Virtual Reality and PTSD

[Sweetleaf]

I used VR before PTSD surfaced - maybe a year before it did - it was during the trauma actually. Only used it once.

It was strange. It took a bit to get used to it, but then I did, and when I took it off, it was like "WOAH, I am not where I thought I was, I'm in a totally different place in the room, damn!"

It has this weird immersive effect after you have it on for long enough, it's weird. I don't know if I like it or hate it. I don't know if it'd be a good escape or a dissociative experience (lmao)

What do you all think about using VR with PTSD?

I imagine it might be a good distraction although could be an unhealthy one, or just make one more disoriented and afraid (due to blocking your senses of your actual real world environment)

 

[Freida]

I love, love love our VR system!!!! Hubby got it for Christmas and it's the first time I've had any interest in video game. I love the motion games - not the shooter ones. I have one that makes you an eagle and you fly around looking for fish and feathers and blah blah in a non human world. It is amazing how calming it is for me - and how I lose track of everything. I can spend an hour in it and it feels like 10 minutes.

So of course my T made me promise to limit my time because she says it is a type of avoidance. What.Ever.

I know they used VR systems for vets coming back from Iraq that recreated their battles, but I think it had mixed results trying to use it for ptsd/trauma specific scenarios.

 

[jaay]

I find it really scary, for me the sensation of being somewhere else while knowing I'm in the same room but not being able to see its real contents, furniture and people wise, is terrifying. It varies from person to person, I guess. If you find VR helps, or feel it will help in some way, go for it (as long as time is monitored n the system is used healthily, of course).