ADHD: Treatment Options

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.(1) ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed disorder with these behaviors interfere with school and home life and can continue into adulthood.

Adults with ADHD may have trouble managing time, being organized, setting goals, and holding down a job. They may also have problems with relationships, self-esteem, and addiction.(2)

Inattention – Unable or difficulty to maintain or sustain focus, disorganized. These symptoms are not due to defiant behavior or lack of comprehension.
Hyperactivity – Moving constantly, excessively fidgeting, taps hands or feet, or talks quickly and abundantly. This is including situations that may not be appropriate. In adults, it may appear as extreme restlessness or constant activity.
Impulsivity – Making quick decisions without thinking before reacting. Hasty actions that can have high potential for harm without consideration for long-term consequences. Unable to delay gratification and need immediate rewards.

Treatment Options:

Medication
Psychotherapy
Neurofeedback
Combination

Treatment options:

ADHD is genetic-based disorder with environmental, social and behavioral components that can exacerbate symptoms. There is no cure and the cause is not officially known. However, there are options that help reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning.

We have added just a few areas that many families have used to help:

Medication
ADHD medications reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and improve their ability to focus, work, and learn. Medication also may improve physical coordination. Sometimes several different medications or dosages must be tried before finding the right one that works for a particular person. Anyone taking medications must be monitored closely and carefully by their prescribing doctor. The most common medication prescribed is a stimulant. It works by increasing brain chemicals (dopamine and norepinephrine), which play essential roles in thinking and attention. These medications should be monitored by a licensed doctor as there are a number of side effects that can occur with the use of stimulant medications.

decreased appetite
sleep problems
tics (sudden, repetitive movements or sounds)
personality changes
increased anxiety and irritability
stomachaches
headaches

If any of these occur, you should notify your doctor to determine the best course of action.

Psychotherapy/CBT

Cognitive Behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to help a person change his or her behavior. It can help to teach the patient to better organize tasks or complete schoolwork. Some deeper levels of psychotherapy can help the patient process through emotionally difficult events. It can also help the patient become more aware of his/her symptoms by monitoring behavior patterns, giving praise or positive reinforcement for appropriate responses; such as, thinking before reacting.

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is based-based biofeedback. It is non-invasive, uses no medication, but can be used in combination with medication or other treatment programs. It is a learning modality to teach the brain to self-regulate by improving brainwave patterns to produce electrical connectivity in a more optimal way. This reduces symptoms of many conditions and disorders.

Neurofeedback is used in a video, music or video game that produces video or sound when the brain meets specific criteria designed from a qEEG Brain Map. This is considered the positive feedback for desired brain activity.

For brain activity that is undesirable, the movie or auditory tones will fade so the brain receives no stimulus to continue producing the undesirable brainwave patterns. The goal is for symptoms to diminish long-term when using the correct protocols for a variety of disorders.

Benefits of Neurofeedback
- Neurofeedback training has been commonly found to be associated with decreased impulsiveness and hyperactivity, increased mood stability, improved sleep patterns, increased attention span, improved academic performance, increased retention and memory, and increased IQ scores.

Combination of treatments:
Treatment includes medication, psychotherapy, neurofeedback, education or training, or a combination of these treatments to help find a balance that works for the child or adult to improve functioning.

Migraines! Make them Stop!

Many people come to the Sinha Clinic searching for relief from chronic migraine and headache pain, they want an option that is an alternative to medication, that will last long term and won’t trade pain relief with another type of nasty side effect.

There is an alternative option to medication… This is a modality called Neurofeedback.

Neurofeedback is very helpful and effective tool for migraines and headaches. Migraines are a common, disabling and often progressive disorder characterized by increased excitability of the central nervous system. It occurs in 18% of women and 6% of men in the US with peak prevalence in individuals between the ages of 25 and 55.

Migraines occur in 18% of women and 6% of men in the US with peak prevalence in individuals between the ages of 25 and 55.

Neurofeedback helps to alleviate the debilitating pain and is very effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of migraines long term. Neurofeedback works to create more efficient brainwave patterns, which is completed by watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a video game. This type of training will help to strengthen the neural pathways to reduce negative symptoms associated with migraines, and a vast number of other cognitive disorders.

Neurofeedback has been featured in the news from a study conducted by Dr. Stokes.

The NBC news story focused on Anedi Edelstein, who had tried 10 different prescription drugs and was concerned about the side effects of drowsiness, which could affect driving with her young children. This story discusses how her migraines were impacted by neurofeedback training and reports that she is now migraine free.

Dr. Stokes and Lappin’s (2010) study reported, “All combined neuro and biofeedback interventions were effective in reducing the frequency of migraines with clients using medication resulting in a more favorable outcome (70% experiencing at least a 50% reduction in headaches) than just medications alone (50% experience a 50% reduction) and that the effect size of our study involving three different types of biofeedback for migraine (1.09) was more robust than effect size of combined studies on thermal biofeedback alone for migraine (.5). These non-invasive interventions may show promise for treating treatment-refractory migraine and for preventing the progression from episodic to chronic migraine.”

Another success story is about Linda - Watch video below to learn more.

The Sinha Clinic offers medication management, neuro feedback and neuro psychiatric care in a stable and caring environment. If you or a loved one needs help and want to improve your cognitive health, please call us at (630) 762-9606 to discuss your options and request to speak to our clinician about the benefits of neuro feedback.

What we offer

The Sinha Clinic provides services in Quantitative EEG (qEEG), Referenced EEG (rEEG), medication management, and neurofeedback.

Quantitative EEG (qEEG), or brain mapping, which is a form of testing shown to provide information about the brain’s functionality. It is also used for determining psychiatric medication sensitivity (Referenced EEG). This is especially beneficial for those patients who have tried and failed multiple medications, and failed with medication combinations. What rEEG does is to review the brain chemistry and pinpoint 2-3 potential medications that fit the individual person than basing treatment off of trial and error to see which combination works best.

We utilize neurofeedback training that focus on training the brain to self-regulate brainwave patterns to function more optimally. It is considered a safe and effective therapy tool in conjunction with other therapy programs; such as, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Please refer below for further service descriptions:

What do our patients say?

Check out our Testimonials to learn how we have helped patients with this innovative form of cognitive training.

What you need to know about Neurofeedback and Brain Injury

Can Neurofeedback Help to Clean up the Debris?

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) rehabilitation has had a limited number of strategies used in the treatment of cognitive disorders. These methods included procedures that utilize stimulation and practice (to help improve memory and recall); strategy cognitive rehabilitation (e.g., visualization and creating associations), compensatory cognitive rehabilitation strategies; and medications that help to aide in attention and/or memory recall.

Many problem areas seen in TBI patients that neurofeedback has been used to improve are attention, impulse/emotional control, memory, anxiety, insomnia, depression, and physical balance.

Hammond, C. (2012) discussed that “Some recent studies with normal individuals also have implications for TBI treatment. Vernon et al. (2003) documented in a control group study that only 8 sessions of neurofeedback could improve memory recall, and a recent placebo controlled study (Hoedlmoser et al., 2008) of neurofeedback validated that only 10 sessions improved sleep onset latency and subsequent declarative learning in normal subjects. Other reviews have been published on the use of neurofeedback in the treatment of depression and anxiety (Hammond, 2005a), for improving physical balance (Hammond, 2005b), and in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (Hammond, 2003).

Can Neurofeedback Help a Past Stroke or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

Neurofeedback training as a treatment modality can bring many improvements to help the brain repair itself, even years after damage has been done.

“For example, a therapist shared a situation in which a patient showed significant improvement three years after suffering a stroke. The patient’s left hand had been constantly and completely clenched since the stroke occurred. After her tenth neurofeedback training session, she began to open and use her hand.

How did neurofeedback help bring about that change? The therapist targeted the neurofeedback training near the brain’s motor strip – an area involved in controlling muscles and muscle tone. Through neurofeedback training, those motor circuits possibly reorganized and became more efficient. In this case, it was successful and enabled the client to regain motor function in her hand.”

Why Is Neurofeedback Effective for Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury?

Stroke and TBI involve serious injuries to the brain. To treat those injuries, the brain itself must be targeted to correct the root cause. Brain training is specifically tailored to the individual areas of the brain affected by the stroke or TBI. We are able to locate these areas of the brain through a test called a qEEG or Brain Map. This is usually needed to target the dysregulated areas for best results.

What Damage from Stroke or TBI Can Be Helped with Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback helps connectivity between brainwave connections and the timing within the brain to promote stronger communication. With Neurofeedback, we target specific areas of the brain through a qEEG Brain Map to locate the areas that would have the most impact.

Some common areas that have shown improvement post-stroke and TBI are:

Speech
Movement
Mood regulation
Better behavior control
Headache reduction

During neurofeedback brain training, the specific areas of the brain associated with speech, movement, mood control, etc, can be targeted, strengthened, and improved. In fact, some neuropsychologists believe that neurofeedback is actually rehabilitating the damaged speech areas of the brain, rather than just compensating for the dysfunction. You can think of a TBI as a construction zone and neurofeedback is helping to clean up and reorganize the debris left in the wake.

You can think of a TBI as a construction zone and neurofeedback is helping to clean up and reorganize the debris left in the wake.

“A speech therapist specializing in stroke and TBI began neurofeedback training with her patients in the first hospital-based program to use neurofeedback training. When interviewed, the speech therapist reported more instances of progress in speech improvement for stroke and TBI patients in the one year since implementing neurofeedback training than in the whole previous ten years combined. She feels that training the brain increases success exponentially.”

Can you Recover From a Stroke or TBI?

It is possible to aide in the recovery process with neurofeedback but the extent depends on numerous factors. With consistent training, studies have shown that many people improve significantly, even well after the incident.

Neurofeedback is also used as a method for treatment due to it is:

Effective
Non-invasive
Painless
Free of side effects
Long-lasting with consistent amount of brain training (Average number of sessions varies).

Skills Designed to Improve Memory

Memory is an important skill that can be developed and improved. People with good memories are often seen as knowledgeable, competent, and dependable.

As one ages, memory can become more “fuzzy” or less reliable unless we spend time actively using these skills to keep our short and long term memory active. Trauma, medications or some chronic mental health conditions can impact memory, which is why it is so important to spend time every day sharpening these skills.

We have created a 4 page printable to help those looking to help keep the mind sharp and actively engaged.

If you are looking to sharpen your mind, boost mental performance, or aid in the preservation of memory as you age, download the 4 page printable to get started on the path to improved memory.

How to Cope with Stress from COVID-19

There is a lot of information bombarding us with the coronavirus. It can make anyone feel worried and anxious about upcoming changes. We are potentially faced with working from home, staying at work, lack of work, work shut down, shopping for supplies and facing the unknown. You are right to worry but don’t let it overwhelm you.

If you already face anxious thoughts, worrying about your health or about the future, then this guide can be helpful on certain topics to help reduce anxiety. But first – If you feel like you may be a threat to yourself or others, make sure you contact 911 and discuss your feelings with your primary physician.

You can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517)

If you may need additional assistance, there are a number of resources that can be helpful. Harvard Health Resources

What is the Coronavirus?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 is officially a global pandemic. The virus is contagious and no vaccine is currently available, but researchers across the global are working on a vaccine and medical treatment.

People over 60 and anyone with immunodeficiency are particularly vulnerable should limit exposure by staying home as much as possible.

Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

How Can I Cope?

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people, especially those already diagnosed with anxiety or prone to anxious thoughts. Fear and anxiety may increase due to the unknown time interval when we can go back to “normal”. These worries are normal but can be overwhelming in adults and children. Finding ways to cope with this stress and keep yourself and children busy will help make you, your family and community stronger.

How you respond can make a big impact on those around you.

Stress during an outbreak include:

Worry about your health and the health of your loved ones
Fear can increase of the unknown
You may note changes in sleep or eating patterns, which can increase anxiety if you aren’t taking care of yourself
Becoming hyper aware of symptoms or current chronic health problems
Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

Ways to Cope

Be informed.
Continue taking prescription medications as prescribed
Be aware of new symptoms and discuss with primary doctor
Take daily precautions for your health
Wash hands
Stay away from other that may be sick
Find alternative ways to stay in communication with family and friends (ie, phone, email, social media or Skype.
Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories about the virus, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can cause more anxiety.
Begin taking a daily inventory of your feelings.
Take care of your body.
Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.
Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
Start spring cleaning and go through belongings to organize and declutter.
Try to do some new activities you enjoy.
Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.

For Parents

Children and teens react to their environment. If they see you stress out, they will follow the pattern you show including taking note from other adults in their lives. Provide a listening ear and support for any questions they may have regarding COVID-19. When we talk to children and teens calmly and reassuringly, they will feel better prepared to cope with their anxiety.

Just like adults, not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way.

Some common changes include:

Increased crying, agitation or irritation in young children
Regressing behaviors they have outgrown (for example, sucking their thumb or bedwetting)
Over worry, amped up or sadness
Unhealthy eating or sleeping patterns
In teens – Irritability and “acting out” behavior
Poor school performance or avoiding school
Poor attention and concentration
Depressed symptoms
Unexplained headaches or body pain
Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

How to Support your Child or Teen

Talk to your child. Listen and answer any questions they may have. Explain facts that apply to their age group. Review facts about COVID-19 together from reputable sources and not on social media.
Calmly reassure them that they are safe and it is okay to worry for the unknown. Explain positive ways to address anxiety and worry so they learn positive ways to cope with their stress.
Limit watching the news including social media.
Keep up with regular routines and schedule learning activities, relaxing or fun activities.
Take care of yourself. Keep up with good sleep patterns, exercise with your children or teen, try to find personal time and eat well. Connect with friends and family members.

What if you have COVID-19?

Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others; therefore, it is recommended by the CDC that these patients remain in isolation or are quarantined at a hospital or at home (depending on the severity of symptoms) so they don’t pass the illness to others.

How long do I have to stay in isolation?

The Coronavirus is similar to a normal flu strain that we can get during flu season. This type of strain, however, is aggressive and can turn into Pneumonia quickly for those that have compromised immune systems. Symptoms and length of sickness vary from person to person.

The conditions to be safely released after having the virus need to meet the following criteria and can be released once they are not considered to pose any additional risk of infection to others. The information from the CDC notes:

The patient is free from fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
The patient is no longer showing symptoms, including cough.
The patient has tested negative on at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected at least 24 hours apart.

If you suspect you have COVID-19, contact your primary doctor for further recommendations. It is recommended that those experiencing symptoms stay at home for 14 days for self-monitoring or if you get sick with COVID-19 and symptoms are no longer present. This helps to prevent you from symptoms worsening and passing the illness to others.

FAQs about Coronavirus and COVID-19

What is coronavirus? What is COVID-19?

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

What can I do to prevent myself and others from getting coronavirus?

How can I prepare myself and family for possible quarantine or isolation?

What should I do if I feel sick?

If a loved one gets sick, how can I care for them?

What do phrases like “community spread” and “social distancing” mean?

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: Does Neurofeedback Help?

What is Dementia ?

Dementia is a collective term used to describe various symptoms of cognitive decline, such as forgetfulness. It is a symptom of several underlying diseases and brain disorders. Dementia is a generalized term to describe correlating symptoms of impairment in memory, communication, and thinking.

Usually the term applies to those over the age of 65, with under 65 considered “early onset dementia”. If one begins losing cognitive abilities at a greater rate than normal aging, then they may be showing signs of Dementia.

A common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. This type of dementia can be classified as reversible or irreversible depending on the cause of the affected cognitive areas. The cause of Dementia is widely contributed to damage in the brain. The brain can be damaged by several causes, such as infections, interruptions in the brain’s blood supply or by neurodegenerative diseases. In the case of neurodegenerative diseases, brain cells degenerate and die quicker than usually is expected with ‘normal aging’. This degenerating impacts and reduces one’s cognitive and sometimes physical abilities.

Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia is “an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities”. It is considered more of an umbrella statement as there are many specific types and causes of dementia. Each is brain specific and manifests differently for each person. To diagnose a case of Dementia has a basic assumption that associated symptoms must be present for at least six months.

There are a number of symptoms that may or may not occur:

Memory loss
Decreased understand or ability to learn
Reduced thinking speed
Poor attention or beginning signs of attention problems
Difficulties finding the right word to use or forming sentences
Lack of judgment or reason
Difficulties retaining or recalling past events
Disorientation (time, place or persons)
Losing interest in social activities
Incontinency
Disorganized or restless behavior
Sudden Mood swings (anger or crying spells)
Depression / Anxiety
Delusions of persecution (psychosis)

Treatment for Dementia

Dementia is progressive. There is no known cure. But this isn’t a sentence to not live life fully. Dietary supplements, surgery or medication can be determined if the best course of action depends on the individual case. Medication is normally prescribed to help to prevent symptoms from worsening or to modify other coexisting symptoms or disorders; such as anxiety. A number of psychological treatments can be beneficial and prolong the progressive nature of the condition. Behavioral therapies, validation therapy, reality orientation therapy or cognitive stimulation techniques can help one better manage their symptoms.

Neurofeedback and Dementia

A form of cognitive stimulation is Neurofeedback brain training. This type of modality cannot reverse a degenerative cognitive disease (as in structural damage in the brain, such as what occurs with Alzheimer’s disease) but it can help improve symptoms and delay progression if completed consistently. It is hard to say the length of time needed as each case is different but to prevent relapse, it is likely that neurofeedback training would be a benefit if completed as a regular daily task to help fight against mental fatigue and maximize the healthy areas of the brain.

Neurofeedback and Dementia Research

We break down a few studies that have been conducted on Dementia and neurofeedback techniques. What has been found that neurofeedback can be used solo or in collaboration with other treatment modalities. Memory, verbal and comprehension can improve and neurofeedback when used collaboratively with cholinesterase inhibitors may be a potential treatment by which the progressive deterioration in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease can be stabilized.

Click the studies below for full journal article access.

Luijmes, R. E. The Effectiveness of Neurofeedback on Cognitive Functioning in Patients with Alzheimer s Disease.

The results of this study indicate that neurofeedback, in combination with treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors, may be a potential treatment by which the progressive deterioration in patients with AD can be stabilized.

Fernandez, T., Becerra, J., Roca, M., Espino, M., Bahlke, M. Y., Harmony, T., … & Diaz-Comas, L. (2008). Neurofeedback in healthy elderly humans with electroencephalographic risk of cognitive impairment. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

This study found that the memory of Dementia patients “significantly improved” following Neurofeedback, and observed to be more effective for patients at an earlier stage of dementia

Efficacy Of Neurofeedback For Executive And Memory Function In Dementia Marvin H. Berman, Jon A. Frederick Alzheimer’s & dementia: The journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. 1 July 2009 (volume 5 issue 4 Page e8 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2009.07.046).

This study showed that neurofeedback training resulted in significant improvement in memory and some aspects of executive function, compared to a waiting list control, suggesting that neurofeedback is a “possibly efficacious” treatment for dementia. The finding that the efficacy of neurofeedback is greater in persons with more intact memory function suggests that this intervention is more strongly indicated for earlier stage cases. It also suggests that learning and memory are involved in neurofeedback’s mechanism of action.

Chicago and Illinois Mental Health Agencies

Adapted from the National Center of Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health

Asian Human Services

Asian Human Services exists to provide quality, compassionate, and culturally competent services in over 28 languages to low-income Asian-American and immigrant and refugee communities in metropolitan Chicago.

The Center for Contextual Change

The Center for Contextual Change is a private group practice with three offices in the Chicago area. Our clinicians take a strengths based relational approach to working with individuals, couples and families utilizing a variety of interventions including DBT, CBT and Body Based Interventions such as Yoga and Somatic Experiencing. We offer sliding scale and pro bono sessions so that financial circumstance is not an obstacle to quality mental health services.

The Center on Halsted (formerly Horizons Community Services)

Center on Halsted Mental Health Services staff has been meeting the psychosocial needs of Chicago’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) community and allies for more than 25 years. They provide a variety of services, including support, therapy, and educational groups. These services are meant to connect and unite LGBTQ men, women, families, and allies who share similar issues and struggles.

Chicago Department of Public Health – Division of Mental Health

The Chicago Department of Public Health makes Chicago a safer and healthier place by working with community partners to promote health, prevent disease, reduce environmental hazards and ensure access to health care for all Chicagoans.

Chicago LGBT Youth Resource Guide

A guide containing further organizations promoting activism, drop-in programs, legal services, outreach and housing opportunities for youth in Chicago.

Chicago Women’s Health Center

Chicago Women’s Health Center (CWHC) is a collective that includes health care providers, counselors, outreach health educators, and doctors who work together to provide health education and affordable, respectful, and accessible gynecological and mental health care to women and trans people in the Chicago area.

Community Counseling Centers of Chicago

Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4), a behavioral health advocate and social service provider, offers quality, comprehensive customer-oriented services tailored to the diversity of its consumers. C4 helps people overcome mental health problems, substance use disorders and the trauma of sexual assault and abuse.

Haymarket Center

Haymarket Center was founded in 1975, as a non-profit agency, to bring about a change in the public perception of alcoholism and its treatment. Since then, Haymarket Center has grown into a comprehensive alcohol and other drug treatment organization, licensed by the state of Illinois, which receives funding from private, city, state, and federal agencies.

Heartland Alliance

Heartland Alliance advances the human rights and responds to the human needs of endangered populations—particularly the poor, the isolated, and the displaced—through the provision of comprehensive and respectful services and the promotion of permanent solutions leading to a more just global society.

Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health

The Division of Mental Health (DMH) provides a wide variety of services at all levels for adults and children throughout the state. These services are offered through hundreds of DMH partners called “Providers” (i.e. mental health clinics, agencies and hospitals). Providers serve as ‘front doors’ to enter the publicly funded system of mental health care.

Illinois Psychiatric Society

To advocate for the highest quality care for patients with psychiatric disorders which include substance use disorders; to support public and private resources for treatment, research, and education; and, to represent the profession of psychiatry and serve the needs of its membership.

Howard Brown Health Center (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender health center)

Howard Brown Health Center provides mental health services specifically tailored for the LGBTQ community, through counseling and psychotherapy available in our Behavioral Health Services department. Individual, couples, family, and group therapies are provided by our team of experienced counselors, social workers, and psychologists.

Live Oak

Live Oak is a group of psychotherapists and consultants who provide counseling and educational services that enhance the emotional and psychological well being of individuals, families, organizations and communities.

Mental Health Association of Illinois

MHAI is dedicated to promoting mental health, working for the prevention of mental illnesses and improving care and treatment for persons suffering from mental and emotional disorders.

Metropolitan Family Services

The Metropolitan Family Services provide and mobilize the services needed to strengthen families and communities. They offer a wide variety of services through our staff, which includes licensed clinical social workers and counselors, case managers, mental health professionals, early childhood educators and lawyers.

Sage Community Health Collective

Sage Community Health Collective is dedicated to providing trauma-informed, body positive and harm reductionist healing services. Their collective is built around the tenets of mutual respect, actual capacity, deep compassion, and love for each other and our community.

Thresholds

Thresholds assists and inspires people with severe mental illnesses to reclaim their lives by providing the supports, skills, and the respectful encouragement that they need to achieve hopeful and successful futures.

Womencare Counseling Center

Within a relational model, Womencare supports adults, adolescents, couples, families, and communities in the face of trauma, loss, and life transitions to restore life’s meaning and the capacity to form healthy relationships based on mutuality, respect, accountability and caring.

Post-Traumatic Stress: You are not alone

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can disrupt your life in a variety of ways. Mild symptoms may be brushed off but severe symptoms can take one back to the event with a full panic attack. You may find it difficult to get through the day with worries that traumatic memories will come back at any time. You may try to avoid situations or people that trigger memories of the traumatic event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event.

The disorder is characterized by three main types of symptoms:

Re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive distressing recollections of the event, flashbacks, and nightmares.
Emotional numbness and avoidance of places, people, and activities that are reminders of the trauma.
Increased arousal such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating, feeling jumpy, and being easily irritated and angered.

You are not alone.

If you have symptoms that last longer than four weeks, cause you great distress, or disrupt your work or home life, you should seek professional help from your primary doctor or a licensed mental health counselor.

We can help.

The Sinha Clinic utilizes a combination approach to improve negative symptoms associated with PTSD. We offer medication management, counseling referrals and neurofeedback as an alternative approach. Medication aids in the short and long term symptom management. Research has shown that the overall effectiveness of neurofeedback without the use of medication for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults and children suggest a promising approach to treatment. All of these modalities offer many benefits depending on the person’s specific needs.

Mental Health Matters

Mental health is a personal struggle. One may not see obvious symptoms. Symptoms that can manifest in outward expressions, such as poor behavior to mirco-mannerisms, including affecting work place and home environments. Mental health is a constant balance that some may have been genetically predisposed, learned from a negative living environment and/or poor nutritional habits can all play a role in the severity.

Mental illness can be isolating. Many do not want to ask for help. Many do not share personal ideas or struggles due to not wanting to attach a stigma or have others view them as not able to fix their problems. There is no “quick fix” to recovery of mental illness. It is not only an individual’s struggle but it is also a public health concern. Mental health disorders need to be viewed as a chronic medical condition. Both are treatable with proper care with better results with early detection. Mental health should not be stigmatized and those should show encouragement to those that seek treatment and ask for help.

Why isn’t mental health taken as seriously?

Mental illness is weaved through one’s daily life just as a chronic physical illness. It can affect parenting, work, pregnancy, childbearing, finances, care giving, common daily activities and exacerbate co-occurring physical or mental health symptoms.

An estimated 46.4% of Americans will experience a mental illness in their lifetime.1 The current U.S. population is approximately 305 million, meaning almost half of the population or an estimated 141 million will need mental health care at some point in their life. This does not include family members that are secondarily affected learning to communicate with those with mental illness.

Preventative care needs to be addressed. The U.S. spends billions of dollars in direct and indirect healthcare costs: decreased productivity, absenteeism, lost jobs and wages, untold pain and suffering, unraveling of families and friendships, and suicide.2 Various forms of depression are estimated to cost more than $83 billion a year.3 Anxiety disorders, which affect roughly 40 million American adults,4 cost more than $63 billion a year.5

Where to Start?

Annual communication with one’s primary care physician on mental health concerns can aid in the prevention of unnecessary costs long term compared to left untreated. Especially if a crisis or major life event occurs in one’s life there are many support groups available to those who need another to talk to about their experience. If mental illness begins affecting an individual to the point that it disrupts daily life, then one should seek help from a trained professional who specializes in mental health illness. These professionals are trained to the nuances of mental health disorders and underlying symptoms that could be presenting themselves unknowingly to the person. Psychotherapy, testing, medication or other alternative modalities (such as, neurofeedback) are all available treatment options.

Be aware of those that are not trained in treating mental health concerns, conditions, or disorders. Watch out for those that sell mental health supplements and other options that may appear holistic. These type of supplements may cause more side effects or worsen current symptoms. The best course of action is to discuss options with your primary health care provider and discuss treatment options with an experienced mental health professional who has many years in the field with treating specific mental health concerns.

Reduce Trial & Error with Medication Sensitivity Testing

Did you know that there are 100+ types of psychotropic medications?

Have you felt that the medication prescribed had too many side effects or wasn’t the best fit?

Are you tired of waiting to see if one medication works and if it doesn’t, come off and trying another?

The Sinha Clinic provides a way to reduce the medication trial and error method (e.g., Try a medication to see if it works – If not, let’s try another.) through medication sensitivity testing (rEEG).

Medication sensitivity testing (aka, Referenced EEG) is a test designed for those interested in a more effective medication treatment plan, a reduction in wait time and want to feel better faster.

Dr. Sinha can provide a more individualized care plan by determining the most appropriate and effective medication in a shorter period of time with medication sensitivity testing and forgoing the trial and error stress placed on you or a loved one with ineffective medications.

How it Works:

Medication sensitivity testing begins with a diagnostic evaluation. Next, a Referenced EEG brain map is scheduled and completed. This type of brain map is similar to a qEEG brain map but the benefit of this test is that it pinpoints the exact areas of the brain that are dysregulated and compares to the physiological symptoms in a normative and then a symptomatic database of over 3000 case studies. This means that this type of test can determine the best medication fit for your personal brain and physiological chemistry.

The clinical outcome has shown results in an 87% response to antidepressants. Another group was 100% responsive to stimulants and a third was 85% responsive to anticonvulsants/lithium. A fourth group was 80% responsive to anticonvulsants.

“In a series of clinical trials on patients who suffered for years without responding to treatment, physicians guided over 75 percent of them to medications that worked. Often the right medication was a combination of two medications. And sometimes, the right answer was no medication at all. rEEG® provides physicians with objective clinical data to support treatment based on patient physiology. Physicians using rEEG frequently achieve superior efficacy, often in less time and with fewer medications.” – CNS Response

Contact us at (630) 762-9606 to schedule an evaluation and get started on the track to better cognitive health and wellness.

White Sox pitcher, Lucas Giolito credits Neurofeedback with Improving his Athletic Abilities

White Sox pitcher, Lucas Giolito credits Neurofeedback with improving his athletic abilities. He underwent 20 sessions of what he called “brain training” to attempt to revive his career.

According to a Chicago Tribune Article, in a few months Giolito went from the worst starter in the Majors to becoming an American League All-Star pitcher. He reports that Neurofeedback has enhanced focus and maintained calm, so that he is remains competitive. According to the Chicago Tribune Article of July 15th, 2019, Lucas Giolito is back on track!

In 2018, he had ERA of 6.13 and in 2019 thus far, he has ERA of 3.02. In 2018, he won 10 games and lost 13 games. In 2019, he won 14 games and lost 7 games. Statistically, he is the 5th best pitcher in the league and the season is not over. His performance has been consistent and disciplined, all the qualities required to be an exceptional athlete.

Lucas Giolito is not the only athlete to utilize this technique. White pitcher, Dylan Cease has been using Neurofeedback to improve focus and reduce stress.

Gold Medal Olympic Champion Beach Volleyball player, Kerri Walsh-Jennings, has used Neurofeedback to strengthen her mind and in turn, her physical stamina and coordination.

Interested to learn how neurofeedback can help peak performance? Contact us today at 630-762-9606

Reach your Peak with Neurofeedback Performance Training

Balance is key to a healthy life. Peak performers can be found in a variety of settings, some include: business, personal, educational, creative and sports. Most peak performers are already great at what they do, because they are able to be focused and stay motivated on what they are passionate about in their craft. At the Sinha Clinic, we provide a program that aims to help peak performers reach their optimal mental and physical state. This does not include any type of medication. What we offer is an alternative. It is Neurofeedback Performance Training.

The Process:

The program begins with a qEEG Brain Map that provides a map of all connectivity and brainwave neural pathways that are communicating to the central nervous system and the rest of the body. Here we are able to find the areas in need of improvement and create a specific training plan designed for the individual peak performer. The training plan consists of psychological performance tests and Neurofeedback Performance Training (NPT).

NPT trains your brain to function more efficiently, improving mental functioning and emotional stability. This form of neurofeedback training is tailored to each peak performer’s specific needs within a comprehensive evaluation and with a goal to reduce unwanted symptoms of stress, poor concentration, and self-doubt. We aim to eliminate these negative symptoms and help promote areas to increase relaxation and focus while improving agility physically and mentally.

NPT breaks down the process by focusing in on the areas that are lacking and motivates those locations in the brain with feedback conditioning. The trainee is connected to a computer program, brainwave patterns are recorded and feedback is provided in the form of a movie, music or game. The brain responds by correctly producing the brainwave patterns that we ask for it to produce and the brain is rewarded each time it correctly makes these optimal brainwave patterns. With any ability, practice is key. Consistent training maintains the process of improving, conditioning and creating the opportunity for the brain to optimize the connections to other parts of the brain. This improves communication between areas that may be lacking and this is how peak performers benefit. They are able to optimize their brain, improving focus, communication to improve response time, memory, and even physical balance and agility as the brain is able to communicate to the central nervous system, which controls the response to other areas of the body.

Who uses Neurofeedback?

Doctors and surgeons use neurofeedback to improve attention, focus, memory and concentration. Business executives use it to increase mathematical ability, emotional intelligence to improve their leadership skills, and improve time management skills. Neurofeedback helps athletes gain the competitive edge over their opponents. Those in academia can use neurofeedback to help improve reading, math, comprehension, spatial reasoning, memory, and the list goes on.

Creative performers; such as those in the arts, music, etc. use neurofeedback for meditation, enhance spiritual awakening. , and this does not reduce the creative flow or process but enhances it to hone their craft. In general, most individuals use neurofeedback to help improve stress, sleep or improve many common symptoms from anxiety, depression, ADHD, migraines or other common conditions or disorders.

Interested to Learn More?

All it takes is 3 Easy Steps to regain control of your Cognitive Health

1st Step

All you have to do is pick up the phone and call 630-762-9606.

2nd Step

Provide insurance information for verification. This is 100% Free.

3rd Step

Make an appointment for a diagnostic evaluation. We never share confidential information without a release and consent.

Neurofeedback Can Help Break the Cycle of Addiction

Addiction is a brain disease. Most refer to it as the “brain disease model of addiction”, which has been accepted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Drug and alcohol abuse usually initially begins as a voluntary response, a decision that over time can turn into a habit and individuals can lose the ability to make the voluntary choice as it becomes a response to the physical dependence that the body now needs.

There are still those individuals that view addiction is due to a moral flaw or lack of self-control; however, this is a blanket statement used by those that truly don’t understand the brain mechanics behind addiction. As I write again that – Addiction is a brain disease.

Habitual use of drugs and/or alcohol leads to structural changes in the brain that increases the need to keep using the addicts drug of choice. Many times those experiencing mental health concerns, conditions or disorders are using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate, which they feel helps initially but then becomes a larger problem.

The best source of treatment to maintain long-term sobriety is largely due to necessary life changes. By making healthy positive changes, this can help those addicted modify negative habitual behaviors. This includes:

Attending 90 meetings in 90 days at AA, NA or CA. Then continue going long term.
Getting a same-gender sponsor that has maintained long term sobriety.
Locating an addiction specialist that can help provide the tools to combat cravings, behavioral challenges and set up a plan.
Adding neurofeedback to fix the root cause of the dysregulated brainwave structure to ease cravings, anxiety and other mental health concerns that can lead to choosing negative habits.

Check out – SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

How qEEG Brain Mapping can Help:

The Sinha Clinic offers qEEG Brain Mapping and neurofeedback as an option for those looking to locate those areas of the brain where brainwave activity is not functioning as it should. Once we pinpoint the problem area’s, we create a targeted plan to address the root cause and begin neurofeedback training. This consists of approximately 45-55 in-office sessions (depends on a case by case basis).

Once the physical symptoms of addiction improve, the mental symptoms of addiction should as well, including relapse. Addressing the environmental challenges at home, work, or personal life need to be changed to a more positive environment as well. Meaning, even though that neurofeedback can help with alleviating symptoms, one who has a history of addiction shouldn’t put themselves in compromising situation that are triggers to their sobriety. Also, continuing to drink or use drugs after training for the reason being that one may think that they can go back to drinking socially will not work.

If regulating brainwave patterns helps to improve symptoms, continuing to maintain the same negative lifestyle will not improve brainwave patterns and the necessary change won’t occur and the individual will be wasting their time and money. Addiction is a brain disease and the symptoms will return if environmental and habits do not change prior to training.

Research to back it up:

A UCLA study found that neurofeedback can improve the rate of abstinence. Neurofeedback and addiction treatment study showed: (1) that individuals with a history of addiction tend to have a very difficult time changing their behavior (hence the 40-60 percent drug relapse rate), and (2) the brain usually experiences instability in the early stages of recovery.

The UCLA study revealed that EEG biofeedback treatment plus participation in a 12-Step program could help recovering people to accept change (from addiction to recovery) and help the brain to become stable.

In specific, EEG treatment improved the participants’ rates of abstinence at the one-year recovery mark. The participants were able to achieve this positive outcome, in part, because EEG treatment helped to keep the brain’s cortex active when they felt like resisting change (which in this case was running away from their recovery plan or relapsing). The study noted that neurofeedback is not a standalone treatment for drug recovery, but it can be beneficial when used in conjunction with an abstinence supportive service, such as a 12-Step program or cognitive behavioral therapy.

Advancements in addiction research are increasingly understanding the need to look into the brain. In drug addiction, anyone affected by it sees the symptoms in action. The true source of the problem has been invisible with symptoms showing in the form of mental health conditions and behaviors, but not anymore. Utilizing qEEG brain maps can show those in recovery the reality of their disease thus providing the opportunity to create a tailored plan to maintain sobriety long-term and get their brain and life back to a fully functional state.

Additional Resources:

Check out the National Helpline or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

What is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families.

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Happens in the Best of Families

It It Feels So Bad – It Doesn’t Have To

Sports Brain Injuries and Concussions

Sports concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by an impact to the head while participating in sports, mainly contact sports teams. Concussions can result in negative long-term effects on brainwave functioning. These brain injuries can go undiagnosed, since 90% of concussions do not result in loss of consciousness. If a visible injury isn’t present, some assume that all will be alright. However, that is untrue as internal swelling and bleeding can be present and more dangerous so if a head injury occurs, a concussion test should be performed as soon as possible to determine the extent of the injury. This is a growing problem for children or teen athletes, especially as young brain are still developing.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics has reported that emergency room visits due to concussions for children between the ages of 8 and 13 has doubled in the last ten years. Additionally, concussions have risen a whopping 200% among teens between the ages of 14 and 19 as well. Startling statistics show 47% of all sports-related concussions are attributed to high school football, 33% occurring during practices.(3)”

Symptoms of a Concussion

Physical symptoms include

dizziness
nausea/vomiting
noise and light sensitivity
blurred vision
Headache
fatigue
Problems with balance and spatial awareness
Unequal pupils

Behavioral symptoms include:

Irritability and anger
Impulsivity
Poor attention, concentration and focus
Poor social and emotional awareness
Inflexibility and lack of ability to empathize with others

These are just a few that have been reported but many have seen other cognitive concerns in their short and long term memory, vision, spatial awareness, poor sleep and communication depending on the location and extent of the injury.

How Neurofeedback can Help sports-related brain injuries and concussions:

Neurofeedback is used to help improve symptoms of brain injury and rework the damage done by the impact in order to help the brain relearn how to self-regulate and function normally again. There are several areas in which neurofeedback holds particular promise in sports, including enhancement of concentration and attention, reduction of anxiety, improving control over emotions (e.g., anger), for overcoming effects from mild head injuries and concussions, and for improving physical balance. (1)

Sports Professionals and Athletes use Neurofeedback:

Many professionals use neurofeedback to maximize their peak performance and increase their focus, concentration and communication between the areas of the brain that improve balance, coordination and physicality.

Kirk Cousins (NFL)
Kerri Walsh-Jennings ( Olympic beach volleyball champion)
Italian World Cup Soccer Team (won the World Cup in 2006)
Canadian Olympic Ski Team in 2009 (won most gold medals of any country in 2010 Winter Olympics)
Football players from University of Notre Dame
St Thomas Aquinas High School (Florida state Champions and national champions for five years)
Athletes who played for the Boston Red Sox and the Dallas Mavericks

How Neurofeedback works to help damage:

In the past, concussion damage was seen to be irreversible. However, with advances in neurofeedback, this method can be used to help correct the root cause of the damage.

A qEEG Brain Map is performed to pinpoint the area’s of dysregulation from the concussion and protocols are recreated that are specifically designed for the individual’s brain chemistry. With regular consistent training, healthy brainwave patterns can be improved, normalized and even optimized depending on the extent of the injury. Neurofeedback is long term positive change that one would be able to go on functioning.

References:

Alternative Treatment Option for Autism Spectrum Disorder is Neurofeedback

Early intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder and proper care can reduce individuals’ difficulties while helping them learn new skills and make the most of their strengths. The very wide range of issues facing those “on the spectrum” means that there is no single best treatment for ASD.

Working closely with a doctor or health care professional is an important part of finding the right treatment program. There are many treatment options, social services, programs, and other resources that can help. Many families have found medication to help some of the difficulties one experiences but this will not help to correct the root cause.

Helpful tips:

Keep a detailed notebook. Record conversations and meetings with health care providers and teachers. This information helps when its time to make decisions.
Record doctors’ reports and evaluations in the notebook. This information may help an individual qualify for special programs.

Contact the local health department, school, or autism advocacy groups to learn about their special programs.
Talk with a pediatrician, school official, or physician to find a local autism expert who can help develop an intervention plan and find other local resources.
Find an autism support group. Sharing information and experiences can help individuals with ASD and/or their caregivers learn about options, make decisions, and reduce stress.

Medication

A doctor may use medication to treat some difficulties that are common with ASD. With medication, a person with ASD may have fewer problems with:

Irritability
Aggression
Repetitive behavior
Hyperactivity
Attention problems
Anxiety and depression

Alternative Option is Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is an alternative approach to medication, or used in conjunction to medication or other therapies. Neurofeedback training will help to correct the dysregulated brainwave patterns to help alleviate areas of concern long term.

“Reports from caregivers of people with autism suggest people have witnessed improvements in a variety of areas including speech and irritability. A few scientific reports have highlighted that a demonstrated increase in social interaction may be seen in child with autism following treatment. One study suggested that parents who noticed an improvement continued to see the benefits for at least a year after neurofeedback” Psychology Today reported.

The brainwave patterns of children experiencing symptoms of autism are different than their peers who do not show those same symptoms. It is also noted that professionals have discussed that 1 in 3 children with autism may also experience ADHD symptoms.

Neurofeedback has been shown to help children with ADHD by improving hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.

Interested to Learn More?

Call us at (630) 762-9606 to discuss your options.

Stop the Downward Spiral of Depression

Depression is a common mental health concern. More than 19 million adults suffer with depression. Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting 6.7% (more than 16 million) of American adults each year. Depression can occur at any time, at any age, and to people of any race, gender, ethnic group or health situation.

More than 19 million adults suffer with depression. Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting 6.7% (more than 16 million) of American adults each year.

Depression Treatment: When Should You Get Help?

If you have five or more of these symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your daily activities, you may have major depression.If you have five or more of these symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your daily activities, you may have major depression.

Depression symptoms include:

Depressed mood, sadness, or an “empty” feeling, or appearing sad or tearful to others
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
Significant weight loss when not dieting, or significant weight gain (for example, more than 5% of body weight in a month)
Inability to sleep or excessive sleeping
Restlessness or irritation (irritable mood may be a symptom in children or adolescents too), or feelings of “dragging”
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness, or excessive or inappropriate guilt
Difficulty thinking or concentrating, or indecisiveness
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or specific plan for committing suicide

Your primary care doctor is a good place to start but if you are looking for more comprehensive psychiatric care, please contact our office today at (630) 762-9606 for more information.

If you are feeling hopeless or helpless with any types of thoughts of suicide, please contact 911 or contact the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 and ask for help.

You are never alone and there is always someone available to help you in your time of need.

What are some causes of Depression?

Biological – Changes in neurotransmitters or brain chemistry may cause or contribute to depression.
Cognitive – Negative thinking patterns and low self-esteem are more likely to develop clinical depression.
Gender – More women experience depression than men.[2] While the reasons for this are still unclear, they may include the hormonal changes women go through during menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. Other reasons may include the stress caused by the multiple responsibilities that women have.
Co-occurrence – Depression is more likely to occur along with other mental health or physical illnesses.
Medications – Despite taking medication for depression, there is a chance that medication can make depression symptoms worse as a side effect.
Genetic – A family history of depression increases the risk for developing the illness.
Situational – Hard life events, such as, divorce, financial problems, or the death of a loved one can contribute to depression.

What you need to know about depression:

Depression is a real illness.
Depression affects people differently.
Depression is treatable if you seek help.
If you have depression, you are not alone.

Is there a solution to help Depression Symptoms?

Yes! The Sinha Clinic offers comprehensive psychiatric care that can be in the form of medication management, neuropsychological testing, or an alternative approach called neurofeedback.

Many individuals will suffer from occasional depression throughout their lifetime. Depression changes a persons way of thinking, many sufferers experience a negative thinking pattern that influences how one feels about themselves, their life and those around them. Depression can affect children and adolescents, as well as, affecting a high rate of seniors.

While medication has a long standing history of helping individuals cope with depression symptoms, depression medications are meant to help overcome a stressful hurdle short and sometimes long term. Many patients should be seeking additional treatment in the form of talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or another type of program that can help to create a healthy pattern of thinking.

An option that helps the root cause of many cognitive systems is called neurofeedback.

Neurofeedback is a drug-free, non-invasive and natural approach to depression. Medication is not supposed to be a long-term solution but many individuals spend years on medication not addressing the underlying issues or the root cause brain wave abnormality.

This is how neurofeedback can help you.

Neurofeedback works to create more efficient brain wave connections to increase brain performance. This is done through positive reinforcement by watching a movie or playing a video game. Neurofeedback training strengthens a patient’s brainwave connections to reduce negative symptoms associated with depression and aims to maximize the brain’s potential.

Depression can be treated with medication and/or neurofeedback training, but the 1st step is a careful diagnostic evaluation.

The Sinha Clinic offers medication management, neuro feedback and neuro psychiatric care in a stable and caring environment. If you are feel overwhelmed, worn down, fatigued, sad, isolated, foggy brained, or disconnected, these are classic signs and symptoms that accompany depression, please contact our office today at (630) 762-9606 for more information and to see if you are a good candidate for medication management and/or neuro feedback training.

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How Brainwaves Work

Electrical activity from the brain is displayed in the form of brainwaves. There are five categories brainwaves, ranging from the most activity to the least activity. Delta (1-3 hz), Theta (4-7 hz), Alpha (8-12 hz), Beta (broken down into Lo-Beta (13-15 hz), Mid-Beta (16-19hz), High-Beta (20-30+hz)).

Each of these take turns throughout the day when performing tasks.

Beta Waves

When the brain is aroused and actively engaged in mental activities, it generates beta waves. Beta waves are broken down into the following: the frequency of Beta waves are broken down into Lo-Beta (13-15 hz), Mid-Beta (16-19hz), High-Beta (20-30 hz) per cycle. These type of brainwaves are of relatively low amplitude, and are the fastest of the four different brainwaves.

Beta waves are characteristics of a strong engaged mind. A person in active conversation would be in beta. A person making a speech, or a teacher, or someone who regular talks and responds to questions are in high beta when engaged in work. Beta represented active arousal.

Alpha Waves

The next category in order of frequency is alpha (8-12 hz). Alpha represents non-arousal. These brainwave patterns are slower with higher amplitude.

A person who has completed a task and sits down to rest is in an alpha state. Yoga meditation, or a person who takes time out to reflect or meditate, usually promotes alpha state. Relaxing and taking a break to take a walk away from being engaged in a task or project is often in an alpha state.

Theta Waves

Theta brainwaves (4-7 hz), typically have greater amplitude and slower frequency per second.

Once someone decides to step away from a task mentally and begins to day dream daydream is often in a theta brainwave state. “Being in idle mode” is usually the feeling one will have such as a person who is driving on a freeway, and discovers that they can’t recall the last five miles, is often in a theta state. Research has found that driving and the blinking of trees going by can increase this idle state. The repetitious visual of trees and limited distractions on a quiet roadway during driving would induce more theta when compared to driving on a fast freeway where one would need to be on guard. This on guard feeling would produce more of a beta or “alert” state. This beta state helps the driver perform the driving task safely.

Individuals who do a lot of freeway driving often get good ideas during those periods when they are in theta. Individuals who run outdoors often are in the state of mental relaxation that is slower than alpha and when in theta, they are prone to a flow of ideas.

When performing a regular mundane task; such as, taking a shower, bath, or brushing teeth, can promote a theta state. These type of tasks become so automatic that you can mentally disengage from them. This releases active energy where free flow is promoted and occurs without censorship or guilt. This helps to release negative emotions and it is very beneficial when used in collaboration with talk therapy.

Delta Waves

The last brainwave state is delta. These brainwaves are of the greatest amplitude and slowest frequency. Typically are from 1 to 3 hertz per second. They never go down to zero because that would mean that you were had no brain activity. Delta waves normally are responsible for sleep.

When we go to bed and read for a few minutes before going to sleep, we are likely transition from high beta to low beta. When we feel like we are drifting to sleep and close the book to turn off the lights, we transition from alpha to theta. Once we close our eyes, our brain goes from theta and when we fall asleep it transcends to delta.

Sleep and Brainwaves

Men, women and children of all ages experience the same characteristic brainwaves. They are consistent across cultures and country boundaries.

We dream in 90 minute cycles. Active dreaming takes place after your delta brainwaves transition and increase up to theta waves. Typically, when this occurs one will be in an active dream and experience rapid eye movement (REM). This is called REM sleep.

When you begin to wake up you may stay in theta waves and feel the sleepy idle state. This is usually the best time to recount your dream and write it down if you keep a sleep journal.

Research has shown that although one brainwave state may predominate at any given time, depending on the activity level of the individual, the remaining three brain states are present in the mix of brainwaves at all times. Meaning that while somebody is an active state exhibiting a beta brainwave pattern, there also exists in that person’s brain a component of alpha, theta and delta, even though these may be present only at the trace level.

One way to review how active your brainwaves are is to complete a qEEG Brain Map.

Mental Health Check

It is vitally important that we take time out for ourselves on a regular basis to check in with our own personal needs. While many mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety and ADHD, have strong genetic ties that may be out of our control, it is equally true that our way of thinking and our daily behaviors contribute significantly to our overall levels of health and well-being.

How the Sinha Clinic can Help

We believe that being content and happy is a state of mind that will take practice, effort, and vigilance. This is within everyone’s reach if we put in the time and effort into self-discovery, reflection and personal growth.

The Sinha Clinic blends integrative and holistic treatment methods for optimal mental health benefits. We use psychiatric medications in conjunction with a blend of therapeutic services including counseling or neurofeedback brain training. Each person needs to be ready to begin a new change. One will need to be ready to understand the underlying subconscious reasons that they may be creating a spiral of negative behaviors and thoughts. Change can be difficult but it worthwhile. Begin a new path to transform your life and take the necessary steps to change the seemingly unchangeable life circumstances. This will help to heal the past, live in the present mindfully and reach your optimal potential while pursue healthy, loving, and mutually rewarding personal relationships.

Telehealth

Individuals, like you, may be concerned and unsure how to gain access to much needed mental health service. You may feel that you can handle your anxiety or depression symptoms and it will soon pass.

You may feel, or maybe a family member discourages the importance of addressing mental health concerns. You may want to avoid a waiting room cause you feel judged or uneasy about the process.

I want you to know that addressing mental health needs are key in taking care of yourself. Many share in these same concerns but that doesn’t stop them from realizing they need help. Even if they are afraid to seek it, our staff discusses your options discreetly and confidentially.

I have seen a new trend in telehealth options for medical practices. It is a great alternative option for those seeking mental health services and I am proud to announce that we have implemented a new telehealth option for medication management to those who are unable to make their appointments and this will aid in overcoming many common barriers.

By increasing access to physicians and specialists, telehealth helps ensure patients receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time(1).

https://www.aha.org/factsheet/telehealth

Telehealth has many benefits:

It has been shown to overcome barriers for those who do not have access to reliable transportation.
It limits the gaps in time between appointments.
Reduces distance and travel time that can limit access to care.
You can still make an appointment if you are sick and need to discuss mental health concerns
Provides a convenient option for those who are physically unable to come in for an appointment.
It opens the option for those in more rural areas who do not have access to quality mental health providers.
And it provides options to more community providers for more comprehensive care.

Telehealth will not replace traditional mental health appointments but will provide flexibility and convenience as an option for those in need of this service.

We prescreen those interested in telehealth ahead of their scheduled appointment.

Are you interested in setting up telehealth services at the Sinha Clinic – Contact the office today at (630) 762-9606 to discuss if telehealth is the right option for you or a loved one.

Anxiety Disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older every year – about 18% of the population.

Suffering from Anxiety?

Everyone experiences anxiety at times. It is a normal response to stress or stressful situations.

However, when symptoms begin as a emotional response become a regular daily occurrence, physical symptoms can begin and can feel overwhelming to overcome.

5 Questions to ask yourself

Is it hard to relax, or calm self down when stressed?
Do you feel, uneasy or worried a lot during the day or week?
Do you feel on guard even though you know there is no reasonable danger or threat?
Do you go out of your way to avoid situations, events or places that cause you worry and distress that affect your daily personal life or work?
Do you feel physical anxiety symptoms? These include racing heart, muscle weakness or tension, fatigue, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, stomach aches, or headaches?

If you agreed to some of these questions above, you may have an anxiety disorder.

There are many types, some include: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, including social phobia, and obsessive compulsive disorder are some of the specific types but only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose and determine the best course of action.

How can Neurofeedback help?

Neurofeedback trains a patient’s brain waves based on a psychological process called operant conditioning. We aim to retrain a patient’s brainwaves by conditioning appropriate brainwave patterns that will improve their responses to stress and anxiety. With neurofeedback, a patient is able to develop the skills they need to reduce or eliminate anxiety in their lives just by watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a video game.

Patients that suffer from anxiety are regularly prescribed medications to help ease the negative symptoms associated with anxiety. These medications aim to reduce unwanted anxiety symptoms, but once these prescription drugs are stopped, the original anxiety symptoms will readily return. Neurofeedback aims to target problematic areas of the brain and reduces unwanted symptoms by using repetitive training until the correct brainwaves are being produced consistently by the patient. As the brain retrains to decrease anxiety and learns to remain more calm, often less medication is needed. Neurofeedback training in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy or other behavioral tools work best to help eliminate anxiety and improve a patient’s daily functioning and promote a better quality of life. Overall, neurofeedback has been proven to help reduce anxiety long term and aides in the process to help patients wean off medication with their doctor’s supervision.