Virtual Therapy for Veterans
Particularly helpful to veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Virtual Therapy uses state-of-the-art technology to address many of the lasting affects of war and combat that prompt serious mental health issues in those who served.
Likened to a video game, Virtual Therapy puts veterans back in the middle of the action by means of a virtual reality headset that can be programmed to resemble scenarios and locales that prompt memories that cause undo stress for the vet and are severely compromising his quality of life and ability to move on after returning from war and/or release from the military. It has been used in one form or another for about a decade, though with advances in technology, the programs used have been greatly improved over the last few years. Virtual Therapy has also been used in civilian applications to assist those with particular phobias, including fear of flying/heights or fear of elevators.
The goal of virtual therapy is to allow the former soldier to disconnect their emotional reaction to a particular memory from the memory itself. Also known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Exposure Therapy, this kind of treatment brings the vet back to those moments that were the most traumatic, allowing him/her to eventually realize that these memories cannot harm him/her. Usually, the veteran who most benefits from this kind of therapy is one who has been embroiled in active combat and has vivid memories of death, including the death of comrades or the act of killing a member of an enemy troop.
Doctors have found that Virtual Therapy works very well with those who have been diagnosed with PTSD because vets with this disorder generally practice avoidance of the issues that are most harmful to them. Avoidance generally allows the disorder to worsen, so confronting painful memories head on can allow the vet to make huge strides towards recovery.
Virtual Therapy is not for everyone. As a matter of fact, therapists and those who are experts in the field note that Virtual Therapy is for the very strong-willed – the person who is truly interested in getting better. Because the virtual reality situations so closely resemble the combat situations that have scarred so many vets, it’s often difficult for the patient to make it through the sessions and many quit before they are able to be helped by the therapy.
However, those who have been taking advantage of Virtual Therapy, which is offered at a number of VA-run healthcare facilities, say they have indeed been helped and now suffer fewer debilitating symptoms of stress disorder or anxiety, including troubling nightmares and flashbacks as well as migraines and insomnia. However, most doctors do not recommend that this therapy be used alone. It is generally combined with either medications or more traditional therapy, which includes regularly scheduled discussions with a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs is using a system known as “Virtual Iraq”, designed specifically for Iraqi War veterans. These systems can be found in about 40 VA-run locations throughout the country including the Naval Medical Center in San Diego and Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC. They hope to be releasing a “Virtual Afghanistan” shortly.
The technique is not recommended for everyone including those with substance abuse problems, severe recurring flashbacks, or those who lack basic coping mechanisms. Vets should contact a VA counselor and/or doctor to see if they qualify for the program.
- The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/health/28game.html
- Psych Central, http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/02/virtual-therapy-for-ptsd/8121.html
- Stars and Stripes, http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=63509
Last modified: December 24, 2010.
