What is systematic desensitization?!
Question:
What is systematic desensitization?
under what conditions S.D. is not recommended? what kind of behavioral problems can be solved with S.D.?
Answers:
Systematic desenitization is used when a person has extreme fear of something. They could become extremely anxious or also have an extreme phobia of an object or doing something. Some examples would be if someone was afraid of using elevators or had a fear of snakes. They would be gradually introduced and exposed to the snake over a period of time to see that it was not going to do anything to them as far as their irrational fears are concerned. The same would be for the phobia of an elevator. One would be taken in an elevator and gradually exposed over time even if only at first just to look and then step by step go through the entire process until being able to ride and learning new coping skills such as breathing, etc and not being as afraid and having irrational fears and therefor being able to overcome their fears overtime and taught more skills so they could manage more things on their own overtime.
I do not personally know in which cases it is not recommended but I could see that a person would have to be completely aware of their surroundings and have control so therefor if someone was in a dissociative state this would not be advisable until one learned how to be grounded and gain more control. I have seen on television where this has worked even in extreme cases of OCD and extreme cases of phobias. If someone had a heart condition or high blood pressure I could see where it not be recommended because at first the person is going to experience great fear and stress until these skills are learned.