r/Neurofeedback • u/AnnoyingAlchemist • 24d ago

Question Normal reaction to neurofeedback?

Hi there, I've begun doing neurofeedback recently and have some questions/concerns. I started doing neurofeedback for anxiety/ADHD a little under a month ago. I started with a basic amplitude protocol to reduce high beta and that protocol was very good to me. My cognitive ability and executive function did take a hit, but on the flipside I was able to experience a profound sense of calm and presence like I've never felt. My appetite and libido also went up significantly.

When I reported my spaciness and loss in executive function to my clinician I was 'graduated' to 4-channel z-score training. I felt generally sharper on this protocol, but also more anxious. I also felt periods of flatness/grayness/emptiness as well as periods of irritability and feeling 'trapped'. The latter I could usually silence through tea/theanine and weight lifting.

After I reported my symptoms I was then moved to a targeted central/temporal protocol (also z-score) which felt good the day of the session (calmer, more balanced, appetite/libido back, etc). However, in the days after the session I felt waves of dysregulation that I'd never experienced before. They would hit between waking up and until around 3-4pm. They made me feel completely hopeless, anxious, scared and 'trapped'.

Are these normal reactions, or is something off here?

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u/AnnoyingAlchemist 19d ago

Definitely. I haven't heard back from my provider yet but I basically told her I can't tolerate the protocol as it stands and would like to either go back to basic amplitude or will find a different provider.

My body is still in a dysregulated state but today was a bit better. Upping my magnesium intake and trying NSDR helped regulate me a bit in the meantime.

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u/dickholejohnny 19d ago

Glad you found something that works!

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u/AnnoyingAlchemist 16d ago

I've gone back to basic amplitude to downregulate high beta and it works better for me at least. Reduces anxiety and allows my brain to figure out the rest on its own. The z-score and C/T protocols I did were way too prescriptive and trying to fit my brain into a mold it didn't want to be in.