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Systematic desensitization is a type of behavioral therapy used in the field of psychology to help patients successfully conquer phobias and other anxiety disorders. Pioneered by a South African psychiatrist named Joseph Wolpe, this type of therapy treats a patient by gradually exposing him to what he fears. The idea behind this therapy is that the more a patient exposes to his feared object, the more able he becomes to tackle the cause of anxiety and find out how to deal with his feelings.

This technique is also called “graduated exposure therapy”. Quite understandably, patients must first be trained to calm down and manage their fear before they are actually exposed to the feared object or situation. Once the coping skills have been taught, the patient will then utilize them to respond towards the feared object and try to triumph over tough feelings including anxiety.

As you may probably understand, most phobia patients purposefully attempt to avoid the sources of their fears, be it spiders, dogs, snakes or situations like being in a confined space, amongst big crowds or in high spaces. This type of deliberate escape can only provide a non-triggered situation, while the root cause of the problem remains untouched.

Another method for treating the phobic type of anxiety disorder is called distraction method, which is often accused for its negative side effects. Some of the really bad examples involve addictive behaviors such as drinking alcohol, smoking, or even taking drugs. In this regard, traditional medication is also considered distraction method, as it works to slow down patients’ minds so that their exaggerated reaction to the stimuli is somewhat reduced.

The key to be successful with systematic desensitization is to gradually, instead of quickly, expose the patients to the sources of their fear. Doing it too quickly or even suddenly will be dangerous and can worsen the sufferers’ conditions. By forcing the patients slowly to face what they fear, most sufferers can turn from reconciling, tolerating, to finally accepting the objects.

In general, systematic desensitization is not applied alone. Some of the complimentary techniques include relaxation methods (eg, breathing techniques) or reinforcing positive thoughts. Another powerful technique that is often used along side with systematic desensitization is called cognitive reappraisal. This method requires the patients to imagine what will happen if his feared object is right in front of him. After the actual exposure, the patient is asked compared his imagination, which is often exaggerated, against what actually happened during the exposure. In most cases, this has produced great results with phobia patients.

Some people may think that systematic desensitization is a bit risky to be applied, but it is in fact quite safe when used with professional care. For phobia patients, this is indeed a positive news as they now have the chances to eliminate the source of their fear.

Click here to learn more about the cautilizes and symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks, and a handful of natural methods for treating anxiety effectively and safely.