My experience with exposure has been two-fold. I am able to challenge myself to some extent but would expect greater result if sharing my goals with another or being accountable for following through with the next step up in exposure. I can make great strides through the easier components of the hierarchy but fear that I may never achieve the pinnacle without direct support.
On the other hand, I've often thrown myself too deeply into the feared activity, like the time I went in front of a live audience, sang and played guitar with really very little build up. For a few days after I could feel the shock/trauma/after-effects such that it was almost a deterrent rather than an experience that encourages me to try something even greater.
Exposure therapy identifies the thoughts, emotions
and physiological feeling that you associate with a fear inducing event. It is an attempt to break the pattern that builds the fear by slowly exposing yourself to such events little by little. If you were able to complete an event that you usually associate to your anxious thought patterns good for you. Continue to work on exposing yourself to such events accompany a fear-inducing stimulus, and
attempts to break
the pattern. Some days you may be fine and some days you may experience fear so its important to repeat these exercises regularly.
I'm wondering if I am understanding this program correctly.....I just finished reading session 7. So...so far is it telling me that unless I face my fears without avoidance or distraction techniques I won't unlearn the fear response???????? For example, my first exposure using this program was riding my bike 2 and a half miles, going with my family I've had almost no fear and was able to do it fine. I haven't rode alone the whole way yet but I plan to eventually. Now, if I'm not afraid then I haven't really made progress in the fear department because I haven't pushed myself to the point of real fear and allowing myself to let the fear subside on it's own....Am I understanding this correctly??????
Years ago I was homebound with fear. Then I had no medication, no support group or any medical advice on how to recover. I just pushed myself through the fear and exposed myself to driving and working at a pace I could handle. I successfully returned to doing those things I so is that what I should be doing now?
I guess I'm just looking for some clarification.........I would love to hear from anyone who has some input!!!
