Is VR a deviation from the book

Joseph_ngaruiya · Post by **Joseph_ngaruiya** » 04 Aug 2020, 14:57

Howlan wrote:
> Joseph_ngaruiya wrote:
> > Loneliness is the bedrock of malignant issues such as anxiety and stress.
> > Virtual reality can be used to eliminate loneliness. I've seen in different
> > hospitals or elderly homes where patients can travel to preferred locations
> > by the touch of a button. Such practices can help alter moods and
> > eventually assist the patients in recovery. The world today is heading to
> > automation, hence embracing methods like VR is a plus.
>
> Yes, VR can be used effectively to cure a lot of stress. Especially creating a
> virtual environment to calm our mind and relax id definitely a great way to remove
> the accumulating stress. Another fact is that nowadays many apps or websites are
> available to let you go through that experience which aims at stress removal.

Even though we might agree that VR, websites, and apps can be effective, it is worth noting that the user should be vigilant in checking the app and website sources. Some of the information on the web is misleading. I think reading such a book is always a good move. I always read about an author before reading their book. No wonder I am enjoying reading Gustavo's work.

Joseph WK · Post by **Joseph WK** » 05 Aug 2020, 03:08

Joseph_ngaruiya wrote:
> I don't think it's a deviation. If you look at it from a different angle,
> virtual reality involves a physical experience. Moreover, virtual reality
> is the human creation of perceived experience. The natural aspect the book
> is based upon is not restricted to natural occurrences like plants or the
> environment. On a wider scope, it's a collective process of anything else
> that doesn't include taking medication. Do you agree?

I agree the natural aspects refers to methods tbat do not involver medication. This is food for thought. I had initially decided VR wasn't natural.

ashleexry · Post by **ashleexry** » 05 Aug 2020, 12:23

I think VR can actually help reduce stress and anxiety, but only up to a point. The whole point of VR is that you're living a virtual life. By living, even for a moment, in a virtual reality, you can forget about what's troubling you. It's definitely a perfect way to alleviate anxiety since building a virtual world can ease our minds. But when you go back to reality, your stressors and worries will come back, and you're stuck in the same place as you were before. You can't live your life in virtual reality.

Kola+wole · Post by **Kola+wole** » 05 Aug 2020, 15:22

In my opinion, virtual reality is not a deviation. Some experiences that causes stress and anxiety can be faced and sometimes treated in a controlled setting using virtual reality.

Joseph_ngaruiya · Post by **Joseph_ngaruiya** » 06 Aug 2020, 14:20

ashleexry wrote:
> I think VR can actually help reduce stress and anxiety, but only up to a
> point. The whole point of VR is that you're living a virtual life. By
> living, even for a moment, in a virtual reality, you can forget about
> what's troubling you. It's definitely a perfect way to alleviate anxiety
> since building a virtual world can ease our minds. But when you go back to
> reality, your stressors and worries will come back, and you're stuck in the
> same place as you were before. You can't live your life in virtual reality.

From a different angle, VR helps the patient to create a new habit that replaces the stressors. For instance, if every time I had stress I chose to play a VR game, it would mean I'd found a way to relieve that stress. However, VR use should be done in moderation to avoid addiction.

Laila Hashem · Post by **Laila Hashem** » 06 Aug 2020, 17:41

I don't think so. When the author mentioned the side effects of medications, thus making it clear that he disapproves of them, I don't believe he was setting up a premise for the book. I think that was just him giving readers as much information as possible about the topic. All the therapies and remedies he mentions are different. The author, I believe, recognizes that different people respond to different treatments so I think his goal was to place all the potential treatments in one book (including VR).

X-XXXX-X · Post by **X-XXXX-X** » 06 Aug 2020, 22:56

Natural remedies is in contrast to lab made remedies. Like pills and other "heavy chemical" medicines that may not be needed in a certain situation and might have huge collateral effects.

So VR is a "natural" medicine the same way that running or cycling is a natural medicine. You just don't need to put any lab made things inside your body and that's it.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 07 Aug 2020, 02:34

Joseph_ngaruiya wrote:
> Howlan wrote:
> > Joseph_ngaruiya wrote:
> > > Loneliness is the bedrock of malignant issues such as anxiety and stress.
> > > Virtual reality can be used to eliminate loneliness. I've seen in different
> > > hospitals or elderly homes where patients can travel to preferred locations
> > > by the touch of a button. Such practices can help alter moods and
> > > eventually assist the patients in recovery. The world today is heading to
> > > automation, hence embracing methods like VR is a plus.
> >
> > Yes, VR can be used effectively to cure a lot of stress. Especially creating a
> > virtual environment to calm our mind and relax id definitely a great way to
> remove
> > the accumulating stress. Another fact is that nowadays many apps or websites are
> > available to let you go through that experience which aims at stress removal.
>
> Even though we might agree that VR, websites, and apps can be effective, it is worth
> noting that the user should be vigilant in checking the app and website sources. Some
> of the information on the web is misleading. I think reading such a book is always a
> good move. I always read about an author before reading their book. No wonder I am
> enjoying reading Gustavo's work.

Yes as you are checking out an author before you read his book, you definitely check out the app or the VR service website before blinding trying them out. I think it is really the first step not only in health service but in any other activity to develop trust before actually trying them out.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 07 Aug 2020, 02:37

ashleexry wrote:
> I think VR can actually help reduce stress and anxiety, but only up to a
> point. The whole point of VR is that you're living a virtual life. By
> living, even for a moment, in a virtual reality, you can forget about
> what's troubling you. It's definitely a perfect way to alleviate anxiety
> since building a virtual world can ease our minds. But when you go back to
> reality, your stressors and worries will come back, and you're stuck in the
> same place as you were before. You can't live your life in virtual reality.

I think that is the basic point of stress-relieving techniques. Like meditation helps you clear your mind of worries. of course, VR has a lot of side effects especially strain on your sensory organs after long use as opposed to medication but at the end of the day separating yourself from constantly thinking about a problem and taking a break is a good way to solve it.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 07 Aug 2020, 02:48

X-XXXX-X wrote:
> Natural remedies is in contrast to lab made remedies. Like pills and other
> "heavy chemical" medicines that may not be needed in a certain
> situation and might have huge collateral effects.
>
> So VR is a "natural" medicine the same way that running or
> cycling is a natural medicine. You just don't need to put any lab made
> things inside your body and that's it.

Yes, I think VR is a great way to cope with stress and can respond well to specially phobia treatment. It has some side-effects though like strain on the sensory organs with continued use but overall, it is really a good way to reduce anxiety and stress.

mpsmaster · Post by **mpsmaster** » 07 Aug 2020, 14:34

I think the point of the VR is giving more options otherwise you wouldn't see. The brain is and amazing tool. If you place someone in a VR, then show a beautiful green place full of flowers and life, ask the person to breath, normally, the breathing will be deeper than normally would without the VR. Maybe will not work for everybody, but the procedure does work. Many people do this without a VR. I know a man that sees whales in his head every night before sleep, he just pass out when do this. But many people cannot visualize in a way that affects them.

Samantha Gayle · Post by **Samantha Gayle** » 07 Aug 2020, 18:53

I think in the author’s eyes since it isn’t medication, it falls under the category of natural remedies. You’re not altering your brain chemicals in any way, and it can be used as exposure therapy in a controlled setting. Technology is such a huge part of our world that it is a “natural” occurrence and isn’t a medication or drug.

houligan19 · Post by **houligan19** » 07 Aug 2020, 19:20

Personally, I find technology based treatment to be intimidating. I have, however, seen natural healers use electric stimulation and other things similar. I would think a VR treatment would be similar to hypnosis or something like that.
It may be far fetched, but it does seem to fit.

Sou Hi · Post by **Sou Hi** » 07 Aug 2020, 20:42

I suppose VR is natural. It's just making use of modern techniques that exist to make life better. Like when you use earphones to listen to music while exercising, use reading devices to read books, use pens and paper to write, or use phones and chat tools to talk to other people about your problems.

djr6090 · Post by **djr6090** » 08 Aug 2020, 09:05

Virtual Reality is not necessarily a deviation. You COULD get over your fear of spiders by encountering them face-to-face, but I would much rather do it Virtually.