How Does Flooding Therapy Works?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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It works

by exposing the patient to their painful memories, with the goal of reintegrating their repressed emotions with their current awareness

. Flooding was invented by psychologist Thomas Stampfl in 1967. It is still used in behavior today. Flooding is a psychotherapeutic method for overcoming phobias.

What is flooding implosive therapy?

a technique in behavior therapy that

is similar to flooding

but distinct in generally involving imagined stimuli and in attempting to enhance anxiety arousal by adding imaginary exposure cues believed by the therapist to be relevant to the client's fear.

What is flooding therapy in psychology?

n.

a technique in behavior therapy in which the individual is exposed directly to a maximum-intensity anxiety-producing situation or stimulus

, either described or real, without any attempt made to lessen or avoid anxiety or fear during the exposure.

What type of psychology is exposure therapy?

Exposure therapy is an essential component of

evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy

(CBT) treatments for phobia, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and social anxiety disorder.

What type of therapy is systematic desensitization?

‌Systematic desensitization therapy is a

type of behavioral therapy

used to treat anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias, and a fear of things like snakes or spiders.

What is an example of flooding therapy?

An individual with claustrophobia, for example, might be asked to spend extended periods of time in a small room. Flooding techniques aim to diminish or extinguish the undesired response to a feared situation or stimulus and are used primarily in the treatment of individuals with

phobias and similar disorders

.

What type of therapy is flooding?

Exposure can help people overcome their fears and phobias stemming from these conditions. Flooding is a specific technique of exposure therapy, which is a

type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

.

Why do I get emotionally flooded?

“Flooding happens

when our sympathetic nervous system detects a threat to our safety

, and begins to prepare us to either head into battle or run for the hills,” Gaum says. So flooding is a stress response that can increase our heart rate, constrict our throats and chests, and cause heavy breathing and sweating.

What is an example of systematic desensitization?

Systematic desensitization begins with imaginary exposure to feared situations. Use your anxiety hierarchy to break down the feared situation into manageable components. For example,

let's say you fear to go into large stores

.

How do you counter condition?

Counter-conditioning means

changing the pet's emotional response

, feelings or attitude toward a stimulus. For example, the dog that lunges at the window when a delivery person walks by is displaying an emotional response of fear or anxiety.

What are the three types of exposure therapy?

During exposure therapy, a therapist guides you through the process of confronting whatever causes you anxiety. There are three types of exposure therapy:

in vivo, imaginal, and flooding

.

What is an example of exposure therapy?

In vivo exposure: Directly facing a feared object, situation or activity in real life. For example, someone with a

fear of snakes might be

instructed to handle a snake, or someone with social anxiety might be instructed to give a speech in front of an audience.

What is fear hierarchy in psychology?

A fear hierarchy is essentially

an exposure treatment plan that lists out specific situations or feared stimuli the patient will gradually face

(Abramowitz, Deacon, & Whiteside, 2012).

What is an example of desensitization?

We can desensitize ourselves to

the summer heat by turning off the air conditioning

, or become desensitized to the cold by walking barefoot in the snow. But desensitize is more often used when talking about negative emotions. Parents worry that their children will be desensitized to violence by playing video games.

What is the process of desensitization?

In psychology, desensitization is a

treatment or process that diminishes emotional responsiveness to a negative, aversive or positive stimulus after repeated exposure to it

.

How do you stop desensitization?

  1. Familiarize yourself with relaxation techniques. …
  2. List at least two items for each level of fear on your hierarchy. …
  3. Practice exposing yourself to your fear each day. …
  4. Remember to stop and use a relaxation exercise when you feel anxious.
James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.