Systematic desensitization in the treatment of anxiety

Systematic desensitization is a type of behavioral therapy used in the field of psychology to help patients successfully phobias and other anxiety disorders to overcome. For the first time that a South African psychiatrist Joseph Wolpe called this form of therapy the patient is gradually exposed to what he fears. The idea behind this therapy is that the more a patient presents their feared object, the more will be able to deal with the cause of fear and dealing withfeelings.

This technique is also known as "graduated exposure therapy." Understandably, patients must first be trained to be calm and control your anxiety before they are actually exposed to the feared object or situation. Once the coping skills are taught, the patient will be used to respond to the feared object and try to triumph over difficult feelings such as fear.

As you can imagine, almost every phobia patients deliberately trying to avoidthe sources of their fears, like spiders, dogs, snakes or situations encountered in a confined space, the crowds or high places. Escape this purpose does not help to overcome their fears, and ultimately feel the need to determine the cause of their problems.

There is also a group of patients who have tried the methods of distraction to cope with anxiety. derivation methods, as the name suggests, mainly try to involve addictive behavior likedrinking alcohol, smoking or even drugs. Traditional medicines can also be used to treat type of phobic anxiety, but actually the thoughts of patients to reduce their over-reaction to adapt to stimuli.

The key is systematic desensitization gradually rather than quickly, expose patients to the phobic object. Gradually forced to confront what they fear, most patients are capable of reconciliation, tolerance over, and finally acceptthe object. If this technique is applied too quickly or without care to patients, the result can be dangerous and even traumatic.

Together with systematic desensitization, a different treatment techniques are some commonly used at the same time. These include methods such as relaxation breathing techniques, and reinforce positive thoughts. Another effective technique called cognitive restructuring. With this technique the patient is forced to imagine what will happen whenthe feared object is directly opposite him. After actual exposure, the patient is asked to compare his imagination exaggerated their fair response during exposure. It is found that a surprisingly serene effect on the patient to produce.

Despite their sensitivity, systematic desensitization is a very safe method for treating anxiety when applied with professional care. Rather than avoid the source of fear, anxiety, patients now have an option toshoot directly at the root of their problems.