Exposure Therapy: What is It?

If you have ever suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder or situational anxiety then you know how debilitating these disorders can be. If you haven't, imagine a person with situational anxiety; in this example, large groups of people. You do not have your anxiety medication for whatever reason or it simply takes too long to kick in. Several things may happen:

1. Heightened sense of awareness to the surrounding environment.

2. Shortness of breath.

3. Excessive sweating.

4. Chest pain.

5. Elevated blood pressure.

6. Irritability.

7. Restlessness.

8. Fear.

9. Muscle tension.

10. Headaches.

And that is simply the beginning of the list. Rest assured, medications can be effective, especially your anxiolytics such as Xanax or Klonopin and some anti-depressants. However, they are only a temporary solution to a long term problem. A person needs therapy for long term results.

There are many therapies available and chances are you will experience many at once in conjunction with your medications. One of the toughest of the treatments though is Exposure Therapy (ET). Unlike Desensitization Training, ET does not gradually expose a patient to the source of their anxiety or fear. Exposure therapy is a form of behavior therapy. The patient confronts a fearful or traumatic experience, thought, or even a memory. Usually exposure therapy involves reliving a traumatic experience in a controlled, therapeutic environment. Exposure therapy is meant to reduce the stress, physical or emotional, experienced in certain situations. Therefore it is often used in dealing with anxiety, phobias, and post-traumatic stress.

For example, a therapist might help the patient remember a stressful thought or memory, traumatic situation, or feared object. The therapist is there to assist the patient through the traumatic process. Through confrontation of the events or thoughts that cause stress, patients are often able to learn coping skills, eventually reducing or even eliminating symptoms. Relaxation techniques are often taught to the patient to aid them in this process, such as breathing or meditation exercises.

If you suffer from anxiety, phobias or post-traumatic stress disorder, you may want to discuss this option with a therapist. Be warned however, this is somewhat more severe than simple desensitization therapy as it exposes you full force to the source of your troubles, rather than gradually like desensitization.

SOURCES:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-exposure-therapy.htm

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/what-is-exposure-therapy/