Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The challenge our country is facing is like no other in our history. The number
of veterans returning from military service suffering with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is staggering. One in three veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from significant to severe post traumatic stress, yet close
to 60% of them do not receive help.

The Veterans Administration and other government resources are admittedly
at their capacity in treating veterans. Simply stated, they are unprepared and overstretched. A report entitled, "An Achievable Vision", released this summer by the Department of Defense task force on mental health concludes, "The Military Health System lacks the fiscal resources and fully trained personnel
to fulfill its mission to support psychological health in peacetime or fulfill the enhanced requirements imposed during times of conflict. The mission of
caring for psychological health has fundamentally changed and the current system must be restructured to reflect these changes. This requires acknowledgement of new fiscal and personnel requirements necessary to
meet current and future demands for a full spectrum of services including: resilience-building, assessment, prevention, early intervention, and provision
of an easily-accessible continuum of treatment for psychological health for service members and their families in Active and Reserve components." After this report was released, the military announced it would develop a plan to hire hundreds of psychiatrists and mental health workers to help returning vets and their families. This will take a great deal of time to orchestrate. Meanwhile,
there remains a significant and spiraling gap between the war veterans suffering from PTSD who receive effective and timely help and those who do not.

This is the story of one such veteran who is in his mid-twenties and has served three tours in Iraq, was in Baghdad when it fell and was in the first entry into Fallujah.

His PTSD symptoms included nightmares, substance abuse, depression,
angry outbursts, intrusive, obsessive thoughts and images, feeling that his
future would be cut short, feeling distant and cut off from others, lack of confidence and indulging in some other addictive behaviors. He came in for his first session of Neurofeedback with a large amount of skepticism and very guarded. At the end of his session, which he slept through, he was so sore he could hardly get up from the chair - it was the first time in years that his body had started to relax and feel. That soreness was greatly reduced by the next session. After only nine hours of Neurofeedback, he reports that his anger is virtually non-existent - he can handle whatever comes his way in a calm, responsive manner. His tobacco and alcohol consumption have decreased to less than half of what they were. His nightmares are gone. His physical performance, strength and stamina in the martial arts have increased. He is no longer living in the constant heightened state of alertness that served him so
well in the military but knows that those abilities are but a moment away if he needs them. Some of the other subtle changes he has noticed is that he is not practicing evasive maneuvers while simply driving on the freeway. In his own words "You've given me my life back."

Frank E.

The calming effect of brain balancing has allowed me to access parts of my potential that I didn’t know existed. It allows me to push through issues
that in the past would have stopped me cold. The quality and soundness of my sleep have improved which has given me more energy. The power of the visual feedback of training allows me to see the chaos I create in my brain.
When I realize that I am creating that chaos, I immediately picture the feedback and I am able to calm myself, just as if I were sitting in the chair receiving brain balancing. I’m hooked.

June Cline
www.junecline.com

Dear Sue,

I wanted to both thank you and catch you up on my experiences with your program on brain balancing. Having spent years understanding various methods of managing emotional triggers with external means, you can imagine I have a high degree of respect for what works and significant disdain for what does not. You may also imagine I wasn't quite certain which category to put your program into and without actually trying it, there would have been no way for me to know. Now after working with your tools and system, I appreciate what it has done for me and am excited to contemplate what it will do for others.

As we moved through the first series of sessions, I noticed a reduced state of "brain clutter" or constant series of thoughts always humming away as I work through myriad issues around the work I do. It was a minor seeming thing though I did recognize a greater ability to focus on any single given task and though I have nothing to measure it against, I believe I was able to move
through these tasks much faster. What first impressed me though, in a very big way was a weekend I was on a business trip and I received two pieces of news that individually would have been difficult but in concert, would typically have created for me a significant reduction in capability of working through these issues due to the stresses involved. In this case however, I worked through
them mentally, individually, and then executed a strong plan of action on both. The concentration I was able to muster based on our work was the single most important thing that led me through. For this I wish to thank you.

Now several months later, I am noticing that some of the work we had done back then has led me to a place where I am far more focused on things that
are important to me. I don't quite know how to articulate this but I believe that because I worked through some of my own obstacles to things I wanted to achieve, I changed the direction of my life. While I don't have the results in
hand at this moment, I can tell you clearly I am approaching my goals from a dramatically different perspective and am driven in a greater "success" pattern than I was a few months ago. I have no doubt our work was a hallmark to that effort.

I hope Sue you will feel comfortable sharing my results with others. When you first explained the value of brain balancing to me, I knew I was not a drug user.
I wasn't sure if I would see any results. As I have outlined, for a predominantly functioning person, I have found results I am very happy with. More importantly,
I am looking forward to what this new found "balance" will bring to my hopes
and dreams. Thanks for all you have done for me.

Warmest regards,
Michael Goodman

I am an Engineer at an aerospace firm in Phoenix. I have always had what I consider a poor memory and frustrations with "finding the right word" in conversations. To help improve this problem, I went to the Institute for Optimum Balancing. After the first session, I noticed it was easier to focus on specific tasks and had an improvement in my memory recall! After the first 5 sessions,
I noticed a significant improvement in my concentration, and a reduced problem with distractions. I could focus on the task at hand, tune out most of the mental noise of the day's activities, and complete the tasks in a shorter amount of time, with improved confidence. Along with this was improved memory recall, and as
a result, a reduction in the fumbling frustration of the "finding the right word." This has helped in both my professional and private life.

I am very happy with the results of my brain training, and will continue periodically with "tune-up" visits. I look at the fact that I have been working
with the same neuro-patterns for a long time. To improve my mental capabilities, I expect that I would have to modify them or generate new ones. As "Rome
wasn't built in a day", I expect that new neuro-patterns have to be developed, and practiced with, which takes time. The tune-up sessions reinforce the positive changes that have developed during the initial training. I am very satisfied with neurofeedback and would recommend it to anyone that would like to enhance their mental well being.

Dave Peterson

My daughter was diagnosed with ADD by a physician and was under his care until she became an adult. Friends recommended she try brain balancing.
After the first session I noticed she was calmer and more focused then I had ever seen before in her life. She has commented on how much better she is sleeping even with two toddlers, full time job and college classes. After seeing my daughter’s success I decided I needed go to the Institute for Optimum balancing. My personal experience with brain balancing has been outstanding. My focus and ability to recall the word I am looking for is greatly improved. When talking with colleagues and customers I was stumbling to recall simple words and thoughts. Now my thoughts and speech are clear and concise.

As an applications engineer I need to stay focused on the project regardless
of how often email pops up. Look up procrastination in the dictionary and there was my picture. Now I am able to focus on which email, phone call, office drop in will require a later time slot and make it happen. Brain balancing has greatly improved my work and home life by reducing the noise that was getting in my way.

Thank you Sue.

Timothy Swanson
Electronic Applications Engineer

My experience with brain balancing has been phenomenal. My memory and especially my ability to sleep has greatly improved. Better memory and sleep patterns were my main reasons and focus for doing this work, so I certainly obtained my desires in those two areas, however I have gained another bonus that has been extremely beneficial. I no longer procrastinate! I am very delighted to have this new way of operating in my life. I used to get overwhelmed with the ongoing "to do" list; now I just tackle it and get it done in no time. I can honestly say that my life has been deeply improved with my experience with brain balancing.

Sara Hosier
Hosier Consulting, LLC
602 788 8082

"I have been interested in Neurofeedback training for quite some time. However,
I never followed through with it because it didn't seem 'personalized' enough for me. Then I found Sue Shipman and the Institute for Optimum Balancing. Their system is unique in that it is specific to my neuro needs and is all about "brain balancing". Somewhat skeptical to begin with but my results have been numerous. The most remarkable one was that I literally saw immediate results…... As I was coming out of my first session I began my usual routine
of mentally preparing myself to drive, I have had an issue with my clarity of
vision driving at dusk & night yet when I began to drive I was totally amazed!
My vision had improved drastically and has stayed that way. Brain Balancing
is revolutionary, I am thrilled with my results and I highly recommend it.

Thanks Sue!

Sandra Allison
in sight . in mind . in life
www.inSacredSpace.com
480 699 1603

My experience with the Institute for Optimum Balancing and neurofeedback is nothing short of miraculous. I have spent years fighting varying levels of depression. After only one session I could actually feel a difference in my
overall well-being and have it last! Over the years I have tried many different types of anti-depressant drugs and even herbal supplements, without much
help (too many side effects or no effect at all). The only side effect I have experienced with Brain Balancing is one of feeling like I am alive and have a definite direction and focus. The sessions are relaxing and each one has
brought a new level of peace and well-being. As a business consultant with my own consulting practice and a past practitioner of massage and a Reiki Master Teacher, I would HIGHLY recommend anyone experiencing any level of disconnect or overwhelm to schedule a session with the Institute for Optimum Balancing and the Brain Balancing experience.

Sandy Rogers
CNP Triangulus 3 Marketing
www.AskSandyRogers.com

It's been a couple of months now, since Sue Shipman introduced me to the Brain Training technology at Optimum Balancing. I must say, at first glance I wasn't sure about it, however that changed quickly with the additional
knowledge I gained. Today I speak from experience. With 12 sessions under
my belt, let me tell you - it's amazing work.

Of course I started with the standard assessment and moved straight into the regular Brain Training sessions. It's so easy and extremely comfortable and peaceful. Each time I walk out of the office, I feel so relaxed and renewed.

Here's how the technology has helped me: gained a new sense of calm; substantially less stressed; increased energy; relief of pain from a serious fall; memory improvement; much better focus; broke my writers block and I believe there are many more improvements I haven't even touched on.

I am a proponent of this technology and immediately noted a new calm and
relief from tension and stress. Just remember, as with many things in life - this is a process. And I'm here to say that the positive effects really grow with each visit. It's a fantastic process!!!

Diane Zoller
Studio Z Marketing