This is because exposure therapy targets learned behaviors that people engage in most often the avoidance in response to situations or thoughts and memories that are viewed as frightening or anxiety-provoking. For example, a rape survivor may begin to avoid relationships or going out on dates for fear that she will be attacked again. It is important to recognize that this learned avoidance serves a purpose. When a person experiences a traumatic event , he may begin to act in ways to avoid threatening situations with the goal of trying to prevent that traumatic experience from happening again.

Avoidance is a safety-seeking or protective response. However, as this avoidance behavior becomes more extreme, a person's quality of life may lessen. He may lose touch with family or experience difficulties at work or in relationships.

In addition, avoidance can make PTSD symptoms stick around longer or even intensify. In addition, by avoiding thoughts, memories, and emotions, a person doesn't let himself fully process those experiences. The goal of exposure therapy then is to help reduce a person's fear and anxiety, with the ultimate goal of eliminating avoidance behavior and increasing quality of life. This is done by actively confronting the things that a person fears.

By confronting feared situations, thoughts, and emotions, a person can learn that anxiety and fear will lessen on its own. So, how does a person actively confront feared situations, thoughts, and emotions during exposure therapy? A number of methods may be used by a therapist. These are described below. In vivo exposure refers to the direct confrontation of feared objects, activities or situations by a person under the guidance of a therapist.

For example, a woman with PTSD who fears the location where she was assaulted may be assisted by her therapist in going to that location and directly confronting those fears as long as it is safe to do so.

Likewise, a person with social anxiety disorder who fears public speaking may be instructed to directly confront those fears by giving a speech. In imaginal exposure, a client is asked to imagine feared images or situations. Imaginal exposure can help a person directly confront feared thoughts and memories.

Imaginal exposure also may be used when it is not possible or safe for a person to directly confront a feared situation. For example, it would not be safe to have a combat veteran with PTSD to directly confront a combat situation again. Therefore, he may be asked to imagine a feared combat situation that he experienced.

Interoceptive exposure was originally designed to treat panic disorder. However, there is evidence that interoceptive exposure may be successful in the treatment of PTSD as well. The therapist may assist this by having a person in a controlled and safe manner hyperventilate for a brief period of time, exercise, breathe through a straw or hold his breath. Prolonged exposure therapy is a combination of the above three methods.

Prolonged exposure has been found to be very effective for PTSD sufferers. Prolonged exposure therapy consists of education about trauma and what you will be doing, learning how to control your breathing interoceptive exposure , practicing in the real world in vivo exposure , and talking about your trauma imaginal exposure.

You will listen to a recording of this part of your session at home between sessions. Yes, you will practice doing some of the things you have avoided since your trauma. You will start with activities that are manageable for you, and you will work up to activities that are more challenging. You will also listen to a recording of your therapy sessions, including your imaginal exposure recording. Practicing these skills between sessions helps you get the most out of PE. Smaller VA facilities that do not offer PE may be able to use video-conferencing to have you receive PE from a provider at another location.

It a free download on most mobile devices. After your initial download, you will not be required to use your personal minutes or data.

This app does not share any information with the VA, so it is up to you if you want to show your provider your information. Trying to figure out which PTSD treatment is best for you? Go To Provider Version. Veterans Crisis Line: Press 1. Complete Directory. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, visit VeteransCrisisLine. Quick Links. Share this page. What Type of Treatment Is This? Providers describe PE in this 1 minute video. Video How PE works. Effectiveness of national implementation of prolonged exposure therapy in veterans affairs care.

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