EXPOSURE THERAPY

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I’ve recently been introduced to this concept of Exposure Therapy, it’s used to help people confront their fears. For instance, I have a fear of cars from an accident I was in while I was driving. The more I drive, the more I confront my fear of driving, this is an example of Exposure Therapy. Thankfully, I have to drive to do the things I want to do, so I was practicing Exposure Therapy without even realizing it. Now I have Exposure Therapy on the brain, I’m applying it to everything.

At the same time I’m learning about Exposure Therapy I’m reading a book on grief. Applying Exposure Therapy to the book on grief I’m reading, “On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss.” by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler, their book is it. Elisabeth was dying when this book was written, in fact she died before it was finished. They make the point early in the book, death is part of the life cycle, but a part we rarely talk about. The book makes this point by illustrating all different types of death, from adults to children. Exposure Therapy on how many people in this world are grieving, and how poorly the majority of us handle it.

I’ve also realized how important communication is in the grieving process, especially for children. However we first experience grief as a child is often how we will manifest it as an adult. We don’t mean too, but often children don’t understand what we’re saying. One illustration from the book, a child had lost his grandfather. He asks his grandmother, “When are they going to chop his head off.” The poor boy thought when he had heard the term “head stone” it meant where they bury the head. Kids think so differently than we do, so innocently. Amazing how easy is it to believe a lie.

That is my thought for the day. I pray it’s a good one for you!

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