Virtual Healing

This is a well rounded article that explains the basics of the use of virtual reality to treat patients with post traumatic symdrome disorder. The author clarifies that it is not the technology itself which heals the patients, but experts who use the technology to
assist their therapy by creating virtual aversive environments which are often tough to recreate in real life. In the case of the Virtual Iraq program, the therapy even includes a scent machine that provides Middle Eastern spice aromas and burning smells.

When I was watching the video in class, I saw that the woman with the fear of subway trains was helped to overcome her fears in a relatively short amount of time without much consequences with a very minimal looking version of a virtual subway station. It seems this kind of therapy has stepped up a level in order to fit the demand of the increasing number of soldiers returning with PTSD. I think this is a change for the positive, and a good use of our available resources. I often do not trust medicines or chemical treatments for illnesses, because of the side effects they may have, so exposing oneself in a feared environment where one can be proven wrong for those unreasonable fearful thoughts seems like a safe and effective means of treatment.