Just like you can use negative associations to curb bad habits, many people find learning to associate their phobias with something neutral helpful. Virtual reality is the latest high-tech version of this. Experts find VR exciting because the entire experience feels real to the patient but it’s a completely controlled environment so there are no surprises and therapists can make necessary adjustments to specifically tailor the treatment in real time. A similar approach, that you can do on your own, is to find the thrilling side of your fear so it feels more like riding a roller coaster or watching a horror flick than dying a painful death.
