{"id":454,"date":"2013-04-28T23:12:49","date_gmt":"2013-04-29T03:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mymindfulwayoflife.com\/blog4\/?p=454"},"modified":"2013-08-12T23:02:34","modified_gmt":"2013-08-13T03:02:34","slug":"biofeedback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mymindfulwayoflife.com\/blog4\/biofeedback\/","title":{"rendered":"Incorporating Biofeedback in Everyday Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

You have already used biofeedback without knowing it.\u00a0 Every time you step on a scale in your bathroom or doctor\u2019s office, you receive feedback about your weight.\u00a0 Then you have an idea in your mind about whether or not you are on track.\u00a0 In response, you may increase or decrease your exercise level and food intake.\u00a0 This modification of your behavior and a follow-up assessment of your weight complete the biofeedback loop.\u00a0 Another example of a behavioral change in reaction to biofeedback happens when you regulate your exercise vigor on a treadmill based on your elevating heart rate.\u00a0 A similar type of biofeedback occurs when you use a speed detector in your car, which you set to sound an alarm if you go over a certain speed limit.\u00a0 This can cue you to decelerate, causing the alarm to quiet.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a clinical setting, biofeedback is used to help people control functions of their body such as respiration, heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension.\u00a0 Another physical sign of stress that people are often unaware of is cold hand temperature.\u00a0 I frequently recommend monitoring hand temperature as a sign of stress, as it can be easy to measure without expensive equipment.\u00a0 The next article in this series will provide you simple step-by-step instructions for using biofeedback to learn about your stress response by tracking your hand temperature. First, let\u2019s take a quick look at what hand temperature has to do with your stress level.<\/p>\n

In order to understand this connection, it is important to examine what your body does in response to a stress or challenge.\u00a0 Luckily, all animals were designed with a system to combat challenge.\u00a0 A branch of the nervous system, called the autonomic nervous system, is made up of the sympathetic and parasympathetic sections.\u00a0 The sympathetic nervous system is commonly referred to as the \u201cfight or flight response.\u201d This impressive network is dedicated to ensuring that our body reacts instantly and forcefully to the threat of danger.<\/p>\n

The \u2018fight or flight\u201d system is so powerful that it responds directly and immediately to real or potential threats, often before you even know you are stressed!\u00a0 This causes a chain reaction in the body, beginning with the sensory organs, which send data to the brain about sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing.\u00a0 In turn, the brain interprets this data, and if the right triggers are tripped, the brain sends a danger message to glands (adrenal and pituitary), which activate a hormonal cascade that sends epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol throughout the body.\u00a0 Suddenly, whether or not you realize it, you experience a number of physical changes in response to stress.<\/p>\n

When it is functioning appropriately, this is a wonderful system to assist you with real threats of danger that require you to respond by acting and thinking quickly, such as when a car is swerving into your lane, you hear footsteps behind you when headed through a dark parking lot, or a fire alarms sounds its ear-piercing shrill.\u00a0 Consider for a moment that the following changes in your body would help you to react:<\/p>\n