Understanding Trauma

​

Trauma affects more than just thoughts—it alters how the brain functions. After a traumatic experience, the brain may remain in a state of hypervigilance, leading to ongoing anxiety, stress, and sleep disruption. PTSD can develop from events such as accidents, natural disasters, military service, serious injuries, or domestic violence. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, heightened startle response, or avoidance behaviors. These effects can last for months or even years.

​

The Growing Impact of PTSD

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, PTSD symptoms have significantly increased. Current research reports a prevalence of 22.6%, up from pre-pandemic levels of 6.1% to 9.2%. Healthcare workers, adolescents, and those impacted by infection or job loss are among the most affected.

 

Studies show promising outcomes:

• Over 60% of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD after neurofeedback training

• Only 20% reported symptom return after 2.5 years

 

How Neurofeedback Can Help

 

Neurofeedback helps calm the nervous system and retrain the brain’s response to triggers. By guiding the brain toward more stable patterns, individuals may experience better sleep, reduced hypervigilance, and greater emotional balance. The most commonly reported side effect is a brief feeling of tiredness following a session.

​

Neurofeedback for Veterans with PTSD

 

One in five veterans experiences symptoms related to PTSD. These may include:

• Intrusive memories or nightmares

• Avoidance of reminders of trauma

• Difficulty concentrating or remembering

• Feeling detached, angry, or emotionally numb

 

Hyperarousal symptoms—such as irritability, poor sleep, or exaggerated startle response—are also common. These experiences can lead to depression, chronic pain, relationship strain, and difficulty maintaining employment.

 

Neurofeedback offers a safe, non-invasive way to help veterans regain control. Veterans who have used this approach report:

• Better sleep

• Fewer flashbacks

• Decreased anger

• Improved focus and emotional regulation

 

This method helps retrain how the brain responds to stress, supporting healing without medication. Like other users, most veterans report only a brief period of fatigue after sessions.

​​

Want to know if this approach is right for you or a loved one?

​

​