FAQ

Fear is one of the evolutionarily oldest and most powerful emotions, playing a crucial role in survival. It is experienced on a cognitive level but also triggers significant physiological responses. In the brain, fear activates a region known as the amygdala, which plays a key role in processing threats and emotional reactions. The amygdala sends signals to the hypothalamus, initiating an autonomic stress response. This activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to the rapid release of stress hormones, primarily adrenaline and subsequently cortisol. These hormonal changes result in an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, ensuring faster delivery of oxygen and energy to the muscles. Breathing accelerates (hyperventilation) to supply sufficient oxygen, and blood flow is redirected to the muscles of the limbs, enhancing the ability to either flee or fight. Pupils dilate to provide the brain with more visual information, while digestion slows or stops entirely to conserve energy for threat management. In this way, the body prepares for automatic responses, such as fight or flight. However, if the threat is too intense, prolonged, or escape is not an option, a different mechanism - known as freeze or tonic immobility - may be activated. In this state, the body becomes immobilized, an evolutionary strategy aimed at minimizing risk. This response is often accompanied by a temporary decrease in heart rate and muscle tension. Recent research also suggests that fear responses are more complex and may include additional mechanisms such as fawning (submitting to or appeasing the threat) or dissociation (psychological detachment from the situation). These responses are often influenced by individual trauma, genetic predispositions, and prior experiences. Thus, fear is not merely an emotion but a complex psychophysiological response involving brain structures (e.g., the amygdala, hypothalamus, and prefrontal cortex) and hormones. While this response was critical for the survival of our ancestors, excessive activation of these mechanisms in modern contexts can lead to conditions such as anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Fear is a natural and evolutionarily beneficial response to potentially dangerous situations, objects, or events that we may encounter throughout life. However, when fear begins to excessively interfere with daily functioning, significantly reduces quality of life, and persists over an extended period, it is classified as a phobia or an anxiety disorder. Phobias belong to the group of anxiety disorders and can be defined as an "excessive and disproportionate fear of harmless objects or situations that significantly disrupt everyday life." A fear response can be natural and temporary—such as feeling short-term unease in a dark room after watching a horror movie, which is considered an appropriate reaction. However, if the mere thought of being in a dark room triggers intense distress, anxiety, or panic for several months, this would be considered a phobic reaction. Phobias can develop in response to almost any object or situation, but the anxiety itself does not stem from the object or situation per se. Instead, it arises from the interpretation a person assigns to it. This interpretation activates negative beliefs and maladaptive thought patterns, which then perpetuate phobic behavior. Current scientific knowledge highlights the role of learning processes (e.g., classical conditioning) and genetic predispositions in the development of phobias. Early intervention and effective treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), play a critical role in addressing and managing phobias.

At VIRTUO, we help our clients regain control over their phobias and anxieties as quickly and effectively as possible. We utilize proven methods backed by years of scientific research and practical experience. We believe that those who understand their fear can also successfully manage it. Our goal is to help you comprehend that all physical and psychological reactions in stressful situations follow specific patterns. Avoidance of feared situations is a habit that perpetuates the vicious cycle of phobias and anxiety, but these patterns can be identified and changed. At VIRTUO, you will learn practical techniques that enable you to respond more calmly even in challenging situations. You will gain tools to manage unpleasant physical reactions such as rapid heartbeat, feelings of weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating, trembling, or shortness of breath. Additionally, you will learn to work with catastrophic thoughts and scenarios that often accompany anxiety or panic episodes. During consultations at VIRTUO, you will gradually discover that the situations causing your anxiety are far less dangerous than they might initially appear. Once you master the necessary techniques, the process of confronting your fears will begin. One of the greatest advantages of our approach is the ability to face your fears in the completely safe environment of virtual reality. Through this modern method, you will acquire strategies and techniques that you can gradually apply in your everyday life. The ultimate goal is for you to live fully again, with a sense of freedom and relaxation.

The best way to gain control over your fear is to face it. This principle lies at the core of addressing fear and anxiety. According to scientific research, confrontation with the object or situation that triggers fear is one of the most effective methods to take control of excessive fear and break its cycle. However, for individuals suffering from phobias, even the thought of confronting a feared situation can feel unbearable. This often leads to a vicious cycle of avoidance, which prevents progress and deepens anxiety. Studies confirm that gradual exposure to feared situations is a key step in overcoming them. Virtual reality is a modern and innovative technology that has been utilized in the treatment of phobias and anxiety disorders since the 1990s. It serves as an effective and practical intermediate step between discussing a feared situation and facing it in real life. In virtual reality, clients can safely confront feared objects or situations in a controlled and predictable environment. The intensity of the scenario can be tailored to the client's individual needs, and the exposure is repeated until the fear is reduced to a manageable level. Through this process, clients gradually build resilience, learn to manage their anxiety, and realize that they can once again live with greater ease and joy.

Confronting feared objects or situations in virtual reality offers several significant advantages over traditional "real-life" exposure. For instance, if you suffer from an intense fear of heights, you do not need to physically visit high places. Instead, you can comfortably sit in a chair, put on virtual reality goggles, and immerse yourself in a simulation of heights or other anxiety-inducing environments. This safe and controlled setting reduces the psychological stress associated with real-life exposure, while allowing clients to gradually face their fears at their own pace. Scientific research also demonstrates notable improvements and anxiety reduction after approximately 10 sessions, making virtual reality a time- and cost-efficient therapeutic method. Clients can achieve significant progress within a relatively short period, saving both time and money without compromising therapeutic effectiveness. Another major advantage of virtual reality is its flexibility in simulating a variety of scenarios that would be logistically or financially challenging, if not impossible, to recreate in real life. For example, for individuals with a fear of flying, situations such as boarding a plane, takeoff, mid-flight, and landing can be repeated as many times as needed to help manage anxiety. This ability to repeat and adjust scenarios is crucial for strengthening a sense of control. Virtual reality can be applied to a wide range of specific phobias and anxieties. Studies confirm its high popularity not only among younger individuals but also among clients dealing with phobias such as public speaking, driving, visiting a doctor, blood draws, or even social anxiety. The ability to simulate various scenarios in a safe environment makes virtual reality not only an effective but also an appealing tool for modern therapy.

While older generations may perceive virtual reality as something unfamiliar and potentially risky, the experience of virtual reality is entirely safe. Virtual reality has been on the rise for many years, and most people associate it primarily with video games or flight simulators for trainee pilots. However, VIRTUO, along with other therapeutic centers worldwide, demonstrates that its applications are far broader, especially in the field of therapy. If you're unsure how virtual reality works, imagine it as being in a small cinema. You put on goggles that create an image similar to sitting in the front row, where a scene unfolds right before your eyes. If you've ever used 3D glasses in a cinema, you've already had an experience comparable to virtual reality. In some individuals, prolonged exposure to virtual reality may cause mild dizziness or nausea. However, this reaction is rare and typically subsides quickly after a short break. Virtual reality is, therefore, a safe and effective tool for addressing phobias and anxiety. It is also well-suited for people who may not have much experience with technology, making it an accessible and modern therapeutic solution.