Exposure and Response Prevention Uses Habituation

Exposure and Response Prevention Uses Habituation

Exposure and response prevention is the principal cognitive behavioral technique for treating OCD. The purpose of ERP is to reduce the anxiety and discomfort associated with obsessions through the natural process of sensory habituation. Habituation, which is hardwired into the brain, is a natural process whereby the central nervous system gets used to stimuli through repeated, prolonged contact; you might even say the nervous system gets bored with these stimuli. (The OCD Workbook)

When I had a cast on my arm I got used to washing my hands less frequently. I became accustomed to doing a lot of things differently – dressing, combing my hair, the list is endless. This is an example of habituation.

Yesterday my husband and I volunteered at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. As Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners, we were at the kids’ scavenger hunt table. The base sound of the band playing in the building next door was so loud it filled the building we were in and was very disturbing. I didn’t think I could tolerate it and didn’t look forward to sitting there for four hours. After two hours I noticed something incredible. The music was just as loud but I was no longer thinking about it. When I did think about it, the music seemed louder and bothersome. But I had actually forgotten about it because I was absorbed in what I was doing. This is another example of habituation.