Hmmmmm, ok starting my first topic.
Im going to try and use this platform to document/log my progress similar to what Hza did back in the early 2013 or something.
Backgroung : Accounting/audit employee in SA, looking to improve focus. I have always had a very poor attention span, but i do feel it has gotten worse. I have dabbled in many nootropics, and ritalin/concerta during the exam periods; those things have gotten me by. But not nearly to the extent that i can focus on a task like some of my colleagues.
From the nootropics i have tried, Phenylpiracetam definitely worked. Noopept gives me some energy and focus, but maybe a crash later? not too sure. I have never really taken the reccomended dosage for any noots (always well under) just so i can , in my mind atleast, avoid anything too serious. Anyway, what this topic is about is me trying to get my Biofeedback Training going. I have bought all the equipment , now its about strapping myself to the machines regularly to get some rewards.
At first i read about the positives of this on all of these websites, and was really eager to get into it. I wanted to do it through a professional but got skeptical when i saw some people would charge R 400 (20 $) and others like R 2000 (you can convert this one); it didn't feel like something i could go to anyone to do. In my mind if the benefits of Neuro Training were true then I would be willing to pay alllooottt of money (even if i didnt have it). After more research, and lack of reputable professional options in SA, i decided to buy my own equipment. It took a while for me to figure out what i need, because as i said i am lazy/no attention, and would never read through literature to figure stuff out. But i got to the point where i realized i need an amp, 2 headbands and the software. 2 headbands one for EEG and one for HEG. The more i read, the more i felt that all the options did the same thing, but i didn't want to buy something and realise i dont have the functionality i need. So i got the Q wiz , with all the required software (bioexplorer and designs) , and my headbands. This for a South African was ridiculously expensive, but like i said if it works, i would of paid even more.
It took a while to just open the box, and figure out what was going on. But I was sort of motivated by the amount of money i had just spent, where i would struggle to live with myself wasting that much money. I bought the stuff through Brain Trainer, where the people are very helpful ; they helped me set up, they tell me what to do, and im sure they will continue to do so.
So i actually properly started with EEG about 2 days ago, this is me trying to just get my readings (assessment) which i will send to Brain Trainer and they will develop a training plan for me. This failed (as expected) because i could not stop laughing while my friend was helping me with the assessment.(I had a tight hat on my head, and for a minute you have to be read to, the reading material he chose just seemed really funny) Hopefully i can grow up in the next week and get to actually doing this EEG assessment properly.
Anyways, seeing as i struggled with the EEG and i really wanted to get this started; i went to the HEG training. This , from what i have read, is much easier to do, but maybe not as effective. So today Saturday 08/10/2016 marks my first proper start to Brain Training, hopefully this is something i will maintain and do consistently.
Here is my log that i typed out; this i did separately so it will be repetitive
Day 1
08/10/2016 12 minutes NiR HEG Training
Up to this stage a lot of time has gone into choosing the right device, and what attachments i would need. After that it took some time to get the equipment going on the computer due to some technical issues. Brain Trainer were very helpful (Karen Duncan) in helping me get started, and i still speak to her often regarding tips etc.
Today is the first time i tried to train properly, previously i have tried to get my EEG readings which was quite difficult; but that was the first time. Today i did nir HEG training 3 minutes 1 minute dive on all 3 areas. The first area (centre) went strangely well, the small brain kept climbing, although i could not pinpoint why it was doing so. I would look at the brain and stop trying to focus to see if it would fall, then it would just maybe slightly fall i guess? Not really sure now, but I couldn’t feel the distinct relationship between my effort and the movement of the brain, which does not feel promising. But being my first time this is expected, i read the similar experiences for Hza on Longecity. The second place i did was right, here the brain just kept falling, and it wouldn’t go up; i was under water the whole time. This could be linked to what Hza said on his blog where the base line rises after doing your first session. The dive was relatively similar to the 1st spot where it sort of kind is under water, but probably not as deep as the first one. The final area kept going up, im struggling to see what i did different between the 3, but happy to see the little brain go up.
Today i was feeling more focused than usual, had a full night sleep (its a Saturday) woke up and watched series till i felt a lil motivation to do this stuff. Definitely am more focused and awake than I am on any other day.
Don’t think i will feel any effects of the nir HEG training today, it felt a bit random. Looking to read more about people experiences, and what i should be trying to do. Hopefully this is the start of my consistent brain training regime.
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If anyone reads this : Apologies for any typo's etc. , as i start to benefit from my training maybe i will provide some nice sounding literature.
Maybe i should add i also started Dual n Back about 2 weeks ago, stuck on DB 4 and im too lazy to do much more.
