Exposure Theory Works

[Re]Exposure Theory Works —- unknown DA

The trauma from an acrimonious break-up can last many years post that relationship ending, even if you’ve done meaningful work on yourself to deal with it. I was unwittingly reminded of this when invited back to Melbourne, the hometown of an ex, as I had previously made the RASH decision to never visit again, due to associating that relationship with the city [mad]! However, given that I’d not seen some family members for years, I was persuaded to venture down-under again.

Re-exposure to the streets, shops & cafes of Melbourne that I used to fool-around laughing & enjoying together with said-ex, initially gave me anxiety: palpitations, nerves & dark thoughts about the fact that some great times ended so sourly. However, I found that facing those memories “head-on” & reprogramming the “old Melbourne story” with a new one, was a powerful way to help me. Moreover, the joy of re-discovering Melbourne felt like I was being compensated for my time away. The street art continues to add a colourful touch to an ever burgeoning cityscape. Strolling the trendy laneways & getting lost in its vibrant food scene was a pleasant reminder of it’s charm & culture. Moreover, I took great delight to find that Melbourne’s coffee game remains strong, ushering one to recognise that the place is more than just a city, it’s a way of life….

This experience evidenced to me that one can conquer one’s fears by “re-writing” memories to make them less traumatic. Meaning that memories can be modified & made less frightening if you “literally retrace” prior steps with new people & different conversations to form new associations. Hence, “disrupting the fear” of a previously traumatic situation with new experiences, by physically re-visiting a place associated with that pain (so long as it’s safe), is a way to “intervene” with trauma. As such, by re-visiting Melbourne, I’ve re-written the -IVE association I had with the city. This will help prevent a “return-to-fear”, proof that memories can be ‘re-written’ to make them less traumatic if you (safely) allow yourself to be exposed to them again.