When it comes to virtual reality, cutting edged video games and movie theater gimmicks are what pop up into mind. But this blessing of technology has much more to offer which expands far beyond the concrete entertainment. Recently virtual reality has been used for practical solutions for real human problems; for example like treating people who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Using the features of virtual reality, which give overwhelming experiences while playing video games or watching 3D movies, PTSD sufferers are treated through an exposure therapy. This therapy is closely monitored by multiple experts so that the patient doesn’t become re-traumatized. While running the session situations, environments and incidents are tactfully used to heal the patients from their fear and anxiety and ultimately it triggers in a safe environment. The patients develop their coping and defending mechanism to control their fear and get rid of their anxiety and stress after regular virtual reality sessions. This sort of treatment added a new dimension and speed to the psychological treatments, therapies and sessions which were time consuming and hard to treat even a few years back.
Virtual reality is a simple technology where the viewer sees whatever they are shown in 3D. We all know how 3D images are created. When using this technology any situation or event is shown in 3D and 180 degree view the viewer gets the sensation of being present in that specific place. New generation is quite acquainted with this modern technology as it is widely used in the form of advanced video games and works as a media for watching 3D movies. The almost real view of the scenario adds sensations which are unavailable otherwise. Scenes seen though it becomes more alive when you can walk around and literally can move in the scene you are seeing. Some special effect like the feeling of sand between the toes or the scent associated with the scene in virtual reality are added to give the veteran patients more realistic experience when they appear for therapies. Repeated virtual reality sessions have successfully retreated PTSD symptoms and reduced anxiety attacks in veterans as per several study reports.
Virtual reality treats PTSD by creating real adventure of wars for the patients who came back with horrible experiences from deadly wars and suffering from trauma, stress and anxiety. Psychologists agreed that the best way to overcome the fear of something is to face it. Virtual reality does exactly the same to the patients of PTSD. It helps the patients to deal with their traumatic memories back from the war and helps them to get over it in a more positive way so that they can forget the real trauma. Virtual realities have more realistic sound effects and most amazingly smell effects too! Fans blow different types of scent from body odor to duel like diesel, smell of gun powder etc. psychologists claim that memories which are formed with an association of smell are strong and can be easily replaced with similar smell effects. Specialists say that PTSD symptoms can totally be cured after three weeks regular and routine virtual reality therapy and patients behave more normally after the first week.
Virtual reality has more beneficial sides which technologists are yet to invent. It can be firmly said that the future uses of virtual reality are much wider that we can hardly imagine now. Researchers are working to make it even better to give people more realistic experience through it. Very common sicknesses like “inertia” or motion sickness can be treated with VR too. In near future HD, 3D will be removed by VR for its amazing and realistic sensations it provides.

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