VR Is Revolutionizing Therapy

So why isn't it more common? [CNET]( Insider [March 28, 2023](#?ftag=CAD-04-10aac3a&utm_email=02015bee48352e908c609176b0b8e62f74e1d7c914618055c65562e7c03efb52&utm_campaign_id=6490449&utm_email_id=983daacd7a7b525975c4ca178414c6fd668da1727b4c8136b5a9cc7a7bbbc908&utm_newsletter_id=71558&medium=email&source=iterable) [VR Can Help Conquer Your Fears]( A few years ago, I was carpooling with six friends and I offered to jump in the way-way back seat. I’m only 5'0" so it seemed like a no-brainer that I’d volunteer for the smallest row. But when my friend pushed all the seats up into place, I quickly went from totally normal to an insane person… And that’s how I found out I have claustrophobia. Developing a phobia as an adult seemed weird to me, but what was even more salient was the panic that set in when I was closed off in that tight space. The anxiety felt unmanageable. After my friends kindly let me take the front seat, we all discovered that each of us has a pretty severe phobia: heights, public speaking, crowds. And it’s just something we deal with day in and day out. My colleague Lisa Eadicicco this week writes about a man who needed to overcome his phobia of needles to receive the COVID vaccine. He did so with the help of [virtual reality](. This was shocking to me, but VR has actually been used to help people cope with anxiety and phobias since the '90s, and the capabilities of the technology are only growing as tech giants like[Meta]( Sony and[Apple]( landmark developments every year. But the evolution of VR technology in therapy treatment seems stagnant. While VR is used mostly in conversations about gaming and online socializing, Eadicicco explores[the future impact of VR in mental health care]( some of the roadblocks preventing VR from further revolutionizing how we undergo therapy. You can find this CNET cover story, and so much more, in today’s newsletter. -- Macy Meyer, editor INSIDER ESSENTIALS display:%20block;%20max-width:%20116px;%20%20max-height:%2015px; display:%20block;%20max-width:%2069px;%20%20max-height:%2015px; [VR Is Revolutionizing Therapy. Why Aren't More People Using It?]( [VR Is Revolutionizing Therapy. Why Aren't More People Using It?]( [VR therapy has been studied since the 1990s. But as of 2023, we're still talking about its potential.]( [See this]( [ChatGPT Can Now Browse the Web, Buy Groceries and More]( [ChatGPT Can Now Browse the Web, Buy Groceries and More]( [See this]( [Google Products to Expect in 2023: Pixel 8, Pixel Fold and More]( [Google Products to Expect in 2023: Pixel 8, Pixel Fold and More]( [See this]( ['X-Ray Vision' Could Be Your Next AR Superpower]( ['X-Ray Vision' Could Be Your Next AR Superpower]( [See this]( [7 Kitchen Tools and Appliances I Don't Regret Upgrading]( [7 Kitchen Tools and Appliances I Don't Regret Upgrading]( [See this]( [Shame Is Sabotaging Your Happiness. Here's How to Stop It]( [Shame Is Sabotaging Your Happiness. Here's How to Stop It]( [See this]( [Vibration Soundtracks Are on the Way for Games and Movies]( [Vibration Soundtracks Are on the Way for Games and Movies]( [See this]( [A US Nuclear Plant Is Leaking Radiation: Should You Worry?]( [A US Nuclear Plant Is Leaking Radiation: Should You Worry?]( [See this]( CNET RECOMMENDS [Save 55% on iPhone Cases and Essential Accessories in Totallee's Spring Sale]( Deal of the day: Keep your iPhone in mint condition with these stylish cases and other great phone accessories for less than half price. [Take Your Workouts to the Next Level With Up to $150 Off Garmin Fitness Trackers]( Plus deals on GPS navigators, golf gear, fishfinders and more. [March Madness Food Deals From Wendy's, Subway and More]( With discounts from America's top eateries, we all score. display:%20block;%20max-width:%20116px;%20%20max-height:%2015px; display:%20block;%20max-width:%2019px;%20%20max-height:%2015px; Trouble viewing this email? [View online](. This newsletter is a service of [CNET.com](. To update your account, please visit our [Newsletter subscription center.]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy]( © 2023 CNET, A Red Ventures company. All rights reserved. CNET [235 Second Street San Francisco, CA 94105 U.S.A.](#)