How Does Exposure Therapy Help Treat Social Anxiety Disorder?
¼ of people in the United States suffer from an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. For people living with phobias and anxiety, exposure therapy is considered an effective treatment that you can turn to. Exposure therapy is often underutilized in behavioral therapies, and many individuals miss out on effective treatment for their anxiety disorders.
As effective as exposure therapy is considered, its effects are applied differently depending on your anxiety disorder type. Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) patients can read on to learn how effective a treatment option exposure therapy is in treating their anxiety.
What Is Exposure Therapy?
Exposure therapy helps expose you to your biggest fears to help break your avoidance patterns and is a systematic confrontation of your feared stimuli, either internally or externally. Exposure therapy is done in a safe environment, with the goal being to reduce the individual’s fear to a manageable level.
Types of Exposure Therapy
Depending on the severity of your condition, you will likely be exposed to different types of exposure therapy. Each of these treatment types works for different types of anxiety disorders, and you should consult a professional to determine what therapy is right for you.
In Vivo Exposure Therapy
In vivo exposure involves the patient confronting their fears in real life. In vivo starts with simple thoughts about the fear and then levels up into more complex situations if the therapist deems it acceptable.
Imaginal Therapy
If in vivo exposure is difficult for the patient, imaginal exposure therapy might be a good option. Imaginal therapy involves asking the patient to describe their fears and scenarios using sensory details.
Virtual Reality Therapy
Virtual reality imaginal therapy is a more modern technique used to help stimulate physical sensations involving fear. Virtual reality is a newer addition to the table and can aid imaginal therapy in creating simulated scenarios of real-life events for patients (i.e., a person with a fear of flying might land a plane on a flight simulator).
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Prolonged exposure therapy works for patients needing treatment for long-lasting and deep-rooted anxiety disorders. This process works by providing repeated exposure for extended periods and educating the patient with techniques to help them deal with their symptoms.
What Forms of Anxiety Does Exposure Therapy Help?
Exposure therapy is used to aid in treating all types of anxiety disorders, including:
SAD
PTSD
Panic Disorder
Phobias
OCD
How Effective Is Exposure Therapy for SAD?
It’s important to note that the effectiveness of exposure therapy depends on your situation, as everyone is different. That being said, exposure therapy is considered an effective method for various anxieties, and that doesn’t stop at SAD.
Prolonged exposure therapy can be used for SAD. It works to address the “chain reaction” associated with avoiding situations and the negative thoughts and emotions that occur when in uncomfortable or unfamiliar locations. The gradual pace helps patients recover from their fears without feeling rushed and is flexible enough to adapt to the responses of every SAD patient using coping strategies that allow individuals to live a life according to their values and decreasing avoidance behaviors.
The goal of exposure therapy for SAD patients is to acquire new information about social settings while disconfirming any negative beliefs and thoughts the patient may have. Expoure therapy for SAD can also help indirectly, as patients can practice situations that aren’t in traditional “social settings” but do require a similar process to overcome, such as:
Posting a conversation online.
Sharing an opinion on social media.
Introducing yourself to someone new.
Ordering food.
Performing activities like drinking, eating, or giving a compliment and posting it online.
Overall, SAD patients can expect exposure therapy to be an effective method to help overcome their disorder that isn’t on the more extreme end of the spectrum.
Find Out if Exposure Therapy Is Right for You
The best way to get the treatment you need for your anxiety disorder is to turn to licensed professionals for your therapy and treatment. The team at The FLOAAT Center offers adaptive cognitive behavioral therapy in Gainesville, Florida, for all patients, in addition to our developmental testing and assessment services. Contact us and schedule an appointment today to develop a plan for your needs!
