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It looks like your average virtual reality game, but the lessons learned here could end up saving lives
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They don't really take it very seriously, but once they actually put the headset on and navigate through those environs
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they realize that their body actually is being triggered by some of those particular scenes
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Triggered, because these are recovering alcoholics looking to return to social settings
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Patients at the Mansfield, Texas Addiction Recovery Center learn to manage the triggers that can set them off
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They'll start talking about my hands are getting a little bit clammy, my breathing is changing
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So they recognize those changes in their body just by being exposed to these stimuli in a virtual environment
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The goal is to engage as many senses as possible, ultimately deactivating their automatic nervous system
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The better the patient's ability to manage their body's response, the more likely they'll be able to make positive decisions towards sobriety, which is even harder around the holidays
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We actually can customize it to their drink of choice. So they've got the headset on, we can just pass that somewhere, you know, around their nose
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and they'll have that reaction like, wow, that actually smells like gin or that smells like vodka
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Alcohol is a normal part of gatherings in our culture. This allows them to kind of practice those types of environments
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Studies show the average American drinks 27% more during the holidays. It's a $49 billion business between Thanksgiving and New Year's
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Dr. Jones says once they have a plan in place, they'll have the tools to not only identify the triggers, but have tools to navigate around it
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Jack Henry
