Flooding (psychology)

The flooding (including flooding, over-stimulation ) is a form of exposure therapy, which is counted among the techniques of behavior therapy. Particularly good results it shows in anxiety disorders, insbesonderen in less complex disorder images.

When flooding a phobic patient is exposed after detailed information and preparing the most anxiety-provoking stimulus and for him to stay in the anxiety-provoking situation until his anxiety has decreased. If for example a person has a fear of heights, then the sensory overload would be the dwelling at a high tower. This form of therapy should only be performed by an appropriately trained therapist. Sense of the therapy is that the patient learns that he can overcome the anxiety-provoking situation. The only reassurance to the patient and necessary condition for the success of the treatment is a trusting relationship between patient and therapist.