Innovative technologies can help people overcome their fears, anxieties

By Staff Writer

Virtual reality technologies may help individuals overcome their phobias and psychotic disorders, according to a new report.

The study, which appears in the magazine Delft Outlook, tested the effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) systems. This pilot program allowed participants to experience social situations that they were afraid of, such as flying, small spaces and crowded settings.

Researchers found that this technique helped some participants overcome their anxieties. By experiencing a simulated environment, they learned that their fears never came to fruition.

For example, some people with social phobias are afraid to sit in public places, such as train stations or parks. They are afraid that other citizens will look at them for long periods of time.

VTER allows people to discover that their fears are typically unwarranted. The simulator demonstrates that bystanders may look at the individual for several seconds, but they eventually look away. Thus, there is no real danger and their anxieties are based solely on speculation.

Teens who have problems socializing with their peers may benefit from a summer boot camp, which allows them to meet other people who have similar setbacks.