Confronting Anxiety: Is Exposure Therapy Really Effective?
One minute, you’re standing in the comfort of your own home, perfectly content and happy. The next minute, there’s a knocking at the door.
Your anxiety skyrockets. Your heart rate instantly increases. You feel short of breath. Beads of sweat start to form on your forehead. Your worst fear is standing on the other side of the door.
Confronting anxiety may seem nerve-wracking, but it is possible. Let’s learn more about exposure therapy and if it’s really that effective.
What Is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy where a person is gradually exposed to their fears or anxieties related to specific activities, situations, or things. This type of therapy is done in a safe and secure environment where a licensed and trained mental health professional will work with the client and slowly expose them to their fears.
Conditions It’s Used For
Exposure therapy is a well-suited treatment option for a variety of mental health conditions. These are a few of the conditions exposure therapy is used for:
- Eating disorders
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Social anxiety disorder
- Stress
Types of Exposure Therapy
There are a few different types and ways of conducting exposure therapy.
Imaginal Exposure Therapy
This type of exposure therapy involves imagining the specific activity, situation, or thing that you fear. For example, if you’re afraid of heights, a therapist may ask you to think of climbing a mountain or walking across a bridge.
In Vivo Exposure Therapy
In vivo exposure therapy means “in real life.” This therapy option involves facing a fear head-on. For example, if you’re afraid of snakes, your therapist may have you pet or hold one.
Interoceptive Exposure Therapy
Interoceptive exposure therapy involves triggering certain symptoms that may come on when you’re experiencing one of your fears. This is a great technique to teach individuals that, while the symptoms they experience are uncomfortable, they aren’t harmful to them.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
Virtual reality exposure therapy involves the use of virtual reality technology to help simulate the activities, situations, or things that you may be fearful of. This is especially helpful when exposure to real-life scenarios may not be possible. For example, if a person has a fear of flying, it may be difficult for a therapist to work with them on getting on a plane.
Graded Exposure
With graded exposure, your therapist will have you start off by listening to your fears in order of how intense they are. They’ll focus on the fears that are mild or moderate and move on to more severe fears as time passes.
Flooding
Flooding is the same concept as graded exposure. With flooding, you start off with the more severe or intense fears and work your way down to the moderate and mild ones.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Prolonged exposure therapy is about a three-month commitment. It typically involves seeing a therapist every week for a total of eight to fifteen sessions.
Systematic Desensitization
Systematic desensitization is an approach that combines exposure with relaxation techniques. The relaxation techniques are incorporated to make the exposure feel a bit more manageable. It’s also a great way to remain calm and stay positive towards your fears.
The Benefits
Exposure therapy has shown many benefits for individuals struggling with anxiety, fears, or phobias. This form of therapy helps to reduce the negative associations that you have with these fears and reduces your reaction to the fear itself so that you feel a greater sense of control at the moment. Exposing yourself to your fears can be even more beneficial and effective than taking medication. You’ll build upon your self-confidence, and the benefits can last for years after treatment.
Next Steps
Getting started is the hardest part. Reach out to us today to learn more about getting started with exposure therapy.