Exposure Treatment
Exposure therapy is a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention. People suffering from phobias, panic attacks, and obsessive compulsive disorder benefit from exposure therapy. This therapy is effective because it exposes the individual to the situation that provokes their anxiety. In this therapy, the therapist assists patients in confronting their anxieties until they are no longer afraid. In the initial phase, the therapist creates a less frightening, more tolerable situation for the patient, and then progressively intensifies the situation to achieve desensitization to the trigger.
The therapist uses a variety of exposure techniques to conduct therapy.
In this treatment, the patient is exposed to the hazard in real life. If a person is afraid of blood, for instance, he will be forced to see blood until he becomes accustomed to it.
In this type of exposure therapy, the patient is instructed to envision the situation or object he fears most in order to prevent future anxiety attacks. This technique is beneficial for individuals who have survived a traumatic event, such as an accident.
Anxiety-stricken individuals are exposed to virtual situations that mimic the real world, thereby triggering their anxiety. This will progressively reduce anxiety and make triggers more manageable.
Interoceptive exposure: This form of exposure involves the management of anxiety symptoms. Similar symptoms to those of anxiety are induced. The therapist then guides the patient effectively through the correct management of symptoms. This is the process of relearning the trigger response.
When combined with other techniques, exposure therapy provides 60 to 90 percent positive results.
