Why facing your fears might not work

Anxiety expert explains why exposure therapy for anxiety disorders might not work for everyone.

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For information purposes only. Does not constitute clinical advice. Consult your local medical authority for advice. The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, February 18, 2023.

If you or someone you know needs help immediately, you should take one of the following actions:
- go to your nearest hospital emergency room

[kellyc]

Exposure therapy doesn't work for my social anxiety because even if someone's reaction isn't presented to me how I think they would react, my mind tells me that they are just being outwardly polite, but they are still judging me and rejecting me in their head. I am looking for full acceptance, not just surface or "fake" acceptance from people.

[Dal_]

As someone with PTSD and BPD, this was very helpful, thank you.

[SeedPlants]

Thank you for this. I have been told my whole life that the more I speak in front of people the less I will fear it. I have found that it actually makes it worse. I quit college twice because of speech class. I am now watching my son struggling with the same thing while at the same time watching my daughter be like everyone else. I have long wondered if he has ADHD and more recently myself. The more I learn about it the more I hope we can one day get it checked out. I hate watching him struggle, I have no advice to help him because I haven't figured it out myself yet.

[ParallelPenguins]

My problem is that I’m right. In a work environment people are not treated as full actual human beings. It’s not intentional. It’s how the world is set up. That’s what gives me panic attacks and it doesn’t help getting a different job or workplace. It’s just same stuff different pile. I’ve seen 3 therapists and none of them have been able to do much for me but help me get myself out of panic attacks 60 percent of the time. Fml.

[CoachAhava-]

So a nervous system stuck in fight/flight is not a good candidate for exposure therapy. If only therapists more widely knew about nervous system care and healing.

[carolcatchychanneltipsandt]

I wish you where my therapist. Especially I am allergic to all SSRI meds and I have what your saying .

[thzzzt]

Yes, it's always seemed to me that facing your fear and "failing" will only serve to reinforce your fear.

[keynanmartinez]

I have a phobia of driving a car because I will die... Some fears ain't meant to be faced.

[tyesavage]

I was scared of that ❄️ then I faced it safe to say I’m def not scared of it no more

[GpeLeo-qtgo]

Thanks for talking about this, is true I tried exposure and is worst, I tried with other methods that helped more. But I'm neurodivrse and cptsd

[Niceboy]

I wish I was as good as you in psychology.

[indigobunting]

I am traumatized just getting to the therapist. Pain in my body makes it hard to concentrate.

[agneris]

How can i help my physical anxiety feelings? I get this sense of chest discomfort (not pain) and start to have shallow breathing. I immediately want to walk away from the situation I am in. Ty

[Ionacraz-miwx]

Umm I tried that at the playground when I was a kid it was a tall rope bridge to go to the slide but when I looked down i was scared if I dropt but when I saw other kid falling down on perpous they said they were fine and it was fun so I tried falling and my head bumt very hard and then my back slammed on the ground and it allmost BROKE MY BACK so sometimes when your scared your scared for a reason.😓😔

[DizzyDior]

You're like a mix between Taika Waititi and John Green. Like, it's uncanny.

[pramodsharma]

Sir I m from india what can I do for therapy

[grumpyed]

Anyone else think this doctor looks and sounds like John Green?