OCD Action

Wombat140
Member

Hello again everybody,
I am looking for a Biofeedback/Neurofeedback practitioner in Greater Manchester, or as near there as possible. Does anybody know of one? Especially one who knows something about treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or similar conditions, such as (for instance) phobias or Tourette's Syndrome. I have been trying to find one for a while now but don't really know where to look.
Last time this was discussed on here, in the thread "LENS Neurofeedback really helped my son", Wasnotwas said he was thinking of trying it. Did he? If so, how did he get on?
Many thanks,
Wombat140

Thu Jul 9 2009 21:20:12 #
wasnotwas
Member

didnt try, it as the cbt i had really helped,

Thu Jul 9 2009 23:29:42 #
Unregistered

Wombat, I am thinking of trying this myself. I kept one of Warriormom's messages with information, but I have a feeling it was written in a message to you originally, so you probably already have the information!

Warriormom wrote "I did some searching and found that the ISNR is the International organization for neurofeedback. (ISNR: International Society for Neurofeedback and Research) Once you click on the Practitioners box you can type in United Kingdom and there are 6 or 8 listed. I don't know your country/cities all that well, but I saw listings for Bournemouth, London, near Oxford, Fingeringhoe, and Canter. I also saw someone who listed a website of:
learningwithneurofeedback.co.uk I hope that is helpful."

It would seem that most practitioners are in the south, and you have probably already checked the site out.

My friend who is going to Yale for a further OCD study is also very interested in neurofeedback and she is going to find out as much as she can from the psychiatrists there.

Tricia.

Fri Jul 10 2009 13:21:18 #
Wombat140
Member

Thanks Tricia.
I've checked the site, Warriormom's list still applies - three in London, one each in the other places.
ISNR's list is not exhaustive though, as there is one in York. (See the other thread. He has a website but I've forgotten its address). He does both types, and seems to have come across OCD. So it's worth looking for others.
Wombat140

Mon Jul 13 2009 21:29:42 #
warriormom
Member

Wombat,

Did you ever find the Practitioner Information for LENS/Neurofeedback? I have not been on the forum in quite a while, and saw your queries. I hope you have. Please let me know. I will do some research for you, if you have not been successful.

warriormom

Sun Aug 9 2009 1:42:50 #
Wombat140
Member

Well, I found somewhere I could get Neurofeedback. It was the place Warriormom mentioned a while ago, in York. Here's the address again if anyone wants it:
Glyn Blackett: York Biofeedback Centre
57 Peel Close
Heslington, York YO 10 5EN
Country: United Kingdom
Phone: (+44) 1904 435 267
email: glyn@york-biofeedback.co.uk
http://www.york-biofeedback.co.uk

I went there for the first time on the 30th, and again on the 6th. (I know I should have posted before, but I forgot.) The kind I had was something called HEG. It uses an infra-red light to measure blood flow in a certain part of the brain; there's more about that on the website, so I won't go into it here. He does standard EEG neurofeedback and LENS EEG neurofeedback as well, but there were OCD problems about those. There were also some exercises to practice in between times, but I admit I haven't been doing those as regularly as I might have. I've been having a lot of trouble with intrusive thoughts lately (since before I started the neurofeedback) and that makes them a bit difficult because you have to concentrate.
I haven't noticed any particular effect yet, but Mr Blackett seems to think that is fairly normal with this type. Standard neurofeedback is much slower to work than LENS, apparently. It's possible that I won't have to go to York for it in future. Some firm whose name I have forgotten is going to bring out a version of the HEG equipment that can be used at home. Mr Blackett says he is going to get one as soon as they come on sale, and hire it out. So then I'll be able to practice at home. There is some doubt over when it will be available. Apparently they say it'll be ready in a few weeks, and have been saying so for some time...
I'll keep you posted.
Wombat140

Sun Aug 9 2009 20:38:03 #
warriormom
Member

Wombat

Glad to hear you are trying some Neurofeedback. It's true that traditional Neurofeedback may take longer than LENS Neurofeedback, but I hope you don't give up. I was, however, confused as to the comment referring to EEG Neurofeedback and LENS Neurofeedback as "problems with OCD with those?" LENS NEurofeedback is commonly used for Anxiety Disorders including OCD! Perhaps you are referring to possible temporary side effects of slightly increased symptoms with LENS?? My son had increased sensitivity to loud noises and crowds for the rest of the evening after treatments sometimes. Only one time did he notice a slight increase of OCD for less than 24 hours after a session. But by the next day, his condition was better than before the treatment. My son would always tell me how his symptoms were. Over time and multiple sessions, OCD behaviors continued to decrease with the LENS Neurofeedback.

I wish you the very best luck, Wombat. Don't give up on Neurofeedback, whether traditional OR LENS! If one doesn't work after many good sessions, than try the other one! God Bless.

warriormom

Mon Aug 10 2009 5:05:56 #
Wombat140
Member

I meant that my OCD objects to the other kinds. Talk about Catch-22! I've explained before what is the exact problem with LENS (in the other thread I think). With the standard EEG type it's the conductive gel that is the problem, I could never manage that in the current state of my OCD. With the HEG type you just wear a headband so it is much easier. None of this would be a problem to somebody whose OCD was on different subjects.
Sorry if I baffled you! Thanks very much for reading my post.
I wish you and your son all the best.
Wombat140

Tue Aug 11 2009 18:53:44 #
Wombat140
Member

Update, not before time. Completely forgot about this thread.
The HEG equipment finally arrived at the beginning of February. It acted just as it should for about a month; that is, when I did what you're supposed to do, the graph went up. Then it started messing around - with the graph wobbling all over the place in just the same way whatever I did. I stuck at it for a while, but eventually sent it back to York, where apparently it worked perfectly. So he sent it back, and I've been doing my best with it ever since. Can't say I've noticed any results, but then it hasn't ever been working for that long at a time - apparently it can take more than a month before you see any effect.

A while ago, I started having a really serious go at mindfulness meditation, which is supposed to be vaguely similar to what you do with the HEG. That DOES work, as far as it goes. I haven't time to go into details now, but it's been quite distinctly useful. The book I do it from goes by the unlikely name of Full Catastrophe Living, by Jon Kabat-Zinn (also an unlikely name, but I think he's American). It's very good and comprehensive, as it should be, the size it is.

Fri May 28 2010 19:51:45 #