We live in a digital age, where technological developments occur on a regular basis. New devices are continuously being developed that provide individuals with a plethora of benefits and significantly simplify their lives.
In recent years, the health industry has become one of the sectors that have benefited the most from the revolution of technology. Medical professionals have been given access to high-quality equipment that helps them provide comprehensive care and treatments to their patients, alleviating their pain and increasing their quality of life.
Virtual therapy is one of these breakthroughs that is increasingly being employed in the healthcare field. It works by separating users from their surroundings and creating a sense of immersion within a computer-generated and interactive virtual environment.
Below we look at some of the most positive effects of the immersive techniques of VR therapy.
Overcoming Fears Following Physical Injury
When people have a physical injury, they also feel a lot of psychological pain. This can slow down a patient’s full-body recovery. Some of the biggest concerns of patients who have had such an unfortunate experience are that they fear reinjury.
Fortunately, such fears can be effectively managed and overcome by engaging the patient in VR physical therapy sessions where they are placed in an immersive environment that keeps their focus on their rehab and diverting their thoughts from the physical pain they are undergoing and combating the fear of potential reinjury. This makes it possible for the patient to achieve the right mindset while improving their movement and strength.
Battling Chronic Pain
As we previously mentioned, pain is one of the most dreadful symptoms a person can suffer from and it also leaves psychological consequences. However, to ease chronic pain symptoms, whether it’s low back pain or something more serious like nerve damage, VR therapy can be worth looking into.
Patients are provided with a specialized VR headset that places them in a three-dimensional world and distracts their brain from thinking of the pain they are experiencing. The ultimate goal is to convince the brain to think about other things which can be achieved by overloading it with sound and vision coming from the VR environment.
Improving Mental Health
Millions of people from all over the world suffer from mental health issues like anxiety and depression. The world we live in has become fast-paced and the pandemic has additionally contributed to people’s declining mental health.
For this reason, it has become super important for people to take ownership of their mental well-being, invest in their health, and achieve a balance that can improve their state of mind. You might need to talk to a certified and experienced professional so that you can acquire a better understanding of your emotions and any setbacks you may be facing.
Practicing engaging VR therapy has become popular among people who may feel anxious about going to therapy and sitting down with a stranger. It is a modern, technologically advanced method that offers a solution for these types of people, which comes in the form of telehealth services.
A person just needs to sign up for a virtual treatment plan and choose a therapist, receive a VR headset and practice VR therapy at a time and place that is most suitable for them from the comfort of their own home.
Helping With Addiction
Addiction is a serious and complex condition that has destructive consequences on individuals who lack self-control and a major desire for a particular substance or behavior. Most patients who are treated for this condition rely on medications and different therapeutic sessions to fight addiction, but VR therapy has also proven to be highly effective.
When a person is treated for addiction through VR therapy, they are exposed to a stimulus in a safe and controlled environment where they can learn to control their reactions. The environment is usually customized based on the patient’s needs and the addiction they are battling so they can practice dealing with incredibly difficult challenges and cravings.
Curing Phobias
Another common condition in people is phobias. Phobias cause extreme fear about a situation, a place, or an object and trigger a sense of panic when the individual encounters the source of their fear, which affects their functioning in real life.
VR For Wellness:
By using VR therapy, phobias such as fear of flying or spiders can be effectively treated, allowing patients to work through their fear in a realistic situation comfortably and safely.
Final Thoughts
The great thing about virtual reality is that it helps challenge peoples’ minds, allows greater control over their exposure, and ultimately improves the quality of their lives. The simulated environment provided by the VR headset helps people overcome fears, and battle chronic pain, and addiction.
