VR Therapy: A New Frontier in Mental Health Treatment

Last week we spoke about the exciting potential virtual reality technology has to transform our cognitive abilities and help the brain rebuild from a range of neurological injuries and disorders. Today, we’re taking it a step further and revealing just how broad the application of VR can go in treating an array of mental health conditions. 

Immersive mindfulness 

Virtual reality environments lend themselves exceptionally well to creating a relaxing atmosphere to promote meditative practices that have been shown to help improve the symptoms of a whole range of mental health conditions.

For instance, those suffering from anxiety, stress-related conditions, depression, and mood disorders can benefit greatly from guided meditations, a wide variety of visualization techniques, breathing exercises, and immersive VR experiences to bring a new dimension to controlling their symptoms. 

Simulating real-life scenarios

Another one of the valuable benefits of virtual reality is its ability to recreate real-life situations that aid in exposure therapy. Without having to leave a room, patients enter all manner of engaging simulations that can trigger certain stimuli, within a controlled setting. 

For example, those with certain anxiety conditions and agoraphobia can be immersed in automated VR social settings, people with phobias such as a fear of flying, heights, or public speaking can safely increase their exposure to these situations, and so on. Research has even shown that those suffering from the most severe psychosis and psychological problems can benefit from virtual reality therapy.

Post-traumatic stress treatment options 

Virtual reality-based exposure therapy treatments have also been trailed and shown good promise in helping PTSD sufferers. VR setups have been used to recreate traumatic events in a way that enables patients to desensitize themselves to the triggers slowly. Under therapeutic guidance, this can help them come to terms with distressing memories and regain some control in their day-to-day lives. 

So not only is VR a fun way to game, and an amazing tool to boost cognitive skills and treat neurological conditions, but it can also help to improve the symptoms of so many common mental health disorders that affect millions of people worldwide.