You may be aware that the human brain is electric. But did you know that the brain operates with five types of brainwaves? Each category has a different electrical frequency and plays a distinct role in how we think, behave, and feel. All of them exist at the same time in your brain, but each takes a turn being dominant at certain times.
The 5 Types of Brainwaves
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There are 5 distinct types of brainwaves, each with their own electric frequency Gamma waves are the fastest of the types of brainwaves; they “relate to simultaneous processing of information from different brain areas and have been associated with higher states of conscious perception.”¹
- Beta waves are the next fastest; they are low amplitude and have a frequency between 15 and 40 cycles per second. This type of brainwave is related to mentally engaged tasks, such as talking or teaching or taking part in a debate.²
- Alpha waves are slower than beta waves, but higher in amplitude. Their frequency is between 3 and 13 cycles per second. Where beta waves represent arousal, “alpha represents non-arousal. A person who has completed a task and sits down to rest…who takes time out to reflect or meditate is usually in an alpha state.”
- Theta brainwaves are even slower, between 5 and 8 cycles per second. A person who is daydreaming or lost in thought may be in a theta state – this state is characteristic of tasks that are automatic and do not require mental effort. People who are in a theta state may say that they’re in the “flow.”
- Delta waves are the slowest of all, with only 1.5 to 4 cycles per second. Dreaming while sleeping, when accompanied by REM, would be an example of a delta state.
The Role of Alpha Waves
While each type of brainwave serves its own essential purpose, neuroscientists have found that an increase in alpha waves reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. As explained in an article in Psychology Today, “when alpha oscillations are prominent, your sensory inputs tend to be minimized and your mind is generally clear of unwanted thoughts.”
Each type of brainwave is important; each has its essential role in our functioning properly as human beings. But when one type begins to dominate the others and the brain becomes out of balance – when our alpha waves take a backseat – we start to experience anxiety, insomnia, and depression.
Think of it this way: when you are in a state of high alertness, your brain quickly adapts to help you function at your best in the moment. Gamma waves are likely dominant in this situation, and you’re firing on all cylinders. The other types of brainwaves, including alpha, fade into the background. But this is not sustainable – at some point, you need to calm down again. If your alpha waves, the ones associated with calmness and relaxation, are out of balance and never have a chance to become dominant, your mood will likely deteriorate. Without relaxation and a sense of wellbeing, anxiety will spike, your sleep will suffer, and depression will settle in.
So if an electrical imbalance is the root of your anxiety, insomnia, or depression, how can you go about getting this increase in alpha waves? The answer is not with medications; the answer is electric.
How and Why Alpha-Stim Works
Alpha-Stim® is an FDA cleared medical device that works with the electricity in your body to help you feel better. Backed by decades of experience, it brings relief from anxiety, insomnia, depression, and pain by restoring balance to your brain’s electrical patterns.
Alpha-Stim is the leader in cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES); its patented waveform has been proven time and again, by more than 100 clinical research studies, to be safe and effective. In one study, after just 20 minutes of using Alpha-Stim, EEG scans reveled an increase in alpha waves and a simultaneous decrease in beta and delta waves in the brains of subjects. “The study volunteers reported feeling more relaxed after 20 minutes of CES. Some reported feeling as if their head had cleared and they felt more awake. Research volunteers who reported pain or anxiety before the single session of CES treatment reported significant reductions in pain and anxiety after the 20-minute treatment.”
These big results come from a very small device. Alpha-Stim fits in the palm of your hand, as a tiny current of electricity is transmitted to the brain through electrodes that clip onto your earlobes. Treatments take just 20 minutes and are done in the comfort of your own home.
Unlike with medications, Alpha-Stim bears no risk of addiction or lasting side effects. And while many drugs require you to increase your dosage over time, Alpha-Stim’s effectiveness is cumulative – the more you use it, the less often you’ll need to. It is safe to use in conjunction with other treatment modalities, but you may find that Alpha-Stim eliminates your need for them over time (always check with a doctor before discontinuing a medication.) Better still, not only does Alpha-Stim work better than medications, but it costs less too!
The brain is electric. So if you struggle with anxiety, insomnia, or depression, why not treat the brain in the language it understands best?
About Alpha-Stim
Alpha-Stim® is an FDA cleared, handheld medical device that has been proven time and again to effectively treat acute, post traumatic, and chronic pain, as well as anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Alpha-Stim uses cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES), delivered through a patented waveform via two earclip electrodes, to treat anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Microcurrent electrical therapy (MET) delivers pain relief directly to the source of discomfort via two handheld Smart Probes.
The safety and effectiveness of Alpha-Stim is backed by over 100 independent clinical research studies. Unlike with medications, there is no risk of addiction or lasting side effects.
Alpha-Stim is available by prescription in the United States and over-the-counter in other countries. Get started today!
