Kevlar for the Mind: Virtual reality can help veterans with PTSD symptoms - Off Duty, Military Health and Fitness - Air Force Times

Kevlar for the Mind: Virtual reality can help veterans with PTSD symptoms

In one of my first columns here, I talked about the use of virtual reality to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. High-tech visual and audio equipment is used to simulate the combat environment, helping service members reduce the anxiety and distress associated with the most troubling aspects of their combat experience.

At a recent convention on using technology to treat physical and psychiatric disorders, I was reminded of how interesting these technologies are.

Consider someone who is dealing with a phobia — fear of snakes, heights, flying, whatever. In the past, psychologists were often forced to take the patient to the zoo, the top of a building or on an airplane to help the person overcome fear. As you might imagine, this was expensive and logistically challenging.

However, by using virtual reality, psychologists can simulate the stressful situations — with nothing more than a headset and a comfortable chair.

Phobias are not the only thing virtual reality is good for. Psychologists are using avatars to help service members suffering from PTSD.

In a program developed by the National Center for Telehealth and Technology in Tacoma, Wash., service members can create a visual representation of themselves in the virtual world. They can choose to be tall or short, skinny, muscular or fat, male or female, and any color of the rainbow. They can even choose to be a robot if so desired.

Once the service member creates a virtual self, it can be used to explore virtual surroundings by accessing different rooms and levels, which provide information about PTSD, how to manage symptoms, and when and where to go for help. The service member also can interact with others who are dealing with PTSD.

In addition to virtual worlds, numerous websites offer service members information about the most common psychological and social problems related to deployment.

One example is the National Center for Telehealth and Technology’s www.afterdeployment.org, a comprehensive and interactive website devoted to helping service members understand not only PTSD, but issues such as depression, substance abuse, family problems and traumatic brain injury.

Although it does not provide you with a diagnosis, it gives you an idea of how serious things may be and whether you should seek professional help.

Bret A. Moore is a clinical psychologist who served in Iraq and is the author of “Wheels Down: Adjusting to Life after Deployment.” Click here to email him. Names and identifying details will be kept confidential. This column is for informational purposes only. Readers should see a mental health professional or physician for mental health problems.