
Managing Moods After Trauma
Trauma, whether it is a head injury or a traumatic experience, can have a significant impact on our emotional and
Introduction to Brainwaves
If you take a high-level look at the activity in your brain, you’ll find oscillations (or brain waves) bouncing back and forth between large groups of neurons.
These oscillations are how your brain talks to itself, organising regions of the brain responsible for thinking, sensing, and acting.
Brain waves are scaled from the lowest-level waves, 0.5 cycles per second, known as delta, all the way up to waves of 100 cycles per second, known as gamma. Each brain wave frequency relates to our mental energy level – calm, sleepy, dreamy, relaxed, stressed, anxious, panicked, attentive, focused, unfocused, and depressed.
Slow frequency brain waves = sleepy, relaxed and not focused
High frequency brain waves = more focused attention and problem-solving
Brainwave speed is measured in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz). 1 second equals 1 Hertz frequency. Brainwaves are divided into bands of slow, moderate, and fast waves.
Delta brainwaves are slower, louder brainwaves. They are associated with the deepest meditation and dreamless sleep. Delta waves reduce external awareness and are associated with increased empathy and physical healing. People who undertake delta wave entrainment sessions generally report feeling very relaxed and often question whether they were sleeping for part of the session.
Theta brainwaves are most active in sleep and meditative states. Theta waves are thought to be involved in memory, learning, and intuition. In theta, our senses are focused on the intrapersonal part of our experience, withdrawing us from the external world. Whilst driving, have you ever gone into a slightly altered state and found some great idea or insight came to you? You were probably in a theta state. People who perform theta brainwave entrainment sessions report these benefits and insights without driving for hours to achieve them.
The alpha state of mind is wide awake but relaxed. Alpha brainwaves are prevalent during quietly flowing thoughts and in some meditative states. Alpha states are associated with mindfulness and being in the present. Alpha is the resting state for the awake brain: Alpha brainwave sessions aid mental coordination, calmness, alertness, mind/body integration and learning.
Beta is a high-frequency brain activity present in alert brains, engaged in problem-solving, decision-making, focused mental activity and judgement. Beta brainwaves dominate the normal state of consciousness in those who live in busy urban environments; when focus is directed towards cognitive tasks and the outside world. Continual high-frequency processing is not efficient or healthy for the brain or body. Yet it tends to be our societal default brain state.
Gamma brainwaves are the most subtle but fastest of the brainwave frequencies. The mind has to be quiet to access gamma, which was, at one point, dismissed as ‘spare brain noise’. Research revealed that it was highly prevalent in states of calm focus, universal love, altruism, and compassion. Strong synchronisation of gamma waves is highest in veteran meditators like Buddhist monks and lowest in those suffering from conditions like schizophrenia.
Delta brainwaves are slower, louder brainwaves. They are associated with the deepest meditation and dreamless sleep. Delta waves reduce external awareness and are associated with increased empathy and physical healing. People who undertake delta wave entrainment sessions generally report feeling very relaxed and often question whether they were sleeping for part of the session.
Theta brainwaves are most active in sleep and meditative states. Theta waves are thought to be involved in memory, learning, and intuition. In theta, our senses are focused on the intrapersonal part of our experience, withdrawing us from the external world. Whilst driving, have you ever gone into a slightly altered state and found some great idea or insight came to you? You were probably in a theta state. People who perform theta brainwave entrainment sessions report these benefits and insights without driving for hours to achieve them.
The alpha state of mind is wide awake but relaxed. Alpha brainwaves are prevalent during quietly flowing thoughts and in some meditative states. Alpha states are associated with mindfulness and being in the present. Alpha is the resting state for the awake brain: Alpha brainwave sessions aid mental coordination, calmness, alertness, mind/body integration and learning.
Beta is a high-frequency brain activity present in alert brains, engaged in problem-solving, decision-making, focused mental activity and judgement. Beta brainwaves dominate the normal state of consciousness in those who live in busy urban environments; when focus is directed towards cognitive tasks and the outside world. Continual high-frequency processing is not efficient or healthy for the brain or body. Yet it tends to be our societal default brain state.
Gamma brainwaves are the most subtle but fastest of the brainwave frequencies. The mind has to be quiet to access gamma, which was, at one point, dismissed as ‘spare brain noise’. Research revealed that it was highly prevalent in states of calm focus, universal love, altruism, and compassion. Strong synchronisation of gamma waves is highest in veteran meditators like Buddhist monks and lowest in those suffering from conditions like schizophrenia.
SMR is the brain idling state – like a car sitting with its engine on but not in gear. If your brain is functioning well, it will sit idling comfortably, ready to be put in gear and the accelerator pushed. Just like a well-serviced car.
SMR frequency range is associated with an alert, attentive state coupled with calm or silent motor activities (body movements).
The default mode network (sometimes called the default network) is a set of brain areas that exhibit strong low-frequency waves seen when the brain is resting. DMN is thought to be activated when you focus inwardly, self-reflecting, retrieving memories, or imagining the future.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/default-mode-network
You have light receptive cells in your brain’s parietal lobe, septum, pineal organs and hypothalamus. Light-based Brainwave Entrainment sessions are thought to primarily affect these brain areas. It is also believed that parts of the brain (particularly those that modulate fight or flight and pain) become ‘quieter’ during sessions. Each session is designed to target a specific or several specific brainwave frequencies.
Trauma, whether it is a head injury or a traumatic experience, can have a significant impact on our emotional and
Behaviour Activation And Depression Behavioural activation is a type of therapy that helps people overcome depression by encouraging them to
Increasing Happiness – recommended reads. The following list of recommended reads offers different perspectives and techniques for increasing happiness, such
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Monday to Wednesday
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Friday:
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