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  • Essay / The use of VR technology to treat phobias and other anxiety disorders

    Over the past decade, virtual reality has seen massive breakthroughs, with its use expanding to various fields, such as the arts, film production, media, video games and even military training. The virtual environment is presented via a head-mounted display (HMD) consisting of separate screens for each eye, stereo headphones, and a head tracking device. Users of the device can freely navigate the three-dimensional virtual world with a real sense of presence. Through the involvement of computer images, sounds, smells, and other real-time sensory inputs, virtual reality technology invites and immerses its users in real-world interactive experiences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Clinical treatment is among multiple areas that have adapted virtual reality technology. A number of VR applications have been developed for the mental health field, including for the treatment of anxiety disorders, a type of health diagnosis manifested by feelings of worry, fear, and anxiety. There are many anxiety disorders, and scientists have found that phobia is the most common, defined by an "intense fear of situations or objects that actually pose little or no danger." Patients would typically go out of their way to avoid interactions with their phobias by behaving irrationally and unreasonably. Phobias can be divided into three categories: agoraphobia (fear of open spaces, unfamiliar or uncomfortable environments), social phobia or social anxiety disorder (intense fear manifested by the patient when confronted with social situations , must perform in public or be part of social activities). parameters) and specific phobia. Specific phobia is the type of unreasonable fear related to exposure to specific objects or situations and can be divided into five subcategories: animal, natural environment, situational, bloodshot injury and others. Many people believe that phobias cannot be cured and existing treatments are ineffective and they do not even try to research possible treatments. However, various treatments have been used to treat phobias and most of them are effective and practical. The most commonly used treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy. Basically, CBT guides the patient to see and face their fear from a different perspective and learn to control their feelings and thoughts. Another possible method is being suggested after scientists discovered that phobias are usually linked to particular "fear memories" that can be disrupted by exposure to a tarantula. However, more research and instruction needs to be conducted on this method. Another treatment, exposure therapy, could be the reason patients want to avoid treatment: they don't want to confront their fear. However, exposure treatments have been proven to be the most sustainable method, with the intensity of exposure increased gradually. For example, from the photo of the object to the video and eventually the actual object, the entire process is carefully monitored and guided by a therapist. For several years, technology has been developing at unprecedented speed, making virtual reality an ideal tool. for mental health applications. With more research and studies being conducted, computers and VR devices.