Introduction to Virtual Reality Therapy
Virtual reality (VR) has turn out to be a game-changer within the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For Army Veteran Joshua Maloney, his first VR experience was a revelation. He described it as a "dichotomy in my brain between ‘I’m perfectly wonderful and I’m freaking out’ and ‘I’m perfectly wonderful’ was winning." This experience was a part of his recovery treatment, which included exposure to gunpowder, radio chatter, turret machine gun, and explosive vibrations, all from the attitude of a Humvee driver seat traveling through a war zone.
Maloney’s Journey
Maloney enlisted within the Army in 2009 and was deployed to Mosul, Iraq, for a yr. After completing his contract, he returned home but struggled with undiagnosed PTSD. He turned to alcohol to manage, increasing his intake from 18 beers a day to 30. It wasn’t until he began working in Veteran outreach and entered a detox program that he finally found help. A VA nurse validated his suspicions about having PTSD, and he began to reap the benefits of every program available to him, including a VA research study led by Dr. Noah Philip.
Virtual Reality Exposure Research
The study combined exposure to VR scenes from Iraq or Afghanistan with transcranial direct current stimulation. Through this revolutionary approach, Maloney learned that his fears weren’t too overwhelming to face. By confronting his experiences and thoughts head-on, he was in a position to address his trauma and begin his path to recovery. He highly recommends in search of help and trying revolutionary therapies like VR exposure to his fellow Veterans.
Overcoming PTSD
PTSD is a mental health problem that may develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening traumatic event. However, there may be excellent news: effective treatments can be found. The VA is committed to making sure Veterans have access to the treatments that work best for them. This includes researching revolutionary technology to reinforce therapy, reminiscent of VR. So far, the VA has deployed over 3,000 VR headsets across greater than 170 VA facilities, leading the nation within the clinical implementation of immersive technology.
Importance of Seeking Help
Maloney’s story highlights the importance of in search of help and advocating for oneself. He encourages Veterans to try latest therapies and to prioritize their very own care. "In combat, there was something incorrect with turning around and saying no. It was something that was not allowed. With therapy and our lives, that will not be a thing. Not only can we get to care for ourselves, we’ve to," he said.
Conclusion
Virtual reality therapy is a promising approach to treating PTSD. By providing a secure and controlled environment for Veterans to confront their fears, VR exposure is usually a powerful tool within the recovery process. The VA’s commitment to researching and implementing revolutionary technologies like VR is a testament to their dedication to providing the very best possible look after Veterans. As Maloney’s story shows, in search of help and trying latest therapies will be step one towards healing and recovery.
