessary treatment. Often, when depression goes untreated, there is an increased risk for heart disease, substance abuse, and suicide.
Current technological advances in brain imaging have shown researchers that individuals who suffer from depression have brains that look and function differently from individuals who are neurotypical, or are symptom free. CNS Wellness uses qEEG to map a client’s brain wave activity and compare it to a normative population to find disregulations. Then, using neurotherapy, trained technicians help the client train away the disregulation that keeps the client’s brain in the depressed state. After several sessions, the client’s brain wave patterns are normalized and the client’s symptoms of depression are relieved as well.
This method of treatment allows the individual to commit to a few months of treatment rather than a lifetime of prescription medication that could potentially have unwanted side effects and is costly. Unlike talk therapy, neurotherapy is relatively shorter and with quantitative results, the client can actually see the progress that is being made in brain function.
If you or anyone you know may be suffering from depression, the first step is to seek out help. The next step is to Take your Life Back!
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc.
Anxiety
Common symptoms of stress are anxiety attacks, appetite changes, irregular sleep patterns and high blood pressure. At first glance, most of us typically manage our issues by using over the counter or prescribed medication, or simply just ignoring them. When chronic stress is left improperly treated or ignored more severe problems arise such as migraines, heart disease, unhealthy changes in weight, intestinal problems, and even an increase in physical signs such as wrinkles and age marks. Of course poor stress management doesn’t just affect our physical bodies, our mental health is strongly affected and can be displayed as changes in our cognitive functioning abilities and our ability to appropriately interact with others.
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc.
Proper Assessment Insures the Best Treatment
The key to any successful program is proper assessment and diagnosis. Multi-modal neurotherapy has been growing in popularity, and CNS Wellness is the largest provider of this non-invasive, state of the art, medication free treatment, in the Tampa Bay area. This type of treatment uses qEEG, an intricate way to look at your brain’s function, as the initial step in assessment. Sensors are placed on the scalp to measure brain waves, and the captured data is compared to a normative population, which aids in identifying areas of impairment that may interfere with cognitive processing speed and with emotional and social functioning. A trained practitioner can see known markers for various brain-based disorders, such as AD/HD, autism, depression, anxiety and even chronic pain. This data, along with other neuropsychological tests, also gives the practitioner a basis on which to make an educated and accurate diagnosis, which results in more effective treatment protocols. CNS Wellness has a very high success rate in treating all of these disorders because the qEEG, along with client feedback, is used as a guide for treatment. It is always recommended that before starting any form of treatment, the client research and make sure their practitioner is certified in their field.
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc.
Fight or Flight!
What if you can do neither of these? Stress is a consequence of the brain’s failure to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats (actual or imagined). The body then goes into a state of alarm, which is initiated by adrenaline production and ultimately creates a short-term resistance to the stimulus as a coping mechanism. As a result of the production of these hormones, common stress symptoms can include irritability, tension, inability to concentrate, headaches and elevated heart rate. When stress is prolonged, or becomes chronic, more severe reactions such as panic attacks and/or psychological trauma, complete physical exhaustion and disease can occur by the over-production of stress hormones.
It is important to recognize the symptoms of both acute and chronic stress and then identify the triggers. When the cause of chronic stress has been determined, an individual can then begin modifying behaviors when responding to stress. Techniques such as biofeedback, meditation, massage, yoga, physical exercise and aromatherapy have scientifically been shown to be very effective in the reduction and elimination of negative behaviors in reaction to stressors. Other modifications of one’s diet, increase in sleep (8 hours) and a reduction in caffeine and alcohol consumption have shown to be beneficial as well. With a good support network, it is possible to overcome chronic stress and reduce the risk of psychological disturbance and disease.
When chronic stress has become out of control, depression and anxiety often occur. Depression and anxiety are brain-based disorders and are very receptive to neurotherapy. CNS Wellness, a neurotherapy facility in South Tampa, is very successful in treating these disorders. After a non-invasive brain map, the neuroscientist is able to see where disregulation in the brain is and through various biofeedback-based techniques is able to train away the impairments and the client is left with a more efficient brain that can respond to stress in a more healthy manner.
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc.
So what is neurotherapy?
Once an individual has had a brain mapping with CNS and deemed a good candidate for neurotherapy, they can begin their therapeutic program towards taking back their life. Neurotherapy is the process of training the brain and body to function optimally by providing both visual and auditory feedback. This in turn helps to produce healthier mental and physical responses to the environment. The process can include many modalities, some of which have light stimulation, all are non-invasive and pain free. After a program of neurotherapy, most individuals are able to reduce their medication and/or completely come off of it, after speaking with their primary care physician.
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc.
Side Effects of Neurotherapy
Neurotherapy is a way to change brain waves that are deviant from a normative population. Some modalities that facilitate this are often stimulating to the client and/or can be fatiguing to the client because of the participation that is needed from the individual to achieve rewards in the session. Therefore, some clients may experience temporary fatigue, light headaches, and mild irritability or drowsiness within 24 hours after a session, due to the reorganization of neuronal networks. These side effects may be a little upsetting for the client. It is important that they be aware of the possible short-term effects of neurotherapy and look forward to the long-term benefits to a more happier, healthier life without medication. CNS Wellness has trained therapists on staff to help our clients with any discomfort they may feel after a session.
-Rebecca A. Hopkins Williams, B.Sc.
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