Module 6: Testing Expectations during Mission Plans

Last time we saw Sally, she and her mom worked on a Mission Plan where she challenged herself to touch a dirty shirt and not was her hands. This was a very big deal for Sally, because germs cause her a lot of anxiety, and get in the way of her being able to do things she wants to.

But! During last week’s video, Sally was able to overcome part of that fear by doing something she normally avoids doing, and was even able to challenge her need to always wash her hands.

The first time Sally practiced touching laundry, she noticed she felt really anxious. But the more she focused on touching the dirty shirt, the easier it was to touch it. Sally has tried a couple more times since then, and she has noticed that it has become easier through practice. She still feels a little anxious and scared when she goes back to try again, but she isn’t as anxious as the first time.

Exposures are supposed to help us challenge our anxieties and fears, but they don’t always make them go away immediately. The more exposures you do, the easier it will be to overcome your fears.

For Sally, the more she’s able to practice touching things that her anxiety tells her are “dirty”, and the more she’s able to practice NOT washing her hands, the easier it is for her to do the things she loves to do. Now that Sally has practiced touching the laundry a few times without washing her hands, she has learned:

• That it was not as scary as she thought it would be to do this
• She is tough and can handle doing things that make her feel anxious
• That even when she touches something dirty, most of the time, nothing bad happens

Changing it up and facing your fears in lots of different situations will help you overcome your fears and anxieties. Sally knows there are a lot more fears that she needs to take on, so she has been working with her mom to figure out what she will face next!