Has the Alpha Stim been used for breaking addictive behavior patterns?  I would think that it would be helpful, if only from the aspect of reducing stress.   I just wondered if anyone had used for such things as weight loss, quitting smoking, or alcoholism?    

There have been some studies on Alpha-Stim for addictions -- alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and tobacco have all been studied with Alpha-Stim. These studies can be found in the research section of this site. I recently published a review article and meta-analysis of the CES literature on addictions with psychiatrist Marshall Gilula, MD. That is also on the site. Alpha-Stim treats anxiety, insomnia and depression, all common symptoms of withdrawal. A cigarette cravings study was just completed and is being submitted for publication now. It found that cravings were eliminated in 97.2% of 1,000 patients at a clinic in Los Angeles. It was only a stop craving study, not a stop smoking study. The results of one CES treatment lasted between 10 minutes and 4 hours. I am confident that future research will show a series of treatments will make it easy to stop and regular, even infrequent use should help keep one from recidivating.

 

Has anyone every done any research on using Alpha Stim for weight loss.  Could the probes be used to stimulate particular pressure points, or acupressure points that might be useful for weight loss?    

Dear Dr Kirsch My experience with electro stimulating devices has been in the UK with ECT treatment which remains a controversial method of treatment. I found a link to the Alpha Stim 100 by chance and find the concept very interesting. My question regarding addiction is: Have some patients become addicted to using the Alpha Stim because of the relatively fast "feel good factor" or is it more a one-off treatment. Kind regards Kevin Frost

 I have been using the Alpha Stim for about 4 months now.   I do not experience  a "high" or feel compelled to use the unit.  My experience has been that it has been a much more subtle change in my thinking pattern.   As my anxiety has reduced, I have experienced changes in my eating patterns.  I am not as likely to go for "comfort" foods (generally high calorie  high carb)   to deal with stress.  I am relating your question to mean something similar to a "runners high" - where runners or other athletes are compelled to run, to seek out the high feeling they get from running.   

 

In my experience I don't feel a compelling urge to use the Alpha Stim, but I realize the benefits I have gotten from it and want to continue using it.  Others may get a different reaction. As far as I can tell there would be no harm even if someone became "addicted" to using the Alpha Stim, as it seems pretty harmless.

 

Alpha Stim and ECT are so extremely different, there is no way to compare them.

 

Alpha-Stim can not get you high like a drug. It makes your brain function more normally according to the best available data which is EEG studies. Once you achieve that it doesn't do anything. Of course life is full of stessors so regular use prevents anxiety from creeping back, but it is absolutely not addictive.