They must commit themselves to practicing biofeedback or relaxation exercises every day, change bad habits and even ease up on some good ones. They must accept responsibility for maintaining their own health. Relaxation is a key component in biofeedback treatment of many disorders. Stressful events produce strong emotions, which arouse certain physical responses. Normally, people calm down when a stressful event is over especially if they have done something to cope with it.
Individuals differ in the way they respond to stress.
In some, one function, such as blood pressure, becomes more active while others remain normal. These individual physical responses to stress can become habitual. When the body is repeatedly aroused, one or more functions may become permanently overactive eventually causing damage to body tissues. Biofeedback is often aimed at changing habitual reactions to stress that can cause pain or disease. Feedback of physical responses such as skin temperature and muscle tension provides information to help patients recognize a relaxed state.