Is Biofeedback The Same As ECG?
By Susan Owen-Thursfield, July 31, 2009Biofeedback is a scary sounding term. Many of us may have heard of it, but most of us probably do not really understand. Yet biofeedback can help to reduce stress reduction through modification of behavior. Biofeedback works as a way to measure one’s physiological responses to something, and then as a way to control those responses.
In the case of stress reduction, biofeedback helps the person experiencing stress identify their reactions to it so that they can choose appropriate stress reduction techniques to counter the effects of the stressful situation.
Biofeedback is based on research done by two prominent psychologists and physiologists, Ivan Pavlov (who used dogs to demonstrate the Pavlovian response), and B.F. Skinner, who worked particularly on operant behavior, also known as behaviorism.
Both researchers helped pioneer the way for biofeedback to develop as a way of identifying how individuals react to certain stimuli, for example, tightening their shoulder muscles when they are stressed.
And biofeedback can also help people to learn to change their behaviors to get a “reward”, such as noticing stressful triggers and purposely doing relaxation exercises so that they can keep the stress from affecting them in a harmful way.
Many people learn about biofeedback from a therapist or health care professional who uses special equipment to measure the body’s response to stress. But more recently, home biofeedback equipment has been developed for people to use with their computer.
So biofeedback can help you identify what triggers stress, what those stresses do your body, and how to modify your behaviors to counteract the effects of stress on your body. The result is a more relaxed and aware you – one that has learned to catch the stress before it causes you to suffer from uncomfortable physiological responses.
For stress reduction techniques you can use with biofeedback, download your copy of free stress tips ebook and ecourse by clicking the link!
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5 Comments to “Is Biofeedback The Same As ECG?”
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7:11 pm on July 31st, 2009
Hi Susan,
I guess you got your problem sorted as this is the top post so the ‘sticky’ one must now not be sticky!
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
9:24 pm on July 31st, 2009
Absolutely! Thanks!
6:21 am on August 7th, 2009
Very interesting Susan, I remember Pavlov and Skinner from when I studied psychology. Athletes constantly monitor their biofeedback to improve their performance. Runners for example tend to clench fists and stiffen their shoulders when trying to go very fast, yet both those actions slow you down! Constantly monitoring your body enables you to counteract natural stress responses. Keep up the good work Susan, we all need help to combat stress.
John
7:41 pm on August 8th, 2009
Thanks again John. I had no idea that clenching fists and tightening shoulders slowed you down but I do remember my PE teacher always shouting “Relax down the back straight” so now I know why! It’s funny how many circumstances we naturally do exactly what we shouldn’t, isn’t it?
3:01 pm on August 14th, 2009
Hi Susan,
I reckon we all need some form of stress relief be it medicene or mindset reactions , but your post on “biofeedback” seems to be just what the doctor ordered so to speak!
TTFN….Ed.