What is Interoceptive Exposure? : Interrupting the Panic Feedback Loop
With phobias, anxiety, and OCD, individuals often develop a fear of symptoms that can become treatment interfering. If we dread our panic reactions, or the physical sensations anxiety in the body, we end up avoiding and shutting down exposures.
Panic disorder is when the beginnings of anxiety symptoms in the body provoke increased anxiety at the prospect of panic, and then the panic attack becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The sensations targeted by interoceptive exposure are the feelings of anxiety in the body such as stomach pain, dizziness, tingling in the extremities, sweating, hyperventilating, racing heart, or weakness.
In interoceptive exposure, the triggering object or situations are far less important than provoking the experience of one of these symptoms.
As with all exposure therapy, the key is moderation and a step-by-step approach that honors where anxiety symptoms lie on the fear hierarchy.
Typical interoceptive exposures:
Provoking dizziness by spinning, shaking head side to side or holding breath
Provoking hyperventilation symptoms by breathing into a bag
Doing a high intensity interval workout paired with an imaginal exposure about an anxiety trigger
Provoking an anxiety symptom in public, which may be a specific fear
Staring into a mirror for a long period of time to provoke derealization
Entering into a sauna or overdressing for therapy to create sweating response
As with all exposures, we have to discuss thoroughly as a client and therapist pair to ensure that we are understanding the why of these slightly odd activities. After all, our client is coming into therapy for relief from their symptoms, so it can be tricky to understand why their clinician is encouraging them to embrace uncomfortable bodily reactions!
The key for OCD, phobia, and anxiety treatment is a strong therapeutic bond with a person that we trust to lead us deeper into our fears. With effort, stamina, and patience, interoceptive exposures can be a highly effective tool to break the cycle of anxiety avoidance.
For help interrupting the panic feedback loop contact Kairos Wellness Collective.
