If you are in recovery or you’ve had a stay at an inpatient drug rehab center, you may have heard that relapse is a part of recovery. While there is definitely some truth to that, here at The Discovery House we make it a priority to supply our residents with the tools they need to not only reach recovery but to maintain it long-term. Today we are going to talk about just one of the many tools that we use called BrainPaint®.

How BrainPaint® is Helpful in Inpatient Drug Rehab

First things first…

What is BrainPaint®?

BrainPaint® is an evidence-based EEG biofeedback system that activates the brain’s natural ability to form new connections in response to experience. The neurofeedback software incorporates a comprehensive assessment tool, which systematically calculates scientifically proven procedure suggestions and acts like a stethoscope to listen to what is going on in the user’s brain. In plain English: it helps you to reprogram your brain to make better choices throughout addiction treatment and thereafter.

For issues like addictions and problems related to one’s discipline for or resistance to change, BrainPaint® is a powerful adjunct to other effective healing methods.

Neurofeedback Therapy for Substance Abuse

It is no secret that the roots of drug addiction and alcoholism lie deep inside one’s psyche, but with the use of neurofeedback therapy, the inner workings of one’s physical body may assist in treatment. Neurofeedback measures brain waves to produce a signal, which, in turn, can be used to provide feedback to teach people ways to regulate their behavior.

In simpler terms, it is a type of brain training. Neurofeedback measures blood flow in the brain, and it provides different signals for desired behavior and negative behavior.

BrainPaint® As A Relapse Prevention Tool

Those who require treatment for substance abuse and addiction often suffer through a revolving door of treatment. Despite spending days, weeks, or even months learning tools of recovery, they somehow cannot or will not continue their sobriety indefinitely. Researchers and health professionals, therefore, continue to seek new ways to help stop the addiction cycle.

Enter neurofeedback therapy, which can address the physiological side of substance addiction. Because addiction affects the brain and its functions, neurofeedback can be an additional recovery tool. By tracking brain waves, a person can learn to regulate moods and emotions, lower stress and improve sleep. This therapy also helps in recovery by improving one’s ability to focus and to reduce impulsive behavior.

The Benefits of BrainPaint® in Inpatient Drug Rehab

Relapse prevention in drug addiction treatment is arguably one of the most difficult parts of drug addiction recovery. However, those who successfully complete a drug program at The Discovery House, are given a comprehensive relapse prevention plan, complete with tools on how to cope with life in the “real world.”

It has been proven to reduce the amount of people who leave treatment early against medical advice (AMA) by approximately 60%, which, in turn, contributes to more residents completing their drug treatment programs and greatly reducing their chances of relapse.

In conjunction with other aspects and modalities of treatment, BrainPaint® can help someone in recovery manage or eliminate cravings.

“Addiction is a disease of the brain and our clients have found that neurofeedback helps them resist cravings for drugs or alcohol,” notes David Dequa, program director at The Discovery House, a Southern California residential addiction treatment center.

In addition, as a trauma-informed treatment center, The Discovery House is pleased to offer BrainPaint® as an effective treatment option that has proven effective for residents that have suffered from trauma.

“Neurotherapy, specifically alpha-theta protocol, is a training process that has been scientifically proven to improve the symptoms of drug and alcohol addiction as well as issues developed as the result of dysfunctional family systems, grief or trauma,” Dequa said.

UCLA also did a follow-up to the original study that was published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. It showed a 75% increase in long-term sobriety for residents that used neurofeedback therapy in conjunction with other programs support tools, like the well known 12-Step program.