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What is Desensitization Therapy?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Desensitization therapy may refer to two different types of treatments that might be suggested when people have reactions to substances or situations. One of these is considered a behavioral psychological method and the other is the province of allergists. In other words, one treats phobias and the other treats severe allergies. Both use gradual, incremental exposure to reduce severe reactions to these things.

When people discuss desensitization therapy as a means of treating phobias, they may also refer to this as exposure therapy. If a person has a significant fear of something like heights, flying, or leaving the home, a therapist could work with that person to gradually help him undergo extremely gentle and minimal experiences that help increase tolerance of the thing feared. Many different things can be employed, depending on the fear, including pictures, film, smell and others that allow the person to experience the fear in small increments. People do so with a therapist at their side, until they are ready to begin experimenting with some element of the fear on their own.

Systematic desensitization is a technique designed to help individuals conquer phobias.
Systematic desensitization is a technique designed to help individuals conquer phobias.

Another form of desensitization therapy is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). This is most often used to treat traumatic conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder. As people recall memories of stress they may track something moving with their eyes. This form of therapy may relieve trauma, though others find traditional therapies more effective.

Overcoming fear sometimes involves confronting the thing that a person is afraid of, so as to become desensitized to it.
Overcoming fear sometimes involves confronting the thing that a person is afraid of, so as to become desensitized to it.

Just as the person recovering from a phobia or trauma benefits from professional help, the other form of desensitization therapy requires medical assistance, too. Instead of treating fears, this type of therapy treats life-threatening allergies. The two types of therapy bear some similarity to each other, since both use small doses of exposure to the fear or allergen, in order to gradually sensitize the mind or body to the phobia or allergen.

Allergy shots are most frequently used to reduce the reaction to seasonal allergens such as pollen.
Allergy shots are most frequently used to reduce the reaction to seasonal allergens such as pollen.

With allergies, in a protected environment, people would gradually undergo increasing exposures to a known allergen. This has to be done with great care, since it is quite possible to induce an anaphylactic reaction if dose is too great. To be very careful, doctors and other medical personnel are at the ready with medicines like epinephrine, should the body react to the substance administered.

Some therapists use desensitization techniques to gradually ease the anxiety and fear associated with a patient's phobia.
Some therapists use desensitization techniques to gradually ease the anxiety and fear associated with a patient's phobia.

Over time, tiny amounts of a substance given in allergic desensitization therapy may help end allergic reaction. This doesn’t work for everyone, but it is effective in enough cases that it may be recommended when people have severe allergies to a high number of substances. Danger or life-threatening reactions regularly may suggest trying this therapy because otherwise, a person may be unable to pursue a normal life due to constant fear of exposure to allergens.

Desensitization therapy may be helpful for people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Desensitization therapy may be helpful for people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

With phobias/trauma and severe allergies, the ability to live a normal life may be restricted. In both cases, this therapy model may be of use in allowing people to pursue much more regular lifestyles. Phobia treatment can have an excellent rate of success and allergy treatment may have a good outcome. Each treatment is worth exploring when these problems are severe.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon995931

I am concerned about a patient who has experienced severe brain trauma, who has recovered remarkably, except left with severe anxiety while traveling in a car.

mjar855

What is the relationship between desensitization and ED?

christensen

@ surfNturf: An uninsured person might pay that much for a visit, though there are many therapists who can use EMDR that don't charge anywhere close to the amount you mentioned. About $100-150 is more accurate. Also, in your example you use a soldier. Most soldiers have medical coverage through the Armed Services and this may continue even if they have left the services if they have experienced profound trauma.

cafe41

SurfNTurf- I read somewhere that when a person experiences trauma the left side of their brain essentially shuts down.

This is the side of the brain that provides logic and order so as a result of the trauma all of the memories are stored in the rights side of the brain.

This creates a problem for the person suffering from the traumatic experience because the right side of the brain is always in the present mode so they relive their agony every day.

It also takes a trained therapist to create the right associations that will allow the patient to retell the traumatic events in an orderly fashion. Counseling therapy is required for the person to be able to deal with the trauma and all of the feelings that come with it.

surfNturf

I have heard of eye movement desensitization therapy in order to treat post traumatic stress disorder. The way that eye movement desensitization therapy works is by having the patient view images of the traumatic event and then in the background the therapist will offer different stimuli.

For example, a soldier might be looking at pictures of war and at the same time they will be listening to soft music. In addition, the therapist may interrupt the patient by tapping on their shoulder which will cause them to reprocess information in a more balanced way treating them of their traumatic memories.

These sessions are not cheap and can run about $300 a visit but it is viewed as one of the most recommended forms of therapy to treat people suffering from traumatic events.

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    • Systematic desensitization is a technique designed to help individuals conquer phobias.
      By: pegbes
      Systematic desensitization is a technique designed to help individuals conquer phobias.
    • Overcoming fear sometimes involves confronting the thing that a person is afraid of, so as to become desensitized to it.
      By: Sergey Mostovoy
      Overcoming fear sometimes involves confronting the thing that a person is afraid of, so as to become desensitized to it.
    • Allergy shots are most frequently used to reduce the reaction to seasonal allergens such as pollen.
      By: FedeCandoniPhoto
      Allergy shots are most frequently used to reduce the reaction to seasonal allergens such as pollen.
    • Some therapists use desensitization techniques to gradually ease the anxiety and fear associated with a patient's phobia.
      By: nadezhda1906
      Some therapists use desensitization techniques to gradually ease the anxiety and fear associated with a patient's phobia.
    • Desensitization therapy may be helpful for people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
      By: John Gomez
      Desensitization therapy may be helpful for people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
    • Desensitization therapy may be helpful for individuals who have a fear of social interaction.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      Desensitization therapy may be helpful for individuals who have a fear of social interaction.
    • People with insomnia may undergo desensitization therapy as a way to cope with the fears preventing sleep.
      By: eugenepartyzan
      People with insomnia may undergo desensitization therapy as a way to cope with the fears preventing sleep.
    • Desensitization therapy can help people get over their fear of animals.
      By: sushaaa
      Desensitization therapy can help people get over their fear of animals.