Overstimulation (massaged confrontation, flooding) | Therapy of a specific anxiety

Overstimulation (massaged confrontation, flooding)

The assumption for this procedure is that the person concerned only loses his or her fears by being repeatedly confronted with the anxiety-laden situation and thus realizes that the situation does not have any serious consequences. The affected person is directly confronted with the strong fear trigger without a slow approach.Before this step is taken, the person is intensively informed about the procedure by the treating therapist and prepared for it. During the direct confrontation with the fear-induced stimulus, the therapist is always within reach so that he can intervene if necessary.

This way the patient learns that even the worst fear decreases if one remains in the situation and does not seek escape. Provided that this method was carried out with the consent of the person concerned, the previous fear trigger is almost ineffective. The goal of this method is to admit the fear, but still leave the person in the situation that caused the fear and to make sure that nothing happens that could harm him or her.

Prognosis

Specific phobias have one of the best treatment options, as they do not restrict the lives of those affected as much as agoraphobias or social phobias. However, many of those affected see no need for treatment or do not accept help. The specific phobias occur more often in early adulthood.

In childhood, the anxieties can be regarded as “phases” that are only of short duration. For this reason, children cannot yet be assumed to have a phobia. The later a phobia occurs, the more difficult the treatment becomes.

In adulthood, the specific phobias often have a tendency to become chronic. For a good prognosis in the treatment of a specific phobia, several factors must be considered: These are only a few factors that can lead to positive treatment chances.

• Prompt treatment
• The connection of phobia with a current life conflict
• Family support in the treatment of the phobia

As a precautionary measure, the affected person should be aware that biological processes can also lead to a relapse.

The longer a person cured of a phobia does not come into contact with the former fear object, the more the reaction threshold in the brain drops again. A sudden confrontation with the former fear object can therefore lead to a relapse very quickly. For this reason, every person affected can take precautions by regularly continuing in everyday life what they have learned in therapy.

Through the learned relaxation methods, the affected person can regulate his or her anxiety in specific situations, so that normal behavior can be achieved. In the therapy the affected person should also learn new perspectives. It is especially important that the person affected does not feel “at the mercy of fear”, but can actively fight the fear.

Admitting the fear is a big step in the right direction. The encounter with the former object of fear shows the affected person that there will be no catastrophe and that the fear is unfounded. All these steps to become active against the fear will also strengthen the self-confidence of the affected person.

For all prevention methods that have been learned within the therapy, it is important not to expose oneself to any time pressure. With the learned relaxation methods, it should be possible for the affected person to visit even the most intense, fear-inducing situations and to experience them without having to flee.