Exposure Therapy - has anyone tried this?

[TooShyShy]

My friend at work had mentioned this to me - it makes sense.



Exposure therapy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Exposure therapy is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique for reducing fear and anxiety responses, especially phobia, based on the principles of habituation and cognitive dissonance.

It is similar to systematic desensitization, though it works more quickly and produces more robust results.[citation needed]

It is also very closely related to exposure and response prevention, a method widely used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Exposure-based therapy

May be effective in preventing the progression from acute stress disorder to post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a report in the June, 2008 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. [1]


Techniques

Exposure therapy identifies the cognitions, emotions and physiological arousal that accompany a fear-inducing stimulus, and attempts to break the pattern of escape that strengthens the fear response through measured exposure to progressively stronger stimuli until habituation is reached.

The technique involves the creation of a program of steadily escalating steps or challenges (a Method of Factors), which can be explicit or implicit, that work towards a final goal representing a 'non-phobic' behavior.

The patient then voluntarily moves through the steps with a means of terminating each step which is under voluntary control.


There's more info online..i googled it.

 

[manicexpressyv]

I just learned about exposure therapy and it seems really promising. It is in alignment with facing your fears, which I have always felt was the right approach, albeit the most challenging.

Another reason I believe exposure therapy has potential is because of the effects I have observed on my social anxiety this past week. I have been putting extra effort into going out recently, with the help of a couple friends that do not have social anxiety. The first night I went out to a bar I felt miserable. There were tons of people there, it was loud, and everyone seemed to be having a good time except me. And when I did talk with someone, I even noticed how much their body language was closed-off to me!

A couple nights later I went out again, this time to a more relaxed environment and with more people who knew one another. I was still nervous, but it felt a lot easier for some reason.

Two nights later I went out to a bar and even did some dancing.

Keep in mind, this is really out of character for me, but I've been pushing myself to just get out there and not stay in the house, and I've been truly surprised by the results.

Last night I went to a bar with my friends again. It was filled with people laughing, talking, carousing- doing all those anxiety-inducing things people do! And I felt... relaxed. It was bizarre. I talked with my friends and the distractions weren't that distracting. I felt worthwhile, like my self-worth wasn't threatened just by having people around. I scanned the room, unafraid of accidental eye contact.

The remarkable part of all this is that I can't think of any other change that has occurred. No change in beliefs, no change in attitude, no change in approach. Just a willingness to get out there no matter how sucky it seems. Repeated exposure to this environment appeared to single-handedly lower my levels of anxiety. Now I'm just concerned with sticking with this routine and making sure I don't relapse. If I can spend some time in crowded places a few times a week, even if I have to force myself, I think I can reach a point where social anxiety is no longer controlling my life, and instead I am making my own decisions about how to live.

 

[TooShyShy]

Yes, i agree by ''exposing'' yourself to your fears in small doses at first, then eventually being able to let yourself even ''closer'' to your fear by being more open to it in larger doses (as time goes on) it desensitizes you to the fear and inturn makes it all more bareable...and eventually more comfortable to face your fears on a regular basis.

Now wether it be with approaching/talking to/ being involved with women (just being around them at the mall, store, bank, and then saying hello each time..progressig from there) to public speaking and any other deep seeded fears, etc. it can sooth the fears and eventually bring you to a point of conquerig it i think.

It sounds very promising i agree

 

[Felicidad]

I´m working on this therapy and I am much better now. I trust in it.
Thank you for the information!