Soldiers Get a 'Second Life' With Virtual PTSD Therapy

A crowded American mall, filled with loud noises and stimuli, may be a returning veteran's worst nightmare. For a soldier suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, kids waving their arms or teenagers rough-housing might send him or her back into the war-zone without warning. In speaking about its newest interactive therapy module, the Department of Defense explains in the video posted below:

Our brains are hardwired to learn from our experiences. In the case of a traumatic experience, one thing your brain tries to learn is the relationship between cues and danger, and how to recognize and avoid danger in the future. This is usually a very healthy process. But sometimes our brains make associations between supposed cues and danger that are not accurate, and not helpful... many elements from the experience may become cues for danger.

But, instead of having soldiers read this information, a calm, slow voice walks a sufferer through the simulation of an event, explaining exactly why PTSD is a normal, psychological reaction.

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Soldiers Get a 'Second Life' With Virtual PTSD Therapy originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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