Fear, trauma and the brain - How it impacts the mind, body and relationships!

I have been interested in ways to calm the nervous system for many years, which is one of the reasons I started The Canni Family, as CBD helps to achieve this and in turn improves anxiety, pain, ADHD symptoms and much more. It supports the central nervous system to be in a more balanced state which then impacts the immune system, which is why it is noted to help with a wide range of conditions. So when I learnt about a new type of therapy that could achieve a sustained level of calm for adults and children I wanted to learn more, but first here is what I now understand about Fear and Trauma.

Fear is one of the brain’s most powerful survival tools. It keeps us alert to danger and helps us respond quickly when something feels wrong. But when fear becomes chronic, shaped by trauma, prolonged stress or abuse, it can stay switched on long after the threat has passed leaving you in a permanent state or hyper vigilance. The result can be anxiety, emotional reactivity, tics, exhaustion, sleep disruption, difficulty concentrating, and in children sometimes bedwetting. These are not signs of weakness. They can all be signs of a dysregulated nervous system caught in fight, flight fear or fawn, resulting in mental, physical, behavioural and emotional symptoms.

Trauma lives in the Nervous System not just in memory

Trauma literally means ‘wound’ and it is not defined by what happened to you, which you may not fully recall or even recognise, but by how those experiences continue to affect you. The positive news is that this means change is possible, and that what you believe is ‘wrong’ with you is a natural and understandable response to traumatic experiences.

When the nervous system is stuck

Trauma can alter how the brain functions. The amygdala, responsible for detecting threat, may become overactive, while networks involved in regulation and decision-making struggle to settle. People may feel frozen, overwhelmed or constantly on edge.

Talking therapies can be life-changing. But insight does not always calm the body, and some people cannot, or do not want to, re-live specific experiences especially children. That is why interest has grown in approaches that work more directly with regulation, including Neurofeedback Therapy.

Teaching the brain to regulate itself

Neurofeedback Therapy is discussed in The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, including research on its use for attention and regulation difficulties. Medication has its place and helps many people, but it typically works only while it is being taken and can have side-effects for some.

In Neurofeedback, sensors placed on the scalp measure brain activity while the client watches age-appropriate content, such as films or documentaries, and they are not expected to talk about anything during the sessions.

The system provides real-time feedback, allowing the brain to learn more stable patterns and the ability to self-regulate unconsciously. This uses neuroplasticity, the brain’s natural ability to adapt and reorganise, resulting in the individual feeling more resilient and able to cope with whatever life throws at them. Over time, many people report better sleep, steadier mood, improved focus and less reactivity whilst positively impacting their mind, body and relationships. This is a good tool to support individuals who have found it hard to access talking therapies because they can’t explain the source of their traumatic experiences, which is often the case with children, or if they don’t wish to relive trauma in the case of severe PTSD.

“We just wanted our son to feel at ease”

For the parents of a Colchester based six-year-old boy, family life had become a careful balancing act. Their son had no formal diagnosis, but they suspected Autism an ADHD. He struggled with emotional regulation, impulsivity, anxiety and sleep.

“We weren’t chasing a label,” his mother explains. “We just wanted our son to feel calmer and more settled in himself.”

They tried Neurofeedback therapy and tracked what mattered most at home: emotional reactivity, focus, behaviour and anxiety. At first the changes were subtle, fewer intense reactions and more moments of pause. Then something unexpected happened. After ten sessions, their son stopped wetting the bed.

“It wasn’t even something we were working on,” his parent says. “I genuinely thought that would be a struggle for years.”

This result is a common occurrence for the majority of children who have Neurofeedback sessions and this outcome is sustained.

By twenty sessions, friends and extended family commented, unprompted, on how much calmer he seemed. Their son enjoyed the sessions too: “It makes me feel good and I get to watch my favourite films.” Parent-rated symptom tracking showed an overall reduction in severity of around 85%, with improvements sustained since the sessions ended.

External SEN professional's observation

Rhiann Marchant, Founder, Sensational Minds Ltd, Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Post-Diagnostic Support, said: “I was sceptical at first. But I have directly witnessed significant and sustained changes in young people who engaged in Neurofeedback sessions. If an approach supports a child to thrive and a family to feel more secure, it deserves thoughtful consideration.” (in full below)

My thoughts and observations on Neurofeedback

My background is a fully qualified teacher, SENCO, Specialist educator for autism and ADHD with a master’s degree in Autism. I completed my clinical training for ADOS-2/3DI and ACIA and have worked within MDT settings for clinical diagnostics for the past 7 years. I am the founder of Sensational Minds Ltd, a neurodevelopmental assessment service and post diagnostic support service for children, young people and adults. When I was first introduced to neurofeedback therapy, I was openly sceptical. My background is in education with strong alignment to clinical practice and my work has always focused on robust diagnostics and evidence informed post diagnostic support for neurodivergent children and young people. I was cautious about interventions that sit outside formal UK clinical guidelines.

I chose however to approach this with curiosity rather than dismissal. I spent time reviewing the available research and case studies and engaged in detailed discussions with Zoe to better understand both the theoretical basis and practical application of neurofeedback. I wanted to explore whether this approach could offer meaningful support for families alongside established strategies.

Through direct observation, I have since witnessed significant and sustained changes in two young people who engaged in twenty neurofeedback sessions. One child, in particular, I would like to reference, who previously presented with persistent echolalia, repeated questioning, attention regulation difficulties, nocturnal enuresis and a high level of adult dependence has shown marked progress. After ten sessions he was able to listen to others’ responses, initiate greetings, independently engage in shared play with clear enjoyment and showed a noticeable reduction in bedwetting. These changes were meaningful and clearly observable.

Equally, significant has been the impact on the family system. A parent who I know well, moved from a position of understandable hypervigilance, to feeling confident enough for her child to attend playdates and eat meals with peers. That shift in parental wellbeing and trust is profound. Whilst it is also important to consider that this child has also benefited from an EHCP and a highly supportive family network with good academic support and intervention, I believe neurofeedback has played a substantial role when used collaboratively with other supports.

I do not claim to fully understand every aspect of neurofeedback therapy. What I do know is that I have reviewed credible literature including studies relating to Tourette’s trauma and PTSD and I have now witnessed meaningful change firsthand for children who have either diagnosed or undiagnosed neurodivergent needs. Observing a child begin to communicate in more purposeful connected ways and seeing a parent feel calm and supported within a group setting has been genuinely powerful.

It is my firm position that clinical understanding, neurodivergent informed practice and high-quality post diagnostic support remain essential. At the same time, I believe we have a responsibility to remain open to approaches that may enhance outcomes even where they are not yet formally embedded within UK guidance. There is extensive research emerging internationally particularly in the United States and this observational journey has significantly broadened my own perspective.

I view neurofeedback not as a replacement but as a potential complementary intervention and I respect the care integrity and reflective practice that Zoe brings to this work. Ultimately, if an approach supports a child to thrive and a family to feel more secure it deserves thoughtful consideration.

“I was in mental burnout”

For a woman in her forties, trauma had been cumulative. She presented with PTSD, anxiety and stress-related symptoms following prolonged stalking and domestic abuse. She was signed off work and prescribed antidepressant medication that she was reluctant to take.

“I had reached mental burnout,” she explains. “My body and mind just froze.”

She completed more than twenty Neurofeedback sessions. “I felt much calmer quite quickly,” she says. After a distressing event nearby, she reported settling back to a calm state almost immediately following a session the next day. Her overall self-reported symptom severity reduced by approximately 89%. She did not go on to take the prescribed medication and says her improvements have been sustained. “I feel much more grounded and clearer in my mind,” she adds.

Could Neurofeedback support you or a loved one?

A wide range of conditions it can support with are listed on braintrainuk.com. Email zoe@braintrainuk.com for a free 15-minute consultation with your local island practitioner.

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