Technology Gaining in the Therapy World

New technologies may have a place in the mental health field, a field that seemed to be lacking traction in innovative development. However, technological advances are giving mental health professionals new tools to help their patients. In the following, I will discuss the Fisher Wallace Stimulator and how it works, helping to change the lives of many.

The Fischer Wallace Simulator is a cranial electrotherapy stimulator (CES) that mental health professionals can equip patients with to help be successful when treating symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, “…an innovative device changing the mental health game is the Fisher Wallace Simulator, an FDA-approved neurostimulation device …” (Forbes, 2016). The Fisher Wallace Stimulator uses “patented waveforms to gently stimulate the brain to produce serotonin and other neurochemicals responsible for healthy mood and sleep” (fisherwallace.com, 2017).

The stimulator is a portable medical device that is easily used at home with a doctor’s prescription. The stimulator generates gentle electrical pulses through a wearable headband. The treatment sessions last 20 minutes each, in which you can engage in quiet activities like reading a book or watching TV. The cranial electrotherapy stimulation helps the brain to produce neurochemicals that provide the patient relief. Two sponges are connected to electrical wires controlled by the battery operated base unit, and are secured under the headband against the skin at each temple area. The base unit controls the level of stimulation with a dial that illuminates lights next to the preferred levels 1 through 4. The higher level number corresponds to a higher level of electrical frequency and/or treatment indication.

Treating Depression/Anxiety:

The stimulator works very differently from conventional anti-depressant/anxiety medications that prevent the absorption of serotonin, by actually helping the brain to produce serotonin and reduce cortisol. Serotonin is a natural neurochemical that stabilizes our moods. Experts have linked low levels of the hormone with depression and anxiety. “Cortisol is a life sustaining adrenal hormone essential to the maintenance of homeostasis. Called ‘the stress hormone,’ cortisol influences, regulates or modulates many of the changes that occur in the body in response to stress…” (adrenalfatigue.org, 2017). And as a result, effective CES treatment may reduce dependencies on medications that were initially used to alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms.

Treating Insomnia:

The Fisher Wallace Stimulator is shown to provide effective treatment for insomnia by stimulating the brain to create melatonin. “Melatonin is a natural hormone made by your body's pineal (pih-knee-uhl) gland. During the day the pineal is inactive. When the sun goes down and darkness occurs, the pineal is "turned on" by the SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) and begins to actively produce melatonin, which is released into the blood” (sleepfoundation.org, 2017). Elevated melatonin levels in the blood are responsible for feeling less alert and signaling your body to want sleep. The device’s recommended use is 20 minutes prior to bedtime to stimulate melatonin production.

Patients report no pain or discomfort when using the Fisher Wallace Stimulator and contribute their mood and sleep health improvement to the drug free device. Unlike addictive medications, users report no groggy or drowsy feeling when waking in the morning and were also able to fall asleep much faster and stay asleep during the night. Many patients using the device for depression and anxiety report a return feeling of normality and relief with decreased levels of anxiety and depression. The device has been cleared by the FDA and is proven in multiple published studies that can be found on the Fisher Wallace website, www.fisherwallace.com.

Continued development of innovating mental health technologies is important to patients and their providers, especially those who prefer drug-free and natural alternatives to treating symptoms. And some, may even depend on such developments, especially those patients who have proven to be pharmacotherapy resistant. Overall, new and continued technological advances, like the Fisher Wallace Stimulator, have shown to be an effective treatment option for depression, anxiety, and insomnia; and are providing patients alternative therapies to improve their quality of life.





http://adrenalfatigue.org/cortisol-adrenal-function

https://www.fisherwallace.com/pages/how-it-works

https://www.forbes.com/sites/toriutley/2016/01/25/4-technologies-innovating-mental-health-in-2016/#4b1563746bb3

https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/melatonin-and-sleep

https://youtu.be/uEbYVtloYR0