UNH Health Services has begun offering a new program known as biofeedback, providing students with information to take better care of themselves and lead healthier lifestyles.
Implemented at the start of the fall semester, this unconventional application is a computer-based program that takes the user's sensory information to enhance relaxation and help deal with the various stressors students have to cope with.
"Biofeedback is a way of increasing skills to provide self-care," said Kathleen Grace-Bishop, director of education and promotion at Health Services. "The program assists students in learning how to quiet their minds, to control their reactions to external experiences and to increase awareness of thoughts and feelings and their impact on the body."
The program is set in a dim light room on the second floor of Health Services with a curtain to allow for privacy. The laptop has headphones and a three-finger sensor. As the computer boots up, the desktop has only one program titled "Healing Rhythms," sponsored by The Wild Devine Project. As the users open the program, they're prompted to create a profile. Once chapter one is completed, "Self Discovery" fades into focus as soothing chime music plays through the headphones.
Sections one through six promote quieting your mind, observing your thoughts, finding your inner balance, releasing physical tension, cultivating positive emotions and revealing your inner wisdom.
The sections, one to two recommended per appointment, guide users through various techniques, most of which are narrated by established doctors in the field. As the users go through the exercises, the finger sensors measure change in heart rate and body temperature.
Associate professor Barbara White, who teaches the Stressed Out class at UNH, said biofeedback is a way to know the individual is doing something correctly.
"Football players know they are doing the right thing when they score a touchdown. Biofeedback lets you know what you should feel like when you're relaxed," said White.
By measuring an individual's hand temperature, pulse, brain waves and skin tension, biofeedback works with the autonomic nervous system, the branch of the peripheral from the brain to body that is hard to regulate.
The two components of the system are the parasympathetic and sympathetic. For example parasympathetic is the digestive system. Sympathetic is the component that allows individuals to rise to the occasion. Biofeedback, White said, works to shut down the sympathetic and turn on the parasympathetic.
"The idea is that you teach people what it feels like to be in that state," said White.
Student reception has been slow to start. As with most new programs, many are not aware of its existence. The service is free and can be arranged via appointment through Health Services.
"I think it's a cool idea, but I don't think a lot of students will go out of their way for it," said sophomore biology major Chelsey Motzkin. "It's just that most kids already have things they do when they're stressed out, healthy or not."
White agreed students have many alternative forms of stress relief.
"Most of them are likely to drink, and there is probably a lot of weed smoking going on," said White. "Everywhere in the world manipulates some form of substance. It's all a matter of moderation. I don't think that anyone would say that it is not healthy."
Biofeedback attempts to provide students with a better sense of how to cope with different stressors. These can include anything that impacts our bodies either physically or emotionally, such as cigarettes, coffee and sleep deprivation. It's programs such as this that educate students on how to approach these factors.
"Anything can be effective for stress relief. Some athletes go for a run, some journal and others just want to watch a funny movie," said White. "It just depends on the person."
The Health Services website provides extensive information on the history, common uses and devices used in most research facilities. "Healing Rhythms" is just the tip of the iceberg in this field of study, funded by the Student Health fee.
Much more extensive research has provided many medical professionals with an exciting and promising future.
"If you look at the research, you will see that biofeedback is receiving more attention in the area of stress management and self-care both in area of prevention and treatment," said Grace-Bishop. "I think research will continue to show that it can be helpful for many and that we will be seeing more devices/practices that will help people learn to take care of themselves."
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