Mr. X was quite scared of entering into an MRI machine...it felt so claustrophobic...even though he knew that imaging was important for his diagnosis..& actually there was no danger..he couldn't convince himself enough!!

Mr. Y was so used to travelling on flights for his office related work but a sudden pain attack during a turbulent flight has changed his work life...he avoids travel & is even thinking of changing his job..

Mrs.A has always been scared of giving presentations & speeches right from her childhood & was able to manage her life around this by avoiding such situations. But with a role change ...she couldn't escape from her fears any longer. This made her spend sleepless nights prior to even small presentations at her office...her promotions were suffering due to her avoidance even though she had good knowledge of the subject..

Do you identify any such examples in your life or in people around you?

Fears, Phobias & anxieties do take a huge toll on the person who suffers from it ...Avoidance or escape from the situation seems the only feasible option for him/her..But at what cost?? ...A restricted life...feelings of dread , shame etc..

For such fears & anxieties one of the common techniques advised is Exposure therapy... to gradually start facing your fears to get accustomed to the situation & in turn slowly reducing the anxiety associated with it. For many, this seems an impossible task ..for others they don't get the emotional support while they are in that anxious situation.

Virtual Reality is a boon for such patients!! They can actually face the situation immersed in virtual reality in the comfort of the Therapist's cabin & learn to manage the resultant anxiety while getting the much needed support from the therapist....so comforting for people with fears & phobias.

Which disorders are usually managed using VIRTUAL REALITY or VR Therapy ?

  1. Fears or Phobias (fear of Animals, heights, closed spaces, crowded places,Flying, Darkness)
  2. Anxieties ( Social Anxiety, Public Speaking Anxiety )
  3. Attention Training for ADHD
  4. Mindfulness & Relaxation through Virtual Reality (VR)
  5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  6. Post-Traumatic stress Disorder (eg. accidents etc)
  7. School refusal 

For more information about this Therapy, do talk to a mental health professional who will guide you about the possibility of using VR for your problems. They can discuss the details of this therapy as well as clear any doubts or queries that you might have..