USING VIRTUAL REALITY THERAPY TO TREAT PTSD
- PTSD: Post traumatic stress disorder
- Type of anxiety disorder
- Develops after a traumatic event, such as a car accident, bombing, natural disaster, rape, torture, or war.
- In the context of virtual reality therapy, the most common form of PTSD to be seen relates to war. Many soldiers will use VRT after returning from war to help return to their normal lives (DeAngelis).
- Generally the symptoms of PTSD include terrible flashbacks, anxiety, and avoidance of the painful memories.
- Virtual reality therapy gradually exposes patients to events that happen in war, according to what the patient's reports as least stressful and most stressful. Some of the typical events patients are exposed to during virtual reality therapy include ambushes, hospital rooms full of injured patients, a complete battle environment, and sounds of helicopters, guns, and explosions (Virtual Reality Meets Medicine). The patient is given the opportunity to gradually immerse themselves in this environment, where they can fire guns and engage in activities as if it were a real war.
- After partaking in this virtual world with the help of a trusted therapist by their side, PTSD victims report feeling less symptoms and more control of their lives.