What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a technique that teaches you to control certain physiological responses, such as heart rate or temperature, using relaxation techniques. It is typically used to treat health conditions such as headaches, anxiety, and sleep problems. People who suffer from eating disorders often have imbalances in their nervous systems. This can affect their decision-making skills and lead them to engage in disordered eating behaviors. When you engage in biofeedback treatments, sensors are attached to various parts of your body. You are then shown data related to your vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. You can use this information to train your body to respond in a healthier way.
Why is Biofeedback Good for Eating Disorders?
How Does Biofeedback Work in Eating Disorders?
Similar to other mental illnesses, the cause of eating disorders is not fully understood. It’s possible that eating disorders are influenced by genetic or environmental factors, or a combination of the two. There’s also the possibility that these factors can interact with each other. Someone who has a genetic predisposition to developing an eating disorder may experience a trigger that puts them at a higher risk for its development. What happens during biofeedback treatments? As mentioned above, sensors are attached to various parts of your body. You are then shown data related to your vital signs. You can use this information to train your body to respond in a healthier way. For example, you can use biofeedback to train your heart rate to get lower when you eat, to ease some of the anxiety that you may experience when eating.
Eating disorders are serious health conditions that often require professional treatment. Eating disorder rehab centers can be a helpful option to consider. However, there are other options besides in-patient care. Biofeedback can be a helpful tool in understanding your body’s reaction to food, and increase use of skills to managing responses rather than using eating disorder behaviors. Biofeedback treatments can be helpful for those with eating disorders.
