Is VR a deviation from the book

Use this forum to discuss the August 2020 Book of the month, " Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide" by Gustavo Kinrys, MD.
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Re: Is VR a deviation from the book

Post by Howlan »

EvaDar wrote: 17 Aug 2020, 11:58 I do think VR therapy is considered a natural intervention. Anything that is not a medication or other therapy promoted by Western medicine can be considered natural. I also agree with other posters that VR therapy can cause other problems. I think it would be most effective used with the knowledge and supervision of a mental health practitioner. I think the book recommends that.

I do see how it can work to allow a person to "practice" things that carry anxiety in an artificial reality as a way of titrating the intensity of the anxiety prior to trying the behavior in a real situation. Apparently VR therapy is being used quite a bit now. Great discussion.
Yes, VR is definitely the up and coming technology in terms of treatment. Especially, it's contribution to the cure of phobias is quite remarkable.
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Post by EvaDar »

Howlan wrote: 18 Aug 2020, 03:09
Yes, VR is definitely the up and coming technology in terms of treatment. Especially, it's contribution to the cure of phobias is quite remarkable.
Yes, I looked into it a bit yesterday, and I can definitely see it being useful with phobias. And with trauma - they are using it to help people work through trauma. And like with this book and anxiety, anything that is helped by the ability to "practice" certain behaviors or interventions would probably benefit from VR therapy.
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Post by Howlan »

EvaDar wrote: 18 Aug 2020, 11:02
Howlan wrote: 18 Aug 2020, 03:09
Yes, VR is definitely the up and coming technology in terms of treatment. Especially, it's contribution to the cure of phobias is quite remarkable.
Yes, I looked into it a bit yesterday, and I can definitely see it being useful with phobias. And with trauma - they are using it to help people work through trauma. And like with this book and anxiety, anything that is helped by the ability to "practice" certain behaviors or interventions would probably benefit from VR therapy.
Yes, VR is playing an important part in therapies regarding trauma. Exposing yourself to the fear in a virtual environment can help you in reducing your fear. Also, it helps you have a step by step exposure therapy where slowly and steadily you can face your fear head-on.
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Post by Miraphery »

I see your point but I think that what the author means by "naturall" is anything that excludes medication.
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Post by Joseph_ngaruiya »

jaimemiller wrote: 17 Aug 2020, 03:16 I don't think the use of virtual reality is "contradictory" at all. As long as the remedy does not require ingesting pharmaceutical drugs, you can call a substance a natural remedy.
Contradiction would only occur if VR included medication. How about using a gadget is used to burn incense sticks that are medicted, is it in the natural remedy category?
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Post by Joseph_ngaruiya »

Miraphery wrote: 18 Aug 2020, 15:56 I see your point but I think that what the author means by "naturall" is anything that excludes medication.
VR has been found to be effective and with fewer side effects. That’s why it has gained popularity.
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Post by Joseph_ngaruiya »

Miraphery wrote: 18 Aug 2020, 15:56 I see your point but I think that what the author means by "naturall" is anything that excludes medication.
If I may disagree, I think there are also natural medicinations like herbs. Does it mean we can’t categorize them as a natural remedy because they’re a kind of medication?
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Post by JGretz-7 »

I don't believe that virtual reality is a deviation at all. The authors discuss how it can be used as a method of treatment with professional guidance to assist people in facing their fears. The fact that is uses technology to do so is really no different than using white noise or soothing music to alter moods.
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Post by Nicholas Christian »

Well the book is about natural healing methods. Is VR natural? No, I don't think so. Virtual reality is, first and foremost, brought about through the use of cutting-edge technologies.
I do not think technology is "natural" in the sense that other therapies outlined in the book are.
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Post by mariana90 »

Joseph_ngaruiya wrote: 20 Aug 2020, 14:52
Miraphery wrote: 18 Aug 2020, 15:56 I see your point but I think that what the author means by "naturall" is anything that excludes medication.
If I may disagree, I think there are also natural medicinations like herbs. Does it mean we can’t categorize them as a natural remedy because they’re a kind of medication?
I think Miraphery is talking about lab-synthesized medication. Herbs are a natural occurrence, they exist in Nature without any human interference, so they are not being excluded.
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Post by Intel »

I understand why the author would suggest VR for phobia alleviation. I don't think it will be as effective, unless the person is willing to change. That can be said for anything though, even medicine. I don't like heights and VR makes it seem so real on top of a tall rollercoaster or even when being underwater with sharks.

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Post by Joseph_ngaruiya »

jaimemiller wrote: 17 Aug 2020, 03:16 I don't think the use of virtual reality is "contradictory" at all. As long as the remedy does not require ingesting pharmaceutical drugs, you can call a substance a natural remedy.
VR can be used in many other forms, like in architecture, where it can be used to come up with buildings and an environment that fits the needs of patients suffering from stress and anxiety. Some of the natural remedies mentioned by Gustavo can be created by using VR.
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Post by Joseph_ngaruiya »

EvaDar wrote: 17 Aug 2020, 11:58 I do think VR therapy is considered a natural intervention. Anything that is not a medication or other therapy promoted by Western medicine can be considered natural. I also agree with other posters that VR therapy can cause other problems. I think it would be most effective used with the knowledge and supervision of a mental health practitioner. I think the book recommends that.

I do see how it can work to allow a person to "practice" things that carry anxiety in an artificial reality as a way of titrating the intensity of the anxiety prior to trying the behavior in a real situation. Apparently VR therapy is being used quite a bit now. Great discussion.
Recently, VR has become too real. It's now possible to simulate an environment before a patient experiences the real one. That way, therapists can figure out if the environment would work or not.
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Post by Joseph_ngaruiya »

Miraphery wrote: 18 Aug 2020, 15:56 I see your point but I think that what the author means by "naturall" is anything that excludes medication.
VR is part of the natural ways of combating stress and anxiety. Yes, it's man-made, but that doesn't make it an exclusion to the natural remedies mentioned by Kinrys.
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Post by Joseph_ngaruiya »

JGretz-7 wrote: 20 Aug 2020, 18:47 I don't believe that virtual reality is a deviation at all. The authors discuss how it can be used as a method of treatment with professional guidance to assist people in facing their fears. The fact that is uses technology to do so is really no different than using white noise or soothing music to alter moods.

Could this mean that all VR methods used must require a professional guide?
Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.
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