#exposure therapy in ptsd

[skyrim-forever]

I’m in my hometown on and off until Sunday

Send help

[dikdikpronouncedxylophone]

Doing exposure therapy when your trigger is something that feels a bit ridiculous is kinda funny when I think about it in hindsight. I'm in the hallway intensely staring at my phone, somebody peeks over my shoulder, and I'm seething at the 🥺 emoji.

[waywardtyrantpirate]

God, I wanna cry so bad. I was doing laundry today and my brain keeps saying that I drank the wrong amount of drinks in between loads an now I can't apply for jobs but I really need to apply for jobs. I'm literally going insane. But my brain says that if I do that then *something really bad, a very specific and horrible intrusive thought* will happen an itll be all my fault bc im evil.

Anybody else relate???

[theoverstimulated]

"We learned about The Polyvagal Theory (including the Vagus Nerve) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System in previous posts. Cold Exposure can help with anxiety and dysregulation by stimulating your vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system. When cold restricts your blood vessels, it also activates the vagus nerve which slows your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure, and signals to your body that it is time to relax (rest & digest). Applying cold can help in a short timeframe and repeatedly using cold exposure techniques over time may help reduce stress and inflammation."

[starfishinthedistance]

OCD exposures are so embarrassing like "ah yes I need a mental health professional to help me through Wearing The Socks My Brain Has Designated As Bad"

[weemietime]

I mean this sincerely and not simply to hurt. You are a monster.

With asks like this, I can plainly see that the cruelty is the point. I'm at a place in my journey where things like this don't affect me nearly as much as they used to. There was a period of time where I would have taken such a comment to heart, genuinely. I believed I was an irredeemable monster, because of the actions I took as a child under the command of the adults around me who had forced me into the violent armed group that I was part of.

The reason I am publishing this ask is not to tell you this, it is not to convey to you the depths to which you are demonstrating cruelty by stating these things, but it is for other people. Other people who have perpetration-induced traumatic stress, other people who have been in the forensic/criminal justice system, other people who have been rehabilitated through self-discovery and treatment/therapy.

To those people, I say: we are not monsters. Everyone is a product of the environment that they originate, and their physiological composition. I've spent the past 17 years studying trauma and aggression in an effort to modify my harmful behaviors and to learn empathy, and I have been successful in this endeavor.

We are not monsters. And to take it a step further, I am not a monster. I was a child, an 8 year old kid, who was acting under intense duress at the behest of the adults around him who should have protected him instead of trafficked him to the highest bidder. There is no such thing as an ontologically evil person, but if there were, the person here who may rise to the definition is not me. It is you. I strongly encourage you to take a real inventory of yourself, and examine what prompted you to come here and fling mindless insults like this at a stranger with the pure intention of causing them pain.

[csaventing]

Has anyone done Prolonged Exposure (PE) or DBT-PE for their cptsd/ptsd? How did it go?

[passitonandon]

this was when it was MOST DARKNESS (check out the song) & it contained #suicide? No way. How is this possible? Admitting that I couldn't read, that an app helped & it has put away video already so I know longer have to do any of that because I just have to be ____ to someone.

[aneurizma]

Forgot i am 40% blind and walked straight into automatic door at my psych appointment but it's okay because i did that with 100% vision too

[astertimberwolf]

I've gotten to -5 a few times and I hope I never go there EVER again.

Insanity is really not enjoyable peeps. Especially when caused by incessant, unbearable amounts of pain... 💀💀💀

Strange to say but after healing recently I've been mostly at 4, sometimes 3 during a "meh" day. It almost feels strange to be so close to normal now.

we usually think of mood as a scale from 1-5, but there's actually a negative scale too, where the frown turns back into a smile, but just a little insane !

[joinmeintheweeds]

the judge denied my non publishing request for a name change on the basis of transphobia, because he doesn't accept the assumption that community statistics of violence offer a compelling argument that a trans individual would be in danger publishing their personal information.... That was the main reason I was procrastinating filing too! 😃🔫

[waywardtyrantpirate]

Hey,

I just stopped a compulsion/did a compulsion wrong. I took 27 drinks (which is a bad number) I'm feeling crazy.

[newinsightsbehavioralhealth]

The Use of Virtual Reality to Treat PTSD: A New Frontier in Mental Health Care

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex and often debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Traditional treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication have helped many, but not all individuals respond well to these approaches. That’s where new technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) are coming in, offering a cutting-edge way to treat PTSD that is showing promising results.

At New Insights Behavioral Health, we’re always exploring the latest innovations in mental health treatment to provide our patients with the best possible care. In this blog, we’ll dive into how VR is being used to treat PTSD and what this exciting technology could mean for the future of mental health care.

1. How Does Virtual Reality Help Treat PTSD?

Virtual Reality therapy, also known as Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET), is a form of exposure therapy that uses immersive VR environments to help individuals confront traumatic memories in a controlled, safe space. Exposure therapy has long been a proven method for treating PTSD by gradually desensitizing individuals to the triggers of their trauma. VR takes this concept a step further by placing patients directly in lifelike environments related to their trauma, allowing them to confront difficult emotions while under the guidance of a trained therapist.

The immersive nature of VR allows individuals to experience real-life scenarios in a way that talking about their trauma in a traditional therapy session might not. By safely re-experiencing the traumatic event in a virtual setting, individuals can work through their emotions and responses, gradually gaining more control over their symptoms.

2. Customizable and Controlled Therapy

One of the major benefits of using VR in PTSD treatment is the ability to customize the experience for each individual. Unlike traditional talk therapy, where patients are asked to recall their trauma through memory, VR offers a fully immersive environment tailored to the individual’s specific triggers. Whether it’s a combat scenario for veterans or a natural disaster for a survivor, the virtual environment can be adjusted to fit the needs of the patient.

This customization allows for a controlled form of exposure, ensuring that the patient is never overwhelmed during the process. The therapist can pause or adjust the session in real time, making the treatment highly flexible and patient-centered.

3. The Science Behind VR and PTSD Treatment

Virtual Reality’s ability to treat PTSD is supported by scientific studies showing that VRET can be as effective, if not more, than traditional exposure therapy. Research suggests that VR triggers the same psychological and emotional responses as real-life exposure, helping to rewire the brain’s response to trauma. By repeatedly confronting the traumatic event in a controlled VR environment, individuals can reduce the power of the traumatic memory and lessen their overall PTSD symptoms.

What we still don’t fully understand is why VR may be more effective for some individuals compared to traditional methods. One hypothesis is that the fully immersive nature of VR makes the experience more intense, helping to break through barriers that traditional therapy might not reach. While more research is needed, the early results are encouraging.

4. Who Can Benefit from VR Therapy for PTSD?

While VR therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s proving to be an effective option for many individuals with PTSD who haven’t responded well to traditional treatments. Veterans, first responders, survivors of assault, and individuals who have experienced traumatic accidents or natural disasters may all benefit from VR exposure therapy.

Patients who have difficulty engaging in talk therapy or feel overwhelmed by the idea of reliving their trauma in a clinical setting might find VR to be a more approachable option. The technology allows for gradual exposure, with the therapist guiding the experience step by step.

5. The Future of Virtual Reality in Mental Health

Virtual Reality therapy is still a relatively new tool in the world of mental health treatment, but its potential is vast. As VR technology continues to advance, we can expect even more sophisticated and customizable treatments for PTSD and other mental health disorders. Researchers are also exploring how VR can be used to treat anxiety disorders, phobias, and depression, opening the door to a new era of therapy.

For individuals with PTSD, VR offers hope for a more interactive and personalized treatment approach. At New Insights Behavioral Health, we are excited to see how this technology evolves and how it can be integrated into a comprehensive mental health treatment plan. Our focus remains on providing innovative and compassionate care to help our patients achieve lasting recovery.

Final Thoughts

The use of Virtual Reality to treat PTSD represents a new frontier in mental health care. By offering immersive, customizable therapy sessions, VR provides a powerful tool for helping individuals confront and manage their trauma in a safe and controlled environment. While traditional treatments for PTSD remain effective, VR therapy offers an exciting alternative for those seeking a new approach to healing.

At New Insights Behavioral Health, we stay at the cutting edge of mental health care, incorporating the latest advancements to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. If you or a loved one is struggling with PTSD, we’re here to help you explore all available treatment options, including medication management and more – Contact us today and fill out a new patient form to get started.

[fluffypenguins16]

Re-entering Society

No one ever talks about how painful and isolating it can feel at times when you re enter society as a person who has experienced trauma. Following a mental breakdown at 16 I hid myself away from the world for years grocery shops with my mum became the highlight of my week. The mere thought of leaving the house alone instantly made my body freeze, as my world contracted so did my personality, my spirit, my power. I became a slave to my anxiety. Now at 20 although I am far from healed I am no longer that traumatised little girl whose body could not distinguish between a simple solo walk around the block and being in an active war zone (trains still feel like this for me but I’m slowly working on it) and it’s beautiful in some ways. I have more than I ever dreamed of, a loving partner, beautiful friends, little creative projects I’m working on and for the first time in forever a direction forward in life outside the confines of 4 walls yet I feel alone.

When people reminisce on their high school years I remember how everyday was a battle to stay alive. I feel so alone sometimes but maybe that’s a blessing in disguise because perhaps my path was harder because my calling was higher

[vaguelydefinedshapes]

the fun thing about spending over half your life being suicidally depressed and managing it by developing an extreme fear of death and of hurting people is that it turns out once you start improving you also develop post traumatic stress

[chaos-storm]

I was completely unmasked with my physio therapist today. I just let it show that I'm not doing alright and been having some really rough few days because I was litterally too tired to hide it. I was even 100% honest about how I struggle so much to work out despite how important it is for the future of my knee, because I just have the energy to do the bare minimum most days.

He was 100% kind and understanding. He said it was good that I'm able to do what I can. There were no jabs or nudges that I should push myself more. He just completely understood that for me, working out every other day isn't as easy as for most.

That's such a huge contrast to the first physio-therapist I had (who yelled at me and called me lazy when I wasnt able to keep up daily excersizes) and it was honestly a really nice experience