What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a learning tool that helps us observe the body’s physiological responses to everyday events. Once we are aware of these stress reactions, we can learn to change our body’s response through biofeedback training, which often results in greater relaxation, focus, and healthier coping strategies. At the SCS Biofeedback Center, you can see, hear, and become more aware of your body’s stress response and learn to turn on the relaxation response.
What Benefits are Associated with Biofeedback?
The major benefit of biofeedback training is that, with practice, you may become more aware of your body’s stress response and develop new ways to recover from your body’s stress response. With these new skills, you may be able to:
- Reduce chronic stress and anxiety
- Develop better coping responses
- Increase emotional regulation
- Decrease self-consciousness
- Quiet the mind
- Improve general well-being
How Do I Get Started & Use the Biofeedback Center?
The SCS Biofeedback program is open to all ISU students currently enrolled in classes. To start your biofeedback experience, walk into SCS during business hours and complete a video-based biofeedback orientation. After completing the orientation you can come back to SCS any time during business hours to continue using biofeedback services. Most students come in once a week for one hour or twice a week for thirty minutes. Students report noticeable changes in themselves after one session, and experience long-lasting change in 6-8 sessions.
When Will I See Results?
Many people report feeling calmness while doing biofeedback even early in the training process. However, just with any other skill development, with practice you will become more effective and better able to use the skills throughout your day. We encourage you to utilize the Biofeedback Center as often as you’d like, ideally 1-2 times per week for 30-60 minutes each time. Additionally, we encourage you practice at home by remembering techniques from the Biofeedback Programs, using our Mind-Body Spa exercises, choosing an app to download and use, or simply following your breath. After several weeks, many people report noticeable improvements.