Imagination can be wonderfully delightful (a good book, a child’s creativity), highly practical (designing safety procedures), it can also become nefarious (a traumatic memory, a panic inducing nightmare, constantly running worst case scenarios). From a threat preparedness standpoint, the ability to imagine and conceptualize problems (like children getting injured or killed from a safety hazard) helps us think through problems and find solutions, when done appropriately. It’s part of what makes us wonderfully human. We’ve done this for even longer as humans through verbal storytelling. Have you ever seen behind the scenes? It’s funny what effect a studio tour or footage has on the mind when you have the “curtain pulled back.” Imaginal exposure capitalizes on the brain’s creative ability. It appears so real- so NYC, Seattle, or Scranton. Exposure, though, is about facing fears that are creating problems for an individual- pathological (disordered) fears. Hear me loud and clear: fear is a healthy emotion in context- we need to honor it when we use it in a healthy way. Imaginal Exposure accomplishes this with thoughts and ideas. It is done in the context of addressing unhelpful/pathological responses to fear. Let’s jump in.Įxposure Therapy, in a phrase, is the systematic and intentional triggering of fear while minimizing- and ideally eliminating- all pathological responses. By first-rate, I also mean clinically first line treatment (highly recommended with the best evidence) for Anxiety, OCD, Phobias, PTSD, Social Anxiety, and more. To those of us who use it every day, it’s a high horsepower beast of a tool that ages like a fine wine- with time, discipline, skill, and determination the end product typically is first-rate.
I’m referencing the use of Imaginal Exposure.Īre you a newbie to OCD, PTSD, Anxiety Disorders, CBTor Exposure Therapy? You will want to understand these before trying to grasp Imaginal Exposure- which might otherwise seem strange, weird, harmful, or negative. There is a purpose behind what I’m sharing, so stick with me! In fact, the purpose is so distinctive and powerful, that for many people, entering willfully into sitting with scary content is the only thing that will help them overcome tremendous fear and consequent suffering. If they are, in exposure therapy you would most likely learn to repeat these thoughts over and over. Imagine intentionally telling yourself- again and again- “Maybe I’ll get sick and die.” Or, “I’ll have a sudden urge to kill someone.” Or, “Maybe I blasphemed God and will go to hell.” What if your therapist asked you to repeat these things to yourself? Does that sound like negative self-talk? A cause for grave concern? Not if they’re intrusive thoughts.
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