Indeed the HPA axis is an interesting subject and it as to do with biology and psychology as well. Just like biofeedback. There is a lot to be said about it and a lot of background i will have to provide to everyone in the article for a better understanding. I will include some background in biology, neurobiology and psychology might even have to include some biochemistry at some point but nothing complicated, mostly hormones. Those are the fields related to the HPA axis. So yes it's gonna be a really interesting article and probably a long one.
Thanks to everyone who liked the article,
M4
Thanks so much for the info. I am going to look into the binaural beats download for sure.
The HPA is an interesting and timely subject. Dr. Teitelbbaum mentioned the axis as a cause of chronic fatique syndrome in his book "From Fatigued to Fantastic".
Looking forward to your article,
K
I have read much about this, and was advised by my psychiatrist on how to do biofeedback without the aid of a machine. Thank goodness times have changed because we don't always have the time, or money to sit hooked up to a machine. My doctor felt it was best that I learn to do this on my own throughout the day. He said it would be more than just relaxation, but actually learning to control my thoughts and affects on my body thru this feedback. He went on to explain how a machine helps one see the difference you are making, but the body has it's own machine with your pulse and breathing, etc. I learned to recognize when I was doing well with my feedback. It may be a personal choice as to what works best for an individual, but not using a machine has worked well for me. I think this is cutting edge thinking and moving forward with this particular idea.
Modern biofeedback at centers all use devices but the definition of biofeedback and how it came to life was without the use of any device. The definition of biofeedback is the action of measuring quantifiable bodily functions to then use the information as a feedback to modify one's or self behavior. It was named biofeedback in the 1960s but it is older. There's a difference between modern biofeedback and fundamental biofeedback. Counting your heart rate then using slow breathing to modify it is an example of biofeedback without machine. Here's a book about biofeedback without machines.
http://www.amazon.com/BioFeedback-Without-Machines-Strategy-Living/dp/1889122203
the zona plus is a biofeedback device for lowering pressure. could you please post some
links that show how to perform biofeedback without a device.
Sorry, but I have to agree with Pax. everything that I know of biofeedback needs a device.
Deep breathing itself is not biofeedback. It is biofeedback if you measure your pulse do deep breathing to consciously slow down your heart beat. This is were the word feedback is from. And the feedback doesn't have to be from a machine like Paxiled mentioned. Biofeedback in fundamentally the action of measuring bodily function with the intention the change a behavior or bodily function in response to that feedback. Modern biofeedback like everybody knows and you get at biofeedback center uses machines but one is able to do his own biofeedback and it is considered biofeedback.
I never said meditation was biofeedback. You try to find bugs where there are none. Biofeedback is the act of measure quantifiable bodily functions then using the feedback to correct something. Before modern biofeedback was invented with machines etc. taking your pule and trying to correct it with deep breathing is considered fundamentally biofeedback. I talked about monks and meditation only to talk about their awareness of bodily functions and to make a point on how biofeedback is a form of evolution of their awareness. I never said it was biofeedback
''Biofeedback dates as far as the 18th century and even way back if we consider that monks used methods such has meditation and their awareness of vital functions to control them.''
i said ''if we consider'' this is implying a if and therefore it is clear that i wasn't telling it was directly biofeedback but i wanted to give people a background in the help of understanding what is biofeedback.
It isn't. Biofeedback only is when you have a machine to measure something such as sweat or body heat and then you do some relaxation exercise to turn the needle down so you learn how to do it correctly. Meditation, breathing, etc. are great, but if you're not measuring anything it isn't biofeedback because you're not getting any biofeedback. Meditation and breathing exercises, of course, go back as long as recorded history, and are most developed in Eastern spiritual traditions such as Hinduism, Taoism, and Buddhism. It's from these ancient practices of psychology that CBT, biofeedback, etc. were developed as tools that might work better with western cultures not as inculcated in quiet and peacefulness of mind.
yes, I too am very interested in the HPA axis, as this is causing me a deal of trouble. And you can't get western drs to even look at this.
And I enjoyed the info on biofeedback as well. do you have any ideas on how and which biofeedback methods could benefit adrenal and thyroid problems? I know the deep breathing helps. I did not realize it was considered biofeedback.
Thank you I enjoyed reading your thread on biofeedback I am going to read it again to digest it ,I look forward to your article on HPA axis