Why We Repeat Behaviours We Want to Change

What If Better Sleep Starts Before We Go to Bed?

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:23:21 GMT

What If Better Sleep Starts Before We Go to Bed?

Have you ever gone to bed exhausted, only to find that your brain has other plans?

You want to sleep, but your mind keeps going. Or you fall asleep easily, only to wake during the night and struggle to get back to sleep.

It's frustrating, especially when you're already trying to do everything right.

But what if better sleep starts long before your head hits the pillow?

Your brain responds to your day

Our brains and bodies respond to signals throughout the day. Light, daily routines, activity and stress can all influence how alert we feel and when we begin to feel sleepy.

One important signal is light. Natural daylight helps regulate our internal clock, while darkness in the evening helps prepare our bodies for rest.

Yet modern life often gives us the opposite pattern: we spend much of the day indoors, then expose ourselves to bright lights, screens and constant stimulation well into the evening.

Add the pressures of daily life, and it's easy to see why switching off at bedtime isn't always easy.

Instead of simply trying harder to sleep, it may help to look at what happens throughout the day.

A few simple things to try

Get natural daylight. Spend some time outdoors during the day, particularly in the morning, to help support your body's internal clock.

Dim the lights in the evening. Reduce bright light and give your mind a break from stimulating activities as bedtime approaches.

Keep a regular rhythm. Going to bed and getting up at reasonably consistent times helps support your sleep-wake cycle.

Create time to unwind. Give yourself a transition between a busy day and bedtime instead of expecting your brain to switch off instantly.

These changes can help support healthier sleep habits, although they won't resolve every sleep difficulty. If poor sleep persists, it's worth exploring what else might be contributing to it.

What if your brain has learned a pattern?

Our brains continually respond to our experiences and surroundings. Over time, habits and patterns develop, often without much conscious thought.

When we're under prolonged stress, it can sometimes feel difficult to leave the day's concerns behind, even when we're exhausted. Poor sleep can then make the next day's challenges feel harder to manage.

This doesn't mean every sleep problem is caused by stress or learned habits. Sleep is influenced by many factors, including our health, environment and individual biology.

But understanding the bigger picture can help us consider changes beyond bedtime alone.

Where does Brainwave Optimization fit in?

At Brain Awakening, I'm interested in how the brain responds to our experiences and how brain-based approaches may support overall well-being.

Brainwave Optimization is a form of EEG-based neurofeedback that uses information about brainwave activity as part of an individualized process, providing auditory feedback linked to that activity.

Researchers have investigated a related approach known as HIRREM in a controlled clinical trial involving adults with insomnia.

The findings are encouraging, although more research is needed to understand the benefits and limitations fully. Individual experiences vary, and results cannot be guaranteed.

A final thought

We can't control everything that affects our sleep. But we can pay attention to the signals we're giving our brains and bodies throughout the day.

Sometimes, better sleep begins not with trying harder at bedtime, but with understanding what happens before we get there.

For readers who want to learn more

1. Light and your body's internal clock

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains how light and darkness influence circadian rhythms, sleep and alertness.

2. Research examining HIRREM and insomnia

A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in 2020 studied 107 adults with insomnia. Participants received ten sessions of either HIRREM, which provided tones linked to their brainwave activity, or a comparison intervention using tones not linked to their brainwaves.

The researchers reported a greater reduction in insomnia severity in the brainwave-linked group at the primary follow-up. This is a useful finding, but a single trial does not establish that everyone will experience the same results.

Tegeler, C. L., et al. (2020). High-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM) improves symptoms and autonomic function for insomnia: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Brain and Behavior, 10(11), e01826.

Read the full study

3. What does broader neurofeedback research say?

A 2024 systematic review examined seven randomized clinical trials of surface neurofeedback approaches. It found no additional benefits over comparison conditions for self-reported sleep quality or insomnia severity.

The studies largely examined protocols different from HIRREM, so the results should not be taken as a direct test of Brainwave Optimization. They do, however, highlight the need for further research.

Recio-Rodriguez, J. I., et al. (2024). Neurofeedback to enhance sleep quality and insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18, 1450163.

Read the full review

This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Why We Repeat Behaviours We Want to Change | Brain Awakening

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 16:25:43 GMT

Why We Repeat Behaviours We Want to Change

Understanding addiction, habits, triggers and the brain

Have you ever found yourself thinking:

“I know I want to change this. I know it’s not good for me. So why do I keep doing it?”

It’s a question I hear when talking with people who are struggling with addictive or repetitive behaviours.

There can be a frustrating gap between knowing what we want to change and actually being able to change the behaviour.

It’s easy to think the answer is simply more willpower .

But what if willpower isn’t the whole story?

Willpower Isn’t Always Enough

When we want to change a behaviour, we often assume the answer is to try harder.

And sometimes we can. We make a decision, set a goal and use our willpower to resist the behaviour.

But if the same behaviour keeps returning despite a genuine desire to change, it may be worth looking at what is underneath the willpower.

What triggers the response?

What does the behaviour provide in that moment?

Is it relief from stress? A way of escaping difficult emotions? Comfort? Stimulation when we feel bored or restless? Something familiar?

And what has the brain learned to associate with that behaviour over time?

Willpower can help us make a different choice in the moment, but it doesn’t necessarily change the patterns that created the urge in the first place.

Understanding those patterns can be an important part of understanding the behaviour.

Your Brain Learns From Experience

Our brains are constantly learning from what happens to us.

Sometimes a response develops because, at the time, it helped us cope with something difficult. It may have helped us manage stress, avoid something uncomfortable, find relief, feel safe or simply get through a challenging period.

The brain learns from these experiences so it can recognize similar situations in the future and respond quickly.

The challenge is that our circumstances can change while a learned response remains.

Something that made sense years ago may no longer be helpful today.

Yet a familiar emotion, situation or environment can still activate an old pattern.

It’s almost as though the brain is saying:

“I’ve seen this before. I know what to do.”

The problem is that what worked then may not be what we need now.

How Triggers Become Connected to Behaviour

A trigger doesn’t have to be dramatic.

It might be:

a particular place
a time of day
an emotion
a stressful situation
a person
a thought
or a familiar routine

Over time, the brain can connect that trigger with a particular response.

The pattern might look something like:

Trigger → urge → behaviour → relief or reward

When that sequence is repeated, it can become increasingly familiar.

This can help explain why someone might say:

“I wasn’t even thinking about it. It just happened.”

The response may have become so familiar that it happens very quickly—sometimes before there has been much opportunity for conscious thought.

That doesn’t mean a person has no choice or control.

It means the starting point of the response may happen very quickly, before the conscious mind has fully stepped in.

So What Can We Do With That?

Instead of only asking:

“Why can’t I just stop?”

we can start asking different questions:

What was the trigger?

What was I feeling?

What was I thinking?

What did I need in that moment?

What did my brain expect would happen next?

Becoming aware of these patterns can create an opportunity to respond differently.

Understanding what is happening doesn’t excuse the behaviour, and it doesn’t mean we have no responsibility for our choices.

It simply recognizes that there may be more happening underneath the behaviour than a lack of willpower.

The brain learned the pattern through experience—and brains are capable of learning and adapting through new experiences as well.

That’s why looking at the underlying pattern can be such an important place to begin.

Where Does Neurofeedback Fit?

Neurofeedback is one approach that focuses on brain activity and regulation.

Research into EEG neurofeedback for addiction is developing, with recent reviews reporting promising findings while also noting differences between studies and the need for more research.

At Brain Awakening, neurofeedback is not presented as a cure for addiction or as a replacement for addiction treatment or professional care.

Rather, it may be considered as one part of a broader approach to supporting brain regulation and overall wellbeing.

Maybe the Question Isn’t About Willpower

If you’ve been struggling with a behaviour you genuinely want to change, perhaps the question isn’t simply:

“Why can’t I stop?”

Maybe a better place to start is:

“What has my brain learned, and what might be happening underneath the behaviour?”

Sometimes understanding the pattern is the beginning of being able to change it.

Research & Further Reading

If you’re interested in the science behind these ideas, here are a few resources worth exploring.

Addiction as Learned Behavior Patterns

This review looks at how learned associations, environmental cues and the shift between goal-directed and habitual behaviour can contribute to addictive behaviours.

Defining the Place of Habit in Substance Use Disorders

This review explores the relationship between habits, cues, goal-directed behaviour and addiction, including why addictive behaviours can become difficult to break.

A Systematic Review on Neurofeedback and Addiction

A 2025 systematic review examined research involving EEG and other forms of neurofeedback for substance use and behavioural addictions. The authors found promising results, particularly around craving, while also noting substantial differences between studies.

EEG Neurofeedback for Addiction: A 2026 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A more recent review analyzed 17 randomized controlled trials involving 662 participants. The researchers reported an overall reduction in addiction symptoms, while also emphasizing differences between studies and the need for further research and optimization of neurofeedback approaches.

These are the sources I’d use:

Neurofeedback helps with Concussions

info@brainawakening.ca (Glenna Reid) — Thu, 10 May 2018 02:47:30 GMT

Looking for help with your Concussion

What are Concussions? Concussions are a traumatic injury to the brain caused by a sharp blow, shaking to the head or sudden stop following an event. This action can alter the brain’s normal functioning. Ordinarily the brain floats inside the skull in a protective pool of spinal fluid, but certain actions like a hard tackle […]

What are Concussions?

Concussions are a traumatic injury to the brain caused by a sharp blow, shaking to the head or sudden stop following an event. This action can alter the brain’s normal functioning. Ordinarily the brain floats inside the skull in a protective pool of spinal fluid, but certain actions like a hard tackle or a car accident can literally slam the entire brain against the skull’s interior walls. The resulting damage can be mild to severe, depending on the intensity of the blow and the brain’s ability to realign itself afterwards. Many people recover from a mild concussion within hours, but others may exhibit symptoms for weeks and even years after the event.

Because of the fact that concussions or traumatic brain injury (TBI) signs can be subtle, some people do not realize they have had a concussion or TBI. The most common concussion symptoms are headaches, amnesia and confusion. Additionally, people may experience dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech and fatigue. Concussion symptoms with a delayed onset can include concentration problems, personality changes, light sensitivity, sleep disturbances and depression.

Most of my clients who have had a concussion feel frustrated and have a hard time finding a answer because for the most part Doctors don’t really have any answers. Most of my clients have been offered some sort of medication for the headaches, sleep or for depression. They know that is not really the answer however they don’t know what else to do, until they find Brain Awakening. Brain Awakening offers a natural, medication free solution in supporting the brain during the recovery process after a concussion called Neurofeedback. The results that my clients report are amazing. It is very exciting!!!

If you are suffering from the signs and symptoms for a concussion, neurofeedback may be the answer.

Unravelling the mysteries of ADD / ADHD Calgary

info@brainawakening.ca (Glenna Reid) — Tue, 01 May 2018 02:53:00 GMT

Looking for a Solution for ADD or ADHD

The symptoms were subtle, but still, something was happening that 'Joe' and his wife couldn't quite put their finger on. The symptoms were subtle, but still, something was happening that 'Joe' and his wife couldn't quite put their finger on.

Their eight-year-old son was struggling in school, having difficulty staying focused and displaying impulsive and sometimes dangerous behaviors.

After stressful observation and a little research, they suspected their child had Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

"We sought out educational testing outside the school system, "Joe says. "The tests came back diagnosing him as borderline ADD with added hyperactivity."

Does this sound like something that you are dealing with? The story about Joe and his wife is made up and I hear this story over and over in my Brain Awakening office.

Many people are looking for interventions that would exclude drug treatment. The big question on the minds of many parents is “How can I help my child without medication?” That is how parents find me and Brainwave Optimization.

I have worked with many children struggle in school and at home and Brainwave Optimization has made a profound difference.

Brainwave Optimization is very complementary to other healthy interventions for your child. I highly recommend that parents continue to educated themselves about food additives, sensitivities and allergies, began seeing how your child responds to dietary changes.

There are three defined types: AD/HD (busy body hyperactive), Busy Brain (inattentive) and Busy Body and Brain (combined type).

Behaviour problems can be mild to moderately severe, including indifference to requests or work, emotional defiance, difficulty in speech advancement, listening, sleeping, and tackling specific subjects such as math and reading. More than 20 per cent of teenagers and adults with the condition struggle with getting to school or work on time, have more traffic accidents, and are more likely to commit a crime. Most ADD students tend to be highly artistic, creative, and expressive and thrive in professions that make the most of these talents.

We don’t quite knows why ADD occurs or how a child acquires it. Fetal and genetic development, allergies, food, environment, personality and mental health, are potential influences, but are unconfirmed. But what we do see when a client is in my office and I complete an evaluation I see dominant low frequency brainwave activity, it begins to make sense why these types of symptoms could be manifesting. When these brainwaves come into balance my clients notice an improvement in attention and focus.

For more information on treating ADD and ADHD please book a complimentary consult with Glenna Reid at Brain Awakening.

Helping your child with ADD Succeed in School - Calgary

info@brainawakening.ca (Glenna Reid) — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 23:40:49 GMT

Is your child struggling with ADD or ADHD - Calgary

The latest ADHD / ADD research from prestigious universities and journals throughout the world agree that ADD and ADHD is one of the most common childhood conditions that involve behavioral symptoms such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Although the condition may begin during childhood, it can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Signs and symptoms of ADD / ADHD include a short attention span or being easily distracted; restlessness, constant fidgeting or over activity and being impulsive.

At Brain Awakening Calgary we have worked with many clients who display these symptoms. When we complete an evaluation we see that the large majority of people (both children and adults) have one thing in common, their low frequency at the frontal lobes are very active. This out of balance can lead to worry, fear, anxiety and racing mind. With even a minimal amount of understanding of how the brain works, and how one subjectively experiences dominant low frequency brainwave activity, it begins to make sense why these types of symptoms could be manifesting.

Now who is to say whether or not this is a “problem”. I don’t think we really know enough about how the brain works and what is normal or not normal. One thing that I do know is when I work with clients who have been diagnosed with ADD or clients who struggle with attention and focus, I work on relaxing these active brainwaves. When these brainwaves come into balance my clients notice an improvement in attention and focus. Many clients report that their performance in school improves and parents report that their children appear to be much more calm and relaxed.

Below is a before and after report of one of my clients. The report shows the Low Frequencies at the start and again half way through the sessions. The client reported feeling calmer, focused better in school and a huge bonus was he was able to connect with the kids at the park better.

What To Do After a Concussion - Neurofeedback May be a Fit for You

info@brainawakening.ca (Glenna Reid) — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 19:04:33 GMT

Can Neurofeedback assist in concussion recovery?

A concussion is a mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) caused by a bump, jolt, or blow to the head. Imagine if you dropped a grand piano, even the smallest bounce can cause damage and if you don't give it a “tune up” it will never sound the same. This is the same with the brain. A concussion can occurs when a sudden force or impact causes the brain to bounce around or twist inside the skull. This leads to stretching and damaging of brain cells and chemical changes in the brain. Concussions can cause an array of symptoms. The effects of a concussion can be serious and last for days, weeks, or even longer.

Both physical and emotional trauma can cause an imbalance in the brain wave activity, negatively affecting our well-being. NHL All Star Defenseman, Kurt Sauer, knows how a physical head injury can alter life.

He spent nearly two years looking for help after a whiplash concussion which forced him to give up professional hockey. Lack of energy, poor sleep, and headaches made it difficult for him to even play with his kids. Kurt eventually learned about this technology and decided to give it a try. After some sessions, he had a big improvement with his headaches, sleep, and fatigue. “In the first week, in the first few sessions, I remember playing football with my kids. I must have been feeling good that day because all of a sudden I took on the whole group. I was actually running for the first time, running without pain. My eight year old said, I never knew you were that fast dad. He has never seen me run. That was the first time in two years, so that was great.” – Kurt Sauer

Study On Why Sleep Matters

info@brainawakening.ca (Glenna Reid) — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 00:19:22 GMT

Have you wondered why sleep is so important?

New research shows that getting a good night sleep could literally clear the mind. It's a small Canadian study of just 26 people but the link was intriguing . The study used MRI technology that showed people who slept poorly had more of this black spaces filled with fluid in their brain. People who slept well had no spaces or fluid build up. The theory during the day our brain cells produce waste, during sleep the fluid in our brain flushes the waste out. When we good to sleep at night the brain opens up and the fluid is able to rush through the brain, clearing the brain, similar to how a toilet works to flush out waste. Some doctors think that poor sleep may be at the root of some brain illnesses such as Alzheimer and Parkinson's. It is research that is putting even more emphases on our need for a good quality sleep. That means 7 - 8 hours of uninterrupted shut eye and sleep issued treated quickly. Doctors say it is critical to letting our brains cleanse as we slumber away. CTV News Toronto.

Can I Treat My Anxiety Naturally - Calgary

info@brainawakening.ca (Glenna Reid) — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 02:54:28 GMT

Neurofeedback Can Help With Anxiety Naturally

We have become a society that relies a great deal on prescription medications. For instance, we use antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to change our mood. Although we rely on them heavily, some of these medications don’t really work. Even when they do seem to help, they often lose their effectiveness over the course of treatment.

Most of these medications are made to increase the chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Even when they work, it’s an artificial way to changing the brain, generating activity that’s not present in a normal brain. Though it may relieve the symptoms, most of my clients still do not feel like themselves and they still feel a strong sense of anxiety. The cause of these symptoms , which is often an imbalance in the brain, is untouched by the medication. In fact, the medications may trigger an even greater imbalance.

People tend to think of anxiety as a single syndrome, but it isn’t. To say that someone has “anxiety” is more about how the person feels as measurement of happiness then it is a diagnosis. When the brain patterns of individuals struggling with anxiety are examined, it becomes clear that there isn’t just one pattern associated with anxiety. In fact, at least sixteen dominant patterns have been detected.

No medication can possibly deal with all these behaviors, nor are they designed to do this.

Neurofeedback is a natural way of supporting people who struggle with anxiety. And it is much more precise, and becoming increasingly so. We look at a person’s emotional state from the vantage of seeing where the imbalances are in the brain and determining which balances or imbalances may be connected to the state of happiness. We see the reasons for the happiness or unhappiness in the brain activity and then target the specific areas that need attention.

Neurofeedback is an effect and natural way of assisting the brain to see itself and bring itself into balance. Once the brain finds balance many symptoms of anxiety fade away.

Looking for help with anxiety - Calgary

info@brainawakening.ca (Glenna Reid) — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 14:35:58 GMT

We’re facing an anxiety epidemic. If we don’t make big changes, it will get worse.

Anxiety has been around since we've been around – passed on through genetics and affected by our environment and ability to cope. It's a normal part of the human experience, felt by all of us at different times, such as during a job interview or before the birth of a child.

What isn't normal is the dramatic spike in people suffering from chronic anxiety. The numbers are staggering – 41 per cent of Canadians are at high risk for mental-health issues, according to a recent poll. Thirty-six per cent felt so stressed it affected their daily lives.

Looking for help with anxiety is the number one reason clients come to my office. It's clear our environment is a leading driver of this epidemic. In all aspects of our lives, stressors have crept in, making it harder to decompress and find balance.

At work, intense competition and disruptive innovation are forcing organizations to navigate complex terrain. And these pressures are increasingly felt by employees.

At home, there appears to be competition as well, often kids are in events a number nights a week, pressure to balance a home life with work is getting more difficult for many. Money is a really big stress for many these days. I see a lot of parents who are so busy that they have no time to just chill out. In fact it is my experience that “doing nothing” is challenging for people.

What's more worrisome is the next generation. Anxiety is the most common mental-health diagnosis among students today. Dubbed "the most anxious generation," they'll be entering the work force and starting families when pressures are higher than ever before.

Now is the time to makes a change. At Brain Awakening Calgary we utilize a modality called Brainwave Optimization®, it relaxes your brain, which helps it regain balance. This helps your brain let go of stuck patterns that may be impacting your physical and emotional well-being.

My clients report being more relax, much better focus and clarity and they sleep better. All of these things will assist you in restoring balance in your life.

Why Sleep Matters – with Brainwave Optimization Calgary

Thu, 25 Aug 2016 20:08:00 GMT

There’s an old saying in neuroscience: neurons that fire together wire together. This means that the more you run a neuro-circuit in your brain, the stronger that circuit becomes. This is why, to quote another old saying, practice makes perfect. The more you practice piano or try to speak a new language, the stronger those […] The post Why Sleep Matters – with Brainwave Optimization appeared first on Brain Awakening.

There’s an old saying in neuroscience: neurons that fire together wire together. This means that the more you run a neuro-circuit in your brain, the stronger that circuit becomes. This is why, to quote another old saying, practice makes perfect. The more you practice piano or try to speak a new language, the stronger those circuits get.
The ability to learn is about more than just building and strengthening neural connections. Even more important is our ability to break down the old ones. It is called “synaptic pruning.”

Here’s how it works.

Imagine that your brain is a garden, except instead of growing flowers, fruits, and vegetables, you grow synaptic connections between neurons.

“Glial cells” are the gardeners of your brain—they act to speed up signals between certain neurons. But other glial cells are the waste removers, pulling up weeds, killing pests, raking up dead leaves. Your brain’s pruning gardeners are called “microglial cells.” They prune your synaptic connections.
Have you ever felt like your brain is full? Maybe you’ve felt this way when starting a new job, or when deep in a project.

When you learn lots of new things, your brain builds connections, but they are inefficient, ad hoc connections. Your brain needs to prune a lot of those connections away and build more streamlined, efficient pathways. Your brain does that when you sleep.

When you get into the deep restorative sleep, your brain turns into an office administrator. It sifts and sorts, deleting any clutter and filing important memories for future use.

When you wake up from a good night’s rest and are able to think clearly and quickly, it is because all the pruning and pathway-efficiency that took place overnight has left you with lots of room to take in and synthesize new information—in other words, to learn.

Thinking with a sleep-deprived brain is like hacking your way through a dense jungle with a machete. The jungle is overgrown, and the trek slow going and exhausting.

Even more important, you actually have some control over what your brain decides to delete while you sleep. It’s the synaptic connections you don’t use that get marked for recycling. The ones you do use are the ones that get watered and oxygenated. So be mindful of what you’re thinking about.

If you spend too much time reading theories about the end of Game of Thrones and very little on your job, guess which synapses are going to get marked for recycling?

If you’re in a fight with someone at work and devote your time to thinking about how to get even with them, and not about that big project, you’re going to wind up a synaptic superstar at revenge plots, but a poor innovator.
To take advantage of your brain’s natural gardening system, simply think about the things that are important to you. Before you go to sleep at night, make an effort to intentionally remind your brain of what is important to you.

In Calgary at Brain Awakening, over 90% of my clients report improvement in sleep after their Brainwave Optimization Sessions.

The post Why Sleep Matters – with Brainwave Optimization appeared first on Brain Awakening .

Treating Lyme Disease Naturally with Brainwave Optimization Calgary

Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:58:00 GMT

In this article, you will learn about supporting your Lyme disease treatment regimen with Brainwave Optimization®. Lyme disease became nationally notifiable in 2009, with surveillance data provided by every province and territory through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS). The statuses show that in 2012, 338 probable and confirmed cases were reported by 8 […] The post Treating Lyme Disease Naturally with Brainwave Optimization Calgary appeared first on Brain Awakening.

In this article, you will learn about supporting your Lyme disease treatment regimen with Brainwave Optimization®.

Lyme disease became nationally notifiable in 2009, with surveillance data provided by every province and territory through the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS). The statuses show that in 2012, 338 probable and confirmed cases were reported by 8 provinces.

Given that in the last 9 months, in my office alone, I have worked with 8 clients who are suffering from the effects of Lyme disease, I would suggest that the numbers provided by the NNDSS are low. No matter what the figures are, we do know that the number of affected individuals is growing, as well as that a person can get Lyme disease if he or she lives in Alberta.

What is Lyme Disease?

Caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme disease is traditionally viewed as primarily being a tick-borne illness. Typically, after a bite occurs and the tick is safely removed, only some swelling and minor itching remain. If the tick was carrying Lyme, however, other symptoms will begin to appear.

The most iconic indication of Lyme is the “bullseye” rash that spreads around the bite like a target. Some individuals never see a rash , though, so don’t let that be your only indication! Other initial symptoms of Lyme include flu like aches and pains.

If it is not treated right away, Lyme disease can progress into more chronic conditions like arthritis, sore muscles and joints, memory problems, headaches, numbness or weakness, and severe fatigue. Lyme disease is a rather serious concern, and tick bites should be first avoided, and then monitored closely if prevention fails.

How can Brainwave Optimization help with Lyme disease?

I have now worked with 8 clients suffering from the effects of Lyme disease. Although the symptoms and treatment plans of every client vary, they all have one thing in common. They want to get well again.

As a result of the debilitating effects of Lyme disease – including the stress of prolonged treatments and worry of never getting better – the nervous systems of my clients are in a fixed state of survival.

When a person experiences acute or prolonged stress, illness, or trauma, his or her Sympathetic Nervous System (excitatory, fight or flight mode) can lose its flexibility to bounce back to its normal relaxed state once the stressful event is gone.

When this happens, the Sympathetic Nervous System brain waves become dominant and are strongly out of proportion when compared to the Parasympathetic Nervous System waves (rest and digest mode). This condition would indicate that the person has now become “stuck” in the excitatory, fight or flight mode. Physical expression of this unhealthy state includes: tight and knotted muscles, digestion shutdown, crippling anxiety, and lack of a feeling of safety, which may cause the individual to react more irritably. One’s sense of well-being and how he or she views situations may be dramatically altered from normal, often causing the individual to become hypervigilant and potentially overreact to stimuli. As well, one’s immune system is on hyperdrive, causing what appears to be perpetual infection. His or her body begins to view foods, medicines, and natural supplements as dangerous. Additionally, allergies and worsening symptoms start to appear, reinforcing the person’s belief that there is “danger” in the room and nothing is safe.

The flip side: Your Parasympathetic Nervous System

Imagine the horror of continuing to remain in an acute stressful state. While some people may stay in the fight or flight mode, others may get so terrified that they just freeze or shutdown .

When a person experiences an acute stressor in life they may become paralyzed like a deer in the headlights. This can also occur at the end of a long battle on the sympathetic nervous system side of things, such as after the prolonged stress of what seems to be a losing battle with illness.

This “freeze” state may lead to a numb, depressed condition in response to life. Very predictably, all of the opposite symptoms from those described above with the “excite, fight or flight” response occur. The person’s heart rate and blood pressure drop, and their energy levels plummet. They seem morose and withdraw from society. When faced with challenges from work, life, sports, or other activities that they used to handle with skill, grace, and ease, these formerly achievable activities now cause them to shutdown. The person who is stuck in this Parasympathetic Nervous System dominance pattern may be prone to substance abuse, and may act out aggressively socially in an effort to get himself out of his stuck state of emotional numbness.

Of course, everyone is unique in how their system copes with being stuck in either Sympathetic or Parasympathetic mode.

Nothing in my experience can more effectively repair the ANS (autonomic nervous system) and calm the sympathetic nervous system than the combination of Brainwave Optimization and whatever healing practices you are already doing. Brainwave Optimization enables one’s brain to realize what needs to be done, allowing it to then self-correct the “stuck” condition.

Getting your body “unstuck” starts with Brainwave Optimization, followed by addressing the many issues and damage that existed before and during your stuck period. It is often the case that underneath your stuck condition, you are essentially well. The struggle can be over.

After years of struggling, my clients report that they have never felt better than after their Brainwave Optimization sessions.

Below is a before and after picture of a client’s brainwaves

Client A – Right Dominance – Fight/Flight

Client B – Left Dominance – Freeze/Immobility State

The post Treating Lyme Disease Naturally with Brainwave Optimization Calgary appeared first on Brain Awakening .

How Can I Overcome My Fear And Anxiety - Calgary

Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:00:00 GMT

Fear can be a predominant, motivating factor behind many of the choices that we make during our lives. Instead of having a clear idea of what we want and making decisions that will move us in that direction, which will most likely involve some risk and discomfort, we all too often make fear-based decisions that […] The post How Can I Overcome My Fear And Anxiety? appeared first on Brain Awakening.

Fear can be a predominant, motivating factor behind many of the choices that we make during our lives. Instead of having a clear idea of what we want and making decisions that will move us in that direction, which will most likely involve some risk and discomfort, we all too often make fear-based decisions that limit us and our happiness. While these choices allow us to avoid uncomfortable, anxious feelings, they do not usually end up providing any real opportunity for growth or forward movement toward our goals.

Remember, well-being is the ability to effectively & flexibly respond to the full range of situations that may arise in both natural and social environments, as well as one’s own signals. Rhythm patterns (including rhythms for arousal) shift flexibly when we are doing and performing well. Stress and trauma can affect our arousal system, and we may get “stuck” in one mode or the other. A stuck arousal system can compromise well-being and create a risk for adverse behaviors. Neurofeedback is a way to help the brain deeply relax and become “unstuck.”

Your Brain Is Wired To Be Fearful

Fear is produced when your amygdala, a primitive part of the brain’s limbic system involved in the processing and expression of emotion, kicks in, doing its job to ensure your survival. Your brain is constantly scanning the environment for signs of danger, ready to activate reflexes to keep you safe. Your body responds to anything your brain sees as a threat with an instant reaction of fight or flight. What I am seeing with my clients is that this automatic survival mechanisms is in a stuck state or always turned on. For many of us, our bodies react to common occurrences, such as a traffic jam, a work deadline, or an argument with a partner, as life-threatening events.

Stress is a normal bodily response which isn’t necessarily bad in itself. The problem arises when your brain sounds the alarm for every little thing that happens, and stress becomes an almost constant state of being. As a chronic condition, stress has serious negative, lasting consequences for your mind and body.

Your Brain Responds To Uncertainty With Fear

Studies show that even a small amount of uncertainty can cause increased activity in the amygdala. As the level of ambiguity and amygdala activity escalates, the part of the brain involved in response to rewards shows decreased functioning.

Your brain doesn’t merely prefer certainty over ambiguity. It craves it and will pursue the feeling of being right every time. When you feel right, your brain is happy – even if it’s just an illusion. How many of you can relate?!

Making Friends With Fear

Your brain’s innate desire for certainty in an increasingly uncertain world can allow anxiety to surpass depression, allowing it to become the most prevalent health issue. In order to calm our amygdala down and reduce fear, we have to transform our relationship with it from adversarial to accepting.

Becoming more mindful, getting comfortable with uncertainty, and even welcoming our feelings, encourages us to “get comfortable with, begin to relax with, lean into whatever the experience may be.” This is where Neurofeedback at Brain Awakening, Calgary comes into play. Getting comfortable with uncertainty is often easier said than done. When your brain is in a stuck pattern, it becomes your go to response. With Neurofeedback, we facilitate your brain to bring it back into balance. A balanced brain can now deal with life’s uncertainty much more effectively.

At Brain Awakening, Calgary, clients report overcoming fear and Anxiety. After sessions they feel a sense of peace and calm. They now feel empowered to live their best life.

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Can I Overcome Depression without medications?

Fri, 05 Aug 2016 19:51:00 GMT

Today I was working with a client and all of a sudden she had tears running down her cheeks and she was smiling. I asked her what was going on and she said “all of a sudden in the middle of my visualization I saw myself giving me a big hug. It felt so good […] The post Can I Overcome Depression without medications? appeared first on Brain Awakening.

Today I was working with a client and all of a sudden she had tears running down her cheeks and she was smiling. I asked her what was going on and she said “all of a sudden in the middle of my visualization I saw myself giving me a big hug. It felt so good to just be hugged.” Up until then it was really hard for her to love herself. She felt worthless, depressed and sad. She now tells me that she can’t even imagine how she felt only 5 days earlier. The sadness is completely gone.

It is our birthright to enjoy ourselves and find all of the pleasure in our lives. Pleasure loves company and delights in being discovered. I know I often forget about really enjoying my life. I get consumed by work and by all that I need to do, and I forget to have fun! We only have one life, and a finite amount of moments! Take the time to love yourself. Find even a few minutes each day to really take pleasure in yourself and the people around you. Pleasure can be so elusive that we often miss it. Take a moment to notice that you are surrounded by pleasure. Make a mental note of it and embrace the moment.

However, if you are a person who struggles with severe or prolonged stress (trauma), your brain will begin to view every situation as a stressful, negative experience. The lack of flexibility in the brain/body starts a snowball effect; the more stress the brain & body accumulate, the stronger the stress reaction, and stronger stress reactions cause more stress to accumulate. Sooner or later, this person will be “stuck” in a stress response even when there are fewer stressors in their life!

The brain and body only have a finite amount of resources. Being stuck in a state of constantly heightened activation and vigilance is incredibly exhausting and draining. Stress accumulation has been shown to damage the neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, reproductive, and other systems, and has been implicated in diseases ranging from lupus and joint pain to cancer!

A stuck arousal system can compromise one’s well-being and create a risk for adverse behaviors. Neurofeedback Calgary is a way to help the brain deeply relax and become “unstuck.” Clients at Brain Awakening Calgary report that they have overcome depression without medications.

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Impact of Neurofeedback on your Bad Habits

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 23:31:00 GMT

Habits: good and bad, we all have them. Our good habits serve us well. Our bad habits hold us back, create more stress in our lives and make us miserable in the long run. Consciously choosing to replace something we know we shouldn’t do with something good for us is a wonderful thing—especially if it […] The post Impact of Neurofeedback on your Bad Habits appeared first on Brain Awakening.

In order to turn bad habits into good ones, identify them. On a sheet of paper, list your bad habits. This is important because it raises your awareness. Bad habits attack when self-esteem is low. They often give us temporary pleasure, but usually make things worse. Being aware of a bad habit helps you to stop doing it. (If you can’t think of any bad habits, ask your spouse or a close friend!)

To the right of your bad habit, think of an alternative behaviour to each one and write it down. Next to your replacement habit, list some of the positive emotions or feelings that would result by substituting the good for the bad.

Exercise is a great tool to help you break bad habits. Exercise makes you feel better about yourself, which reinforces the benefits of exercising and makes you more likely to exercise again. As you become healthier and fitter, you’ll also become more productive and less likely to resume those old, bad habits.

Be easy on yourself as you make small changes in your life a little at a time. Breaking bad habits takes time and discipline.

Have you ever wondered why it so difficult to stop these habits, and why information similar to that above is so daunting. Have you ever wondered why it so difficult to stop these habits, even as they threaten our health, jeopardize our relationships and corrode our spirits?

Have you ever wondered why Neurofeedback has such amazing results when working with people who are dealing with addictions?

If you have answered yes to one or both of the above questions then you will want to listen to this video with Gabor Mate. He explains in very easy to understand language about the impact of trauma and brain imbalances in addicts which results in them not being able to choose a healthier life. It is not until the trauma is release can an addict let go of the draw to drug, alcohol, food, whatever the drug of choose is.

http://youtu.be/BpHiFqXCYKc

At Brain Awakening, Calgary our Neurofeedback sessions have been very successful in assisting our clients to let go of the past. A balanced brain does not require intervention (ie addictive behaviors) to feel good. It just feels good.

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Impact of Neurofeedback on your Bad Habits

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Do you Suffer from Sleep Deprivation?

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 23:29:00 GMT

Sleep Deprivation? If you think Sleep Deprivation is just one of those discomforts you have to put up with as a side effect of aging, you’ll be surprised to hear that new research conducted by the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania turns this conventional wisdom on its head. The […] The post Do you Suffer from Sleep Deprivation? appeared first on Brain Awakening.

Looking for help to sleep better. We are here in Calgary ready to help.

If you think Sleep Deprivation is just one of those discomforts you have to put up with as a side effect of aging, you’ll be surprised to hear that new research conducted by the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania turns this conventional wisdom on its head.

The study, involving over 150,000 people and published in the journal Sleep , was designed to show that the quality of sleep declines in old age , explained Dr Michael Grander. But the shock results reveal that aging isn’t the primary cause of poor sleep. So much so that one British sleep researcher commented it was a “myth” that aging is the root of sleep deprivation.

The study has researchers convinced that complaints about poor sleep lessen as people move beyond the middle years, with the lowest number of complaints among the over-70s – likely because they have adjusted to a more relaxed lifestyle by this time in life.

So why do people in their middle years – especially their 40s, when they ought to be performing at their peak in all areas of life – suffer the most severe sleep deprivation, whereas many even in their 80s report sleeping well?

At Brain Awakening Calgary, we’ve known for a long time that it isn’t age that causes people to sleep poorly.

Sleep deprivation is at its peak in the 40s because by then people’s brain patterns are often in a state of severe disarray as a result of the buildup of trauma and stress as a result of the pressures of our complex modern world. The overtaxed brain becomes “stuck” in a mode designed for coping with challenging situations, unable to return to its normal state.

The common approach to treating sleep maladies is chemical, with $150 billion to address sleep-related issues. Use of sedatives has soared as stressed-out people seek to feel more relaxed and get a better night sleep. The problem is that the underlying sleep architecture remains abnormal because of the continuing imbalance in the individual’s brainwaves. Chemicals such as sleep aids simply mask what’s really going on inside us.

At Brain Awakening Calgary, we’ve demonstrated that the brain drives body chemistry. When brainwave patterns are balanced left-to-right and front-to-back, with low and high frequencies in optimal proportion to one another throughout the brain, clients find themselves sleeping well often for the first time in years.

When we first begin working with a client we can see in the evaluation where in the brain and which brainwaves are over active or under active. We can where the brain is out of balance which gives us a good indication as to why the individual’s sleep tends to suffer. By addressing these imbalances with our advanced non-invasive technology, we’ve shown that not sleeping well isn’t merely a symptom of physical and emotional health problems, but the source of many of these problems.

At any age, sleep can be improved by balancing and harmonizing the brain using Neurofeedback Calgary. But especially if you are in your career and family years, you want to function at your best. Changing your sleep patterns with Neurofeedback can be life-changing – like being released from shackles.

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Can Neurofeedback - Keep Your Brain Young

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 23:23:00 GMT

Keep Your Brain Young! A graduate school professor who had retired in school housing took his meals on campus, where the walk to the dining hall meant going up a steep hill. After he paused to chat with a colleague for a few minutes one day, he asked, “Now, was I going up the hill […] The post Can Neurobeedback Keep Your Brain Young appeared first on Brain Awakening.

“Down the hill,” said his colleague.

“Ah, that means I’ve already had my lunch,” said the aging professor.

We smile at such incidents. But sadly, for millions of people, seeing their memory slip signals the end of their freedom and enjoyment of other people’s company.

The last thing you want in your future is to spend ten, fifteen, or even twenty years in a nursing home, with few if any visitors since no one knows what to say to you anymore because your mind is not allowing you to communicate effectively.

The good news is that the unbearable isolation of losing your mental acuity may no longer need to be your fate. You have options.

I have worked with many clients who report that their memory is going. I hear this from people of all ages. They often say “it must be a sign of aging”. Aging is inevitable; one thing we know for sure is that we are all getting older. However, there are many things that we can do to keep your brain young.

What I find with many of my clients is it is not so much about a decline in memory as it is an increase in worry, fear and anxiety. This can all be brought on my traumas and stresses in our lives. When a client takes on sessions with brain Awakening not only can we help reduce the amount of worry, fear and stress our client experiences which gives the client the experience of better memory , we can actually prevent memory loss and revitalize the functioning of the brain patterns that comprise your brain, increasing your mental acuity and keep your brain young.

When you balance the hemispheres and lobes of your brain, it comes with a bonus. Because the brain controls all of your bodily functions, your entire system ages in a more healthy way nature intended for you.

You can’t prevent aging, but you can ensure you age more gracefully—mentally and physically.

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Brain Awakening - Helps Focus and Concentration Calgary

Wed, 30 Dec 2015 04:55:00 GMT

It’s a college bowl game, with less than three minutes to go in the final quarter. On the sideline, players shout at one another, psyching themselves up to receive the football on their own 30- or 40-yard line. The cold air crackles with intensity and excitement. The winning team readies to punt the ball. A […] The post Brain Awakening Helps Focus and Concentration appeared first on Brain Awakening.

It’s a college bowl game, with less than three minutes to go in the final quarter. On the sideline, players shout at one another, psyching themselves up to receive the football on their own 30- or 40-yard line. The cold air crackles with intensity and excitement. The winning team readies to punt the ball. A defensive player blocks the punt – but instead of picking up the ball and running full speed ahead for a touchdown, he loses focus and downs the ball on the 30-yard line. Focus and concentration made all the difference.

Ability to Focus Matters

Brain balance, or in this case –lack of brain balance – lost the game. Did you know that nearly every Gold Medalist in the Olympics wins by a mere fraction of a second? Brain balance is the key to winning or losing in almost every contest and academic, business and creative encounter that we face. Focus, reaction time, clarity of thought and consistency are what makes the difference between winners and losers. Each of these characteristics relies on a brain that is in balance and harmony.

Picture your favorite superstar. When you think of Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning or Michael Phelps, you think “smooth.” You don’t picture a frenzied, up-tight individual. Superstars demonstrate a consistently calm demeanor. Their team counts on them to always execute effectively regardless of the situation. Some people call it “being in the zone.” Being in the zone is important to athletes, executives, artists and young people. Being in the zone means that brainwave activity in your frontal lobe (execution) is balanced with brainwave activity in your occipital lobe (input). It means that activity is also balanced between left and right lobes.

Impact of Life’s Traumas

Life’s traumas – physical and emotional – can alter brainwave functioning. Brainwave activity goes out of sync. When the brain is not operating in balance and harmony, many things can happen. Your peripheral vision closes in. Your visual acuity dims. Your hand-eye coordination can be slowed. Your speed, strength and endurance aren’t at their peak. Your reaction times slow. Your focus and concentration may diminish. You see, the brain is master control. It controls everything we think, feel and do. And it also controls your autonomic nervous system – a significant dimension of our physicality. When the autonomic nervous system operates at its prime, respiration, perspiration, heartbeat, breathing and salivation are working at their best tempo. To date, we’ve worked with golfers, sprinters, swimmers, cyclists, hockey players, football players, basketball players, mixed martial arts fighters, and many others who want to be at the top of their game. They’ve walked away with results: 10 points shaved of their golf score; competing at the highest level; jumping higher; running faster ; increased stamina and focus; and winning!

Most importantly, we’ve also been able to help people who have been injured or those who were competing in the zone, but are now haunted by blocks or anxieties. We can help parents and players understand how the brain has been affected by a head injury – and better yet, help significantly in the recovery. Young people who are serious about their game also need to be serious about their academics. Students find that after they have experienced Brainwave Optimization, their test scores improve. Their ability to focus and get the work done improves. Students gain confidence and self-motivation, resulting on less wear and tear on the parents.

Overall, people who experience Neurofeedback just feel better.

“I feel myself changing every day; I am now making much healthier choices in the food I eat, the way I interact with people in my daily life. I now look forward to every day and feel very blessed to have found Brainwave Optimization Calgary. “ Aren’t you ready to see what you can do with a balanced brain?

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My Child is Struggling in School - Calgary

Wed, 30 Dec 2015 04:29:00 GMT

A child’s brain is developing until their early 20s. Depending on the kind of learner the person is this, development may continue to develop until death. Poor focus, concentration isn’t due to the child’s inability to sit still; or because they are just too young; or because they have some insurmountable learning problem; or because […] The post My Child is Struggling in School appeared first on Brain Awakening.

A child’s brain is developing until their early 20s. Depending on the kind of learner the person is, this development may continue to develop until death. Poor focus, concentration isn’t due to the child’s inability to sit still; or because they are just too young; or because they have some insurmountable learning problem; or because they just aren’t smart enough. A child’s ability to learn is directly related to how clear their brain pathways are between sensory intake and execution (performance). Over two-thirds of our brain is based on sensing or input; with only one-third is based on execution. If we have trouble focusing or concentrating, it is simply because the pathways between the sensory and execution network areas are not clear. Most children we work with experience learning problems and are struggling in school because their network is somehow stuck or imbalanced. Imbalances are caused by the brain’s need to adapt to trauma. The more intense the trauma (be it physical, emotional or psychological trauma), the more likely the child will have focus, learning, concentration, and/or issues of self-control. Trauma can occur in utero, at birth or after. Brain Awakening shows the brain how to move beyond that stuck pattern, into healthy patterns. Once the brain is balanced, the child overcomes previous challenges. The result is happiness and self-regulation.

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30 Questions to ask your kids instead of “How was your Day?”

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 23:54:00 GMT

Is your child Struggling at School? It’s been a long time since I was faced with my usual (enthusiastically delivered) question of “how was your day?” being met with my daughters usual (indifferently delivered) “fine.” My daughter is now grown up and creating her own family. However, I have been thinking that unless I come […] The post 30 Questions to ask your kids instead of “How was your Day?” appeared first on Brain Awakening.

Is your child Struggling at School?

It’s been a long time since I was faced with my usual (enthusiastically delivered) question of “how was your day?” being met with my daughters usual (indifferently delivered) “fine.” My daughter is now grown up and creating her own family. However, I have been thinking that unless I come up with something new I may encounter the same respond from my grandchildren. Engaging in conversation with your children is a great way to find out just how they are doing. Is your child struggling at school, asking these questions may help your find out.

I suppose the problem is my own. That question didn’t really take any effort and was far from a conversation starter. So as an alternative, I’ve found this list of questions that I think kids will answer with more than a single word or grunt. So if you are a mom, dad, grandma, or granddad you may find something on this list that will encourage conversation with your children/grandchildren that will enhance your relationships.. Let me know how it goes.

Questions a kid will answer at the end of a long school day: (by Sara Goldstein)

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The Trouble with Caffeine, Ritalin, Adderall, Energy Drinks etc…

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Caffeine, Ritalin, Adderall and most chemical stimulants throw your system into brainwave state of alert/crisis by stopping your brain from producing your more intuitive & daydream evoking brainwaves (these brainwaves are what give you those all-important feelings of well-being). While eliminating these brainwaves gives you that instant rush of energy at first, you’ll notice that […] The post The Trouble with Caffeine, Ritalin, Adderall, Energy Drinks etc… appeared first on Brain Awakening.

Caffeine, Ritalin, Adderall and most chemical stimulants throw your system into brainwave state of alert/crisis by stopping your brain from producing your more intuitive & daydream evoking brainwaves (these brainwaves are what give you those all-important feelings of well-being). While eliminating these brainwaves gives you that instant rush of energy at first, you’ll notice that that “rush” soon dissolves into more of a generalized stress, anxiety and dis-ease. To find out more about how to balance your brainwaves to assist you in being more productive and tap into your natural energy store check us out at Brain Awakening.

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Meditation Helps ADD / ADHD - Calgary

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:00:00 GMT

Suddenly a number of independent studies have come out signaling that meditation (not medication)may be the key to dramatically reducing the negative symptoms of ADD / ADHD in school age children. One recent pilot study published in the peer-reviewed journal “Current Issues in Education” followed a group of middle school students with attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) who […] The post Meditation Helps ADD / ADHD appeared first on Brain Awakening.

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