While flooding can be used to deal with physical phobias,
its real value has come in the field of dealing with the victims of severe trauma.
Flooding has an established record in combating and relieving post traumatic
stress disorder, and there are preliminary reports that it is extremely effective
in helping the victims of rape and sexual assault and abuse work through their
traumas. By being forced to relive the original trauma repeatedly in a safe
setting, the patient is able to reconnect their emotions to the event and live
through them. Until they are able to do that, they can't let go of the fear.
