Almost everybody experiences feelings of anxiety about something. It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious about anything from giving a presentation through to a job interview, driving or catching an infection. In some situations, slight anxiety can even be a positive thing! For example, a motorist who is well aware of the potential they have to cause an accident may be more likely to drive in a responsible manner. Unfortunately, for some people, these natural feelings can become more intense, causing them to avoid an activity or situation because it evokes such severe feelings of anxiety. This may mean, for example, that a motorist becomes so anxious at the thought of driving that they won’t get behind the wheel. Other people may become so concerned that they might catch an infection that they begin to avoid public transport, work or social situations. In these distressing circumstances, exposure therapy might help.
What is exposure therapy?
As the name suggests, exposure therapy involves very gradually exposing the patient to the thing they are most anxious about</a>. The exposure poses no physical danger to the patient. Over time, many patients find that their levels of anxiety begin to lessen when faced with the dreaded object or situation until they are able to tolerate it better. Exposure therapy is frequently combined with other forms of talking therapy, in order to provide support in overcoming issues which may be contributing to the anxiety or preventing it from improving.
What type of conditions can exposure therapy be used to treat?
The therapy can be used to treat:
– Phobia (an irrational fear of an object or situation)
– Obsessive-compulsive disorder
– Post-traumatic stress disorder
– Generalised anxiety disorder
If you are considering asking for help to overcome anxiety regarding a particular set of circumstances or issue that health psychology might be able to treat, it’s important to remember that exposure therapy is a graduated process – you will not be “thrown in at the deep end” to confront your fears. It’s also important to note that your therapist will be with you every step of the way, giving you the support you need, as well as providing a number of self-help tools that you can practise between appointments.
