How Brain Mapping Helps Target Anxiety & Depression

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health conditions in America. Nearly 40% of American adults report having symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. 

Anxiety and depression can infiltrate nearly every area of your life from your work to your relationships to your sleep, so knowing where (or how) to get started isn’t always easy.

That’s where brain wave mapping comes into the picture. Brain wave mapping can help target anxiety and depression — and it’s available here at Body & Mind Consulting in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 

Here’s what you need to know about brain wave mapping, courtesy of Lisa Webb, MBA, MPH, PhD, and Ken Robins, MS, PhD.

What is brain wave mapping?

Brain wave mapping involves using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) to measure the electrical activity in your brain. It highlights areas of your brain that are active — and parts of your brain that aren’t quite as active.

During a brain wave mapping session, your provider places electrodes on your scalp. The electrodes then record your brain wave patterns as you perform certain tasks. The procedure doesn’t hurt, and it doesn’t require any special preparation steps on your end.

These patterns are then compared to a database of typical brain activity, which helps our team pinpoint areas that may be associated with specific mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

How brain wave mapping helps with anxiety and depression

Anxiety and depression affect your brain in several ways. These two conditions can cause structural changes in your brain, such as:

• Shrinkage of your hippocampus, which affects memory and learning
• Increased size and activity in the amygdala, which heightens your brain's stress and fear responses
• Reduced connectivity in the prefrontal cortex

Brain wave mapping can detect these structural changes. As a result of being able to map out these changes, brain wave mapping can help with anxiety and depression in a few ways.

It helps identify abnormal brain activity 

Anxiety and depression often correlate with specific patterns of brain wave activity. For instance, individuals with depression may show abnormal activity in the frontal lobes, which are associated with mood regulation. 

Those with anxiety might exhibit heightened activity in areas related to fear and stress responses.

Brain wave mapping allows your Body & Mind Consulting provider to identify these abnormalities and pinpoint what’s at the heart of your symptoms.

Your maps can help shape your treatment plan

Dr. Webb and Dr. Robins use the details from your brain wave mapping — in addition to a physical exam and a review of your personal health history — to create personalized treatment plans.

By targeting the specific areas of the brain that show irregular activity, treatments can be more effective and efficient. 

As functional medicine specialists, Dr. Webb and Dr. Robins may suggest  a combination of therapies, including lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), neurofeedback with Sonal Braincare, wellness programs, and medication to help address the root cause of your symptoms.

It provides objective data

Unlike traditional diagnostic methods, which rely heavily on patient self-reporting and clinical observation, brain wave mapping provides objective data. This data can validate your experiences and guide more precise treatment strategies.

The benefits of brain wave mapping don’t end once your treatment plan is formulated. Brain wave mapping isn’t just useful for initial diagnosis; it also helps monitor progress throughout treatment.

Regular qEEG assessments can show how your brain activity changes over time, which allows our team to adjust treatment plans as needed.

Get help for anxiety and depression

If you’re struggling with anxiety and/or depression, you don’t have to try to manage it on your own. Anxiety and depression are just one piece of the puzzle. 

Your mental health affects your physical health and vice versa, which is why our team approaches anxiety and depression management from a holistic point of view to address your entire person. 

Questions? Call our office or book an appointment online today to get started with your brain wave mapping.