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Why Online Therapy Is Helpful and Works | Which Therapies Work Best Online?

With advances in technology, there is an ever-growing list of online resources for mental health and well being. This includes treatment for fears and phobias.

Studies have shown that in the United States, one of every five adults lives with a mental illness. As a matter of fact, each year nearly 8 million potentially preventable deaths are attributed to mental illness.

That is how prevalent mental illness is in the U.S. alone. And believe it or not, fears and phobias contribute to these statistics. This is why the study of mental health and the exploration of different treatment methods are so important.

Unfortunately, with our fast-paced lifestyle, lack of time, wish for privacy, and busy schedules, most of us avoid face-to-face therapy. This is why online therapy has become so widely accepted.

If you’re considering online therapy or would like to learn how it can help with fears and phobias, read on. We’ll explain why online therapy options are reliable, helpful, and offer worthwhile outcomes.

What Is Online Therapy?

Online therapy is known by many names including teletherapy, telemental healthcare, e-therapy, and e-counseling. Its primary purpose is to provide mental health services via the internet through email, messaging, SMS, online chat, phone calls, video calls, and conferencing. Some therapies occur in real-time through phone calls, chatting, or conferencing, while some are self-paced.

An online therapist holds the same qualifications and credentials as a conventional therapist. They are skilled with the tools used in therapy, only work within the scope of their practice, and follow all the rules, laws, and regulations surrounding each session.

Benefits of Online Therapy

One of the most widespread misconceptions is that online treatment or telemental healthcare is not as effective as conventional, person-to-person therapy. However, studies have debunked this myth and established that online therapy is a viable alternative for standard therapy options.

Here are just a few advantages of online therapy that explore its many benefits.

Affordability

Online therapy sessions rate well on the cost and affordability factor versus in-person sessions. First, with new developments, many states require insurance providers to cover the cost of online therapy just as they would cover in-person therapies.

Second, not only are the sessions more cost-effective, but you may also stumble upon some channels that provide healthcare services free of charge. You may even be offered no-cost trial sessions from therapists after which you have the option of continuing with fee-for-service if they align with your needs.

Easy to Access

You can access your therapy sessions from any place, anytime. If you opt for real-time sessions, you can schedule a remote call or meeting with your therapist at a time that works for your busy schedule. If it is a self-paced session, you can access therapy any time day or night at your convenience.

You can take therapy sessions from the comfort of home, when you are on vacation, or in your car on the way to work. And if you are physically disabled and have restricted movement, you can access online sessions without any hindrance.

Approachable

There have been many stigmas attached to therapy, which is why most people are afraid to visit a mental health therapist. If you are uncomfortable discussing your mental health issues in person, online therapy is a great alternative. You can learn about your psychological health, identify the cause of symptoms, and develop coping mechanisms through proven strategies.

Privacy

Afraid of running into a friend or family member while on your way to your therapist’s office? Online therapy may be an option for you. You can schedule the sessions according to your schedule in the privacy of your own space.

Convenient and Effective

Online therapy is convenient, effective, and practical. All you need are the right resources: an internet connection and a laptop or other device.

You have the benefit of scheduling sessions that match your timetable. You can connect with the therapist through your preferred method and begin your session at your own, comfortable pace.

Limits of Online Therapy

Online therapy may prove to be an effective mode of treatment for many, but, as with all treatments, it may not be suitable for everyone.

Although online therapy can cater to a vast set of mental disorders, more severe disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and advanced dementia generally require more than online therapy.

Some states do not allow psychologists from other states to render services unless they have an in-state license. So, many people may lack access to competent and highly trained specialists that are based outside their home state.

In case of an emergency, many online therapists and therapy platforms may be unable to respond to their clients, which can be a significant setback.

Sometimes, body language and facial expressions help a therapist draw constructive conclusions about how a client is feeling. Such observation is lacking in online therapy, which generally occurs through calls and texts.

Which Therapies Work Best Online

Some of the most commonly treated issues through online therapy are anxiety, phobias, eating disorders, depression, addiction, relationship conflicts, and more. Different therapies have been devised to cater to other issues. The most prominent and successful online therapy options are:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This is a short-term treatment program where the client is encouraged to address the thoughts and patterns which trouble them. Different factors that negatively impact the client are identified with the therapist’s help. The therapist then helps promote understanding and acceptance and teaches the client coping skills.

Exposure Therapy

Through this therapy, the client confronts the source of their fears and anxiety. Like the name of the treatment suggests, clients are exposed to the subject of their worries, distress, and stress in safe environments. This form of therapy is based on the fact that the more a person faces their fear, the more likely they are to overcome it.

Psychodynamic Therapy

This is a form of talk therapy which allows a client to verbally explore feelings and emotions. This provides a therapist insight into your life and how your unconscious state of mind is connected to your actions.

Bringing about Change

Mental health is as important as physical health, if not more. If you have been postponing your sessions or second-guessing the benefits of online therapy, wait no longer. For many, the advantages of online therapy outweigh the drawbacks, so it is an option worth considering.

Why not start today? Give Online Therapy a try and find the one that best suits your needs.

Heal well!

 

Hypnotherapy Can Also be Very Effective for Phobia Treatment

Compensation Notice

As an Online-Therapy affiliate, this website and its owners may receive compensation from Online-Therapy if you purchase services through the links provided.

 

Your Fear Goes Up and Down

Are you someone who would rather climb the stairs than take the elevator? You call it squeezing in a workout after being sedentary the whole morning. Or perhaps you claim it's a faster route. These are both typical, normal, and acceptable reasons. But what if you need to be in the conference room on the eleventh floor in five minutes, and you're wearing your business suit and wingtips? Would you still prefer to take the stairs? If your answer is yes, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at your reasons for avoiding elevators. Elevators stir all sorts of emotions in passengers. From the discomfort of closeness to strangers to the sensations in our gut, elevators can be a source of the heebie-jeebies for many, but for some, they can also be a source of terror. Let's dig a little deeper into the latter, and see what this terror is all about and what can be done to manage it. To begin with, does being inside an elevator give you chills or the sweats? Or does it trigger an unpleasant memory? Perhaps you remember movies you've watched where something terrible happens inside an elevator. From Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Final Destination 2, or the king of all elevator horror films, 2010’s Devil, the elevator becomes witness to something sinister and horrible. And you want nothing to do with any of it. You know that you're not claustrophobic. You can deal with heights just fine, too. And you know that you're not going to be trapped inside. All of these contribute to a fear of elevators—but they don't apply to you. Yet being inside one does something to you. It's hard to explain.

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

What you have is a fear of elevators, which is called elevatophobia. It is most commonly triggered by an experience of getting stuck inside either due to a power outage or technical maintenance. Hearing about other people's experiences or watching a movie about similar circumstances can prompt a fear of elevators getting stuck with you inside. Usually, claustrophobics and agoraphobics may also develop elevatophobia because the triggers and objects of these fears are related. Claustrophobia is the fear of closed and cramped spaces, while agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped without any means of escape. Put the two together, and the elevator becomes the perfect combination of both phobias. The space is limited and closed, with only one means of entry and exit. You can add another point of access if you consider climbing the cables like they do in the movies, but that certainly isn't ideal.

Symptoms of Elevatophobia

If for some reason an elevator stops due to an outage or some technical difficulty, passengers with elevatophobia may go into full panic mode. Even if the maintenance team advises that it will just be a matter of minutes, by then, the person's mind has become irrational with the fear of the elevator falling, being stuck for hours, or other unpleasant thoughts. You would expect a person to exhibit the following physical symptoms: Additionally, you would be filled with that overwhelming anxiety where you feel that you have zero control over the situation. You start fearing the unknown and are filled with negative thoughts about death and imminent doom. You become irrational and unresponsive.

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

When the panic sets in, the possibility of emergencies related to pre-existing conditions may make themselves known. This might include serious health crises like heart attacks or asthma attacks. When this happens, fear becomes a medical emergency. Elevator rides do not last long; it's just a matter of minutes or even less. But the fact that a person can escalate from panic to a near fatal medical situation classifies the fear of elevators as a 'hard phobia.'

Trying Some Self-Help Methods

Your fear of elevators can likely interfere with your social and work life and relationships. Not everyone understands that elevatophobia, like most phobias, can be crippling. But don't be disheartened. Depending on the level of your fear and level of control, you can gradually face and manage your phobia. Here are some recommendations you can try:
  1. Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
  2. Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
  3. Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
  4. Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
  5. Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Along with self-help, you can always enlist a medical professional's aid to support you with your elevatophobia. Talking to someone who has experience with similar cases can be comforting, because you know that you are not alone, and this situation can get better. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your fears and the symptoms that you experience. Explain how you deal with it in an attempt to control it. An exam and a health history are made to ensure that there are no unrelated or underlying problems that your symptoms might mask. Usually, phobias like this are approached with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Your doctor will talk about these options with you, and it's entirely up to you, with your doctor's recommendation, what you want to pursue. For psychotherapy, the most common type is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help you find different ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting when about to step inside an elevator or when already inside it. With medications, there are beta blockers and benzodiazepines, but note that these can have side effects. Whatever these side effects are, you should promptly share it with your doctor.

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

Elevators are not perfect, but their likelihood to malfunction, fall, or get stuck is very low. If you are not fully confident with this information, you can help overcome your elevatophobia by learning common elevator safety tips and basic elevator operations. These should help curb your mild fear until you become more self-assured. In addition to that, here are some of the things that you can do to gradually overcome your fear of elevators—both in getting on and riding one.

Conclusion

Yes, elevatophobia can be a challenge in today's world, but don't allow the elevator to win. Don't let it stop you from taking a job on the top floor or attending a social gathering on the rooftop. Sure, you can take the stairs if you insist and arrive winded and sweaty, with the party about to wrap up. But is this the quality of life you seek? Elevators are designed to make life easier. There are guaranteed ways to help you overcome elevatophobia. Take the first step and seek help. Soon, you’ll see yourself breezing through the floors with those arduous stair climbs little more than a memory.
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