Dr. Rhonda Barofsky

Uh-oh. Yeah, we're just going to go driving with me. Well, so eventually what – like this was really critical, all of the methods that were used. And I don't know if you want to go over it. Werner and I created an anxiety hierarchy too. And – go ahead, Werner.

Uh-oh. Yeah, we're just going to go driving with me. Well, so eventually what – like this was really critical, all of the methods that were used. And I don't know if you want to go over it. Werner and I created an anxiety hierarchy too. And – go ahead, Werner.

And I knew I was going to have to drive home from the intensive at night and I was going to drive over the five, this overpass from five 80 to 13 to 24 from five 80 to 24. And I thought, Oh, I don't want to do it the first time with Werner in the car. And I don't want to do it the first time with at night and it's going to be dark and scary. So the Sunday before the intensive started I,

And I knew I was going to have to drive home from the intensive at night and I was going to drive over the five, this overpass from five 80 to 13 to 24 from five 80 to 24. And I thought, Oh, I don't want to do it the first time with Werner in the car. And I don't want to do it the first time with at night and it's going to be dark and scary. So the Sunday before the intensive started I,

I went to this overpass, you know, and I, you know, there's two lanes. And usually when I drive toward this overpass, I'm in the left lane, which I can then swerve around the overpass and go the half hour out of my way.

I went to this overpass, you know, and I, you know, there's two lanes. And usually when I drive toward this overpass, I'm in the left lane, which I can then swerve around the overpass and go the half hour out of my way.

But I forced myself to be in the further right lane so that I couldn't escape. And it was during the day I was by myself. We had already done these three cognitive exposures, these imaginal exposures. And, and I had that thought, I'm going to feel bad. My heart might be pounding and I might feel yucky, but I'm still going to be able to drive. I'm still capable of driving.

But I forced myself to be in the further right lane so that I couldn't escape. And it was during the day I was by myself. We had already done these three cognitive exposures, these imaginal exposures. And, and I had that thought, I'm going to feel bad. My heart might be pounding and I might feel yucky, but I'm still going to be able to drive. I'm still capable of driving.

So I just kept telling myself, I I'm, Even if my heart's pounding and I'm feeling bad, I'm still going to keep driving. And then I forced myself to be in the lane that I actually couldn't escape from, and I drove over the overpass.

So I just kept telling myself, I I'm, Even if my heart's pounding and I'm feeling bad, I'm still going to keep driving. And then I forced myself to be in the lane that I actually couldn't escape from, and I drove over the overpass.

It was probably 90 to 100. It was pretty intense.

It was probably 90 to 100. It was pretty intense.

Yeah. Even though we did great work through this, I wasn't going to be like dancing over the bridge. I wasn't going to be like, woohoo, this will be fun, let's go.

Yeah. Even though we did great work through this, I wasn't going to be like dancing over the bridge. I wasn't going to be like, woohoo, this will be fun, let's go.

Right. It's really unpleasant.

Right. It's really unpleasant.

And the third time we did it, when Werner was asking me to rate how high the anxiety was, I was really surprised that the anxiety had gone down.

And the third time we did it, when Werner was asking me to rate how high the anxiety was, I was really surprised that the anxiety had gone down.

Well, driving to the intensive was nerve-wracking, but it was less nerve-wracking than I expected it to be. And I felt really proud and accomplished when we arrived at the South San Francisco Center. And I think we showed up 45 minutes early because I was so worried about getting there that I forced you and Lee to leave really early. 3.30 in the morning isn't that early.

Well, driving to the intensive was nerve-wracking, but it was less nerve-wracking than I expected it to be. And I felt really proud and accomplished when we arrived at the South San Francisco Center. And I think we showed up 45 minutes early because I was so worried about getting there that I forced you and Lee to leave really early. 3.30 in the morning isn't that early.