What Is Exposure Therapy, Something Which Indians Have Been Doing For Generations Now?

Exposure therapy, a widely recognized psychological treatment for anxiety disorders, may seem like a modern concept in the realm of mental health and in the Western world. However, the essence of this practice has been deeply rooted in Indian households for generations, often without realizing it. The core idea of exposure therapy is to help individuals confront their fears rather than avoid them, thereby reducing anxiety over time. Interestingly, many traditional Indian practices align with this approach, making it a familiar, if unspoken, aspect of Indian parenting and upbringing.

What Is Exposure Therapy?

One of the most common ways Indian parents have unknowingly used exposure therapy is through the lock them in the dark tactic. Many desi children have vivid memories of being told to face their fear of the dark by being left alone in a dimly lit or completely dark room. While the method might seem harsh to some, the intention behind it was simple: the more the child is exposed to the darkness, the sooner they will realize there is nothing to fear. Over time, this repeated exposure helps desensitize the child to their fear of darkness, allowing them to overcome it.

Similarly, the fear of animals, especially pets, is another area where Indian parents have employed exposure therapy techniques, even if unintentionally. It’s not uncommon for a child who is scared of dogs or cats to be encouraged, or in some cases, forced to interact with the family pet. Indian parents believe that if a child is exposed to animals regularly, their fear will naturally diminish, and they’ll learn to love or at least tolerate the creatures. The child’s growing familiarity with the pet eventually helps them manage and often overcome their initial fear.

The principles of exposure therapy have long been present in many other everyday situations in Indian households. For instance, parents often make their children confront academic pressures, social anxieties, or even specific phobias through persistent exposure. A child who fears swimming may be sent to classes and encouraged to face the water until they can swim without fear. Another common scenario is when children are asked to repeatedly interact with relatives or strangers to overcome shyness or social anxiety, a subtle form of social exposure therapy. The 80s, 90s and early 2000s kids know what we are talking about, as this is something even I had to go through where I was made to sit on the giant wheel ride because of how much afraid I was of it. Thanks to my dad I love those giant wheel rides now.

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The premise behind exposure therapy, both in psychology and traditional desi parenting, is that by gradually confronting one’s fears in a controlled manner, the fear loses its intensity. In a clinical setting, therapists design specific exposure exercises to help individuals tackle their anxieties step by step. In Indian households, this process has often been informal and guided by parental instinct rather than therapeutic principles.

While the traditional desi methods might not always be ideal or trauma-informed, they do share a foundational understanding of how exposure therapy works. By confronting fear instead of avoiding it, individuals can ultimately learn to manage it more effectively.

Also Read: How To Know If Therapy Is Actually Working? Mental Health Expert Shares 8 Signs Of Progress

 

First Published: September 11, 2024 2:58 PM