Overcoming Fear of Heights by Martin Antony

Author:Martin Antony [Martin M. Antony, PhD]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781608825240
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications

Stay in the Situation, Despite Your Fear

One of the most important findings across studies on exposure-based treatments is that longer exposures are more effective than briefer exposures. How long is long enough? For years, experts have recommended that people stay in feared situations long enough for their fear to decrease. However, research suggests that even if your fear doesn’t decrease during a particular practice, you will still likely benefit from the session (Craske and Mystkowski 2006). The key is to stay long enough to learn that your anxious predictions don’t come true and that the situation is safer than you originally thought. In practice, exposure sessions should last at least thirty minutes and up to two hours. At our center, we typically schedule sessions for about ninety minutes. If the person’s fear decreases sooner than that, we use the time to move on to a more difficult step on the hierarchy. In addition to these “official” practices, it is fine to take advantage of brief exposure opportunities as they arise throughout the week (such as driving over a bridge on your way to work).

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