Individuals in rehabilitation for substance use disorder (SUD) benefit from participating in integrative treatment programs that use evidence-based and complementary modalities, including biofeedback. According to Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, “Electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback has been employed in substance use disorder (SUD) over the last three decades.” Bright Mission Recovery uses biofeedback to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and other forms of SUD. Opioid addiction may cause more severe physiological symptoms. Biofeedback can help you manage symptoms of withdrawal more effectively during treatment.

What Is Biofeedback?

Biofeedback is a noninvasive therapy that increases self-awareness and self-regulation by monitoring the body’s physiological and biomechanical processes. Individuals diagnosed with SUD use biofeedback to effectively gain control of physiological functions, including brainwaves and heart rate. According to research by Kashif Malik and Anterpreet Dua, “Biofeedback is a technique to augment the normal sensory feedback and allow better control of body functions that are usually considered involuntary.” Clients undergo an initial assessment to identify symptoms and set realistic goals. 

A biofeedback session typically involves the following: 

• Placing sensors on the body to monitor physiological changes 
• Watching real-time feedback on a monitor to determine progress 
• Using relaxation techniques to decrease tensions and regulate the body’s stress responses 
• Practicing exercises to control various physiological responses 

Biofeedback is often combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of psychotherapy to increase effectiveness and reduce stress. The therapy empowers people and promotes resilience by helping them learn to control physiological responses to stress and other triggers. Individuals with higher levels of self-control often experience fewer complications during treatment and aftercare. You can learn to use the skills developed in biofeedback sessions to manage cravings, emotional distress, and unexpected situations you may encounter in everyday life. 

How Does Biofeedback Impact Substance Abuse Treatment

Biofeedback impacts substance abuse treatment by helping you become more in tune with your automatic responses to daily stressors. Recognizing the cause of various thoughts, feelings, or behaviors gives you more power over them. 

The benefits of biofeedback therapy make it easier for clients to engage more fully in treatment. During biofeedback sessions, you may notice the following: 

• Improved self-regulation
• Enhanced emotional awareness 
• Fewer symptoms of co-occurring disorders 
• Great self-awareness 
• Increased self-confidence

Individuals who participate in biofeedback sessions often report feeling more engaged in other forms of treatment, including therapy and support groups. Engagement is essential to long-term sobriety. The clinical team at Bright Mission Recovery encourages clients to use biofeedback to improve mood regulation and stress management. Learning to control physiological responses, usually considered involuntary, improves self-efficacy and increases self-confidence. 

How Does Biofeedback Reduce Symptoms of Opioid Addiction?

People who learn to control their physiological functions, including heart rate, muscle tension, breathing, and brain wave activity, often gain additional control over other areas of their lives. Gaining more control over your reactions can make it easier to change your thoughts, behaviors, and stress responses. You will develop better stress management and coping skills by learning to recognize and control various bodily reactions. 

Through guided exercises, you can cultivate various skills and techniques, including: 

• Stress management 
• Emotion regulation 
• Mindfulness 
• Breathing exercises 
• Increased self-awareness of physiological processes 
• More realistic goal-setting 
• Behavior modification 
• Pain management 

Using the techniques and skills learned in biofeedback sessions, you can also improve your sleep quality and other factors impacting mental and physical health. Neurofeedback is one tool for improving skills that reduce sleep disturbances. According to the World Journal of Psychiatry, neurofeedback, a form of biofeedback, “is a technique that could offer a new way to treat insomnia through the regulation of abnormal brain activity.” You can benefit from learning to control your brain waves at will, increasing sleep quality and reducing symptoms causing sleep disturbances. 

The Effects of Opioid Addiction on the Mind and Body

Opioid addiction has a devastating effect on a person’s mind and body. Chronic abuse of opioids affects cognition and multiple body systems. Everyone experiences different side effects depending on various factors, including the dose, how long the drug was abused, and co-occurring disorders. You may notice mild or severe symptoms interfering with your ability to function and quality of life. 

Some of the most common health side effects of OUD include: 

• Shallow breathing 
• Increased sensitivity to pain
• Muscle rigidity and involuntary muscle movements
• Arrhythmia 

Biofeedback can help you consciously control these physiological side effects, improving treatment outcomes and reducing the risk of future medical conditions. 

How Does Bright Mission Recovery Treat Opioid Addiction?

Participating in professional treatment programs for OUD can benefit you. The additional guidance and support can provide a safe space to heal. 

Bright Mission Recovery treats opioid addiction using a range of treatment modalities, including: 

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• Relapse prevention
• Psychoeducation 
• Self-help groups
• Individual and group therapy 
• Alternative holistic therapies 

Clinicians ensure clients understand their treatment options and how to access essential resources, including biofeedback and other complementary support services. Individuals who use biofeedback to gain additional skills feel more in control of their treatment and build resilience, allowing them to overcome challenges more easily during treatment and aftercare. 

Opioid addiction can affect the mind-body connection and make it more difficult for you to connect your thoughts and feelings with behaviors or sensations. Biofeedback helps reset the link between mind and body by providing real-time feedback and monitoring of physiologist responses. During treatment for OUD, you can use biofeedback to train the mind and body to react in a healthier way to stress or other triggers. Bright Mission Recovery uses integrative care and various modalities, including biofeedback, to promote healing. You can learn skills for effectively controlling your body’s response, allowing you to regain control of your life. To learn more about our programs and services, call our office today at (747) 444-3284.