Through individual therapy and assignments, prolonged exposure helps patients realize they can encounter stimuli that reminds them of the traumatic accident, assault, natural disaster or other event without fear. These threats may include people, places or anything else that reminds the person of the trauma-inducing event. How does prolonged exposure work?Īfter experiencing a traumatic event, a person's brain goes into a survival mode and tries to protect them by recognizing possible threats related to the trauma, ensuring the trauma won’t occur again. The technique is also useful for decreasing depression, anger, and general anxiety. Prolonged exposure is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which helps people with trauma (posttraumatic stress disorder) process single or multiple traumas or continuous trauma and reduce symptoms. You know that if you sit with your anxiety long enough, it will decrease on its own. Habituation is important because it’s the point at which someone no longer needs their impulsive behavior to reduce their anxiety. This way of reducing anxiety is called habituation. Over time, you realize you can drive safely and the likelihood that you’ve hit someone is very slim. For example, if you have to get out of your car every time you run over a pothole because you’re afraid you’ve hit someone, the treatment team may ask you drive down bumpy roads for longer and longer intervals each time, without checking your car. The goal of ERP is to be exposed to a feared situation while avoiding the compulsive behavior long enough that the anxiety decreases.
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