78: Chapter 78: Using Relaxation to Combat Fear 78: Chapter 78: Using Relaxation to Combat Fear “Inhale longer and lighter; exhale quicker and heavier.”
“Inhale—, exhale, inhale—, exhale, inhale—”
“Very good, now exhale lighter and slower, but still keep a rhythm faster than inhalation.”
“Inhale—, exhale…, inhale—, exhale…”
Accompanied by the rhythmic sounds, Chen Ting’s body, which had just tensed due to recalling the traumatic event, began to relax.
Visibly, her brows gradually smoothed out.
“Now, let your attention follow my guidance and feel the changes in your body.”
With Nan Zhubin’s words, Chen Ting’s fingers, which were slightly trembling, began to calm within ten seconds, until they completely ceased moving, entering a state resembling sleep.
This is not hypnosis, but a special meditative state.
In this state, Chen Ting remains conscious.
But she becomes more easily guided, more easily allows her thoughts to wander, and more easily creates scenarios with Nan Zhubin’s words, evoking an immersive sense of presence.
The step of [Relaxation] was thus completed.
Next was the second step of [Desensitization]—[Imaginary Desensitization].
Nan Zhubin looked at the paper marked “one,” representing the lowest level event, but still capable of terrifying Chen Ting.
“Now, you are at home, by the dining table.”
“In front of you are stir-fried broccoli with shrimp, steamed fish, stir-fried pork with bamboo shoots, tomato scrambled eggs.”
“Among them are some you like, and some you don’t particularly fancy.
But because they are nutritious, you eat them all, and over time, your mother believes you like these dishes and often makes them.”
“You are eating now.”
Chen Ting pursed her lips, and her throat made a swallowing motion.
Then, Nan Zhubin lowered his voice.
This time it wasn’t to soothe emotions, but to evoke them.
He used a slightly eerie tone, saying, “Tingting, have you been getting along well with Teacher Wang at school recently?”
Visibly, Chen Ting’s body tensed up instantly.
Nan Zhubin continued, “Teacher Wang called me recently, saying you’ve become a bit lax in your studies lately, not as proactive as before the college entrance exams.”
“Of course, mom and dad understand that after the exams, you want to relax a bit.
Whatever you think, mom supports you.
But shouldn’t we still not slack off for too long, after all, you need to keep working hard in university, learning is always the top priority.”
“If you have any difficulties, just go find Teacher Wang.
At school, mom and dad can’t look after you, so you should get along well with Teacher Wang…”
Chen Ting pursed her lips, her breathing becoming rapid.
Seeing this, Nan Zhubin knew the moment was right, and finally stopped speaking.
The terrifying event at level “one” ended here.
At this level, Chen Ting wrote that “there was no sense of security anywhere, even when escaping home, mom would still pressure me to get along with Wang An, and I couldn’t relax for a moment.”
Now clearly seeing that Chen Ting had immersed herself in the scenario and started experiencing anxiety and fear, Nan Zhubin promptly began the next guiding step.
“Chen Ting, now we’re entering a more challenging phase—I need you to continue experiencing the situation in your mind, but physically remain the same, follow my pace, and breathe deeply.”
“Inhale longer and lighter; exhale quicker and heavier.”
“Inhale—, exhale, inhale—, exhale, inhale—”
The basic principle of the [System Desensitization Method] is [intermittent inhibition] and [Counterconditioning].
For example, when Chen Ting thinks of anything related to Wang An at this moment, she would reflexively exhibit abnormal reactions like muscle tension, sweating, and nervousness.
These reflexes in the context of facing Wang An are a protective state, but once the situation is over, if these reflexes persist, it causes great distress.
It’s like frontline soldiers after demobilization, due to prolonged alertness, they wake at the slightest sound of a car passing outside at night or instinctively dive to the ground at the sight of something rounded falling.
These increase survival on the battlefield but cause great challenges in daily life, maintaining such an alert state for long periods exhausts one’s mental and physical strength, leading to other issues.
Currently, Nan Zhubin’s task is to trigger Chen Ting’s reflexes.
When Chen Ting subconsciously tenses up, she is then guided to relax and counter the tension and fear caused by the reflexes.
“Very good, now exhale lighter and slower, but still keep a rhythm faster than inhalation.”
“Inhale—, exhale…, inhale—, exhale…”
“Very good.” Nan Zhubin encouraged.
With Nan Zhubin’s guidance, Chen Ting’s breathing gradually calmed down, and her brows gently unraveled.
Nan Zhubin glanced at the clock on the wall, and after Chen Ting maintained this state for about 30 seconds, he suddenly raised his voice to just above normal volume.
“Alright, let’s open our eyes.”
The sound wasn’t loud, yet it was like a great bell, abruptly pulling Chen Ting out of the scenario.
Nan Zhubin asked, “Are you okay?”
Chen Ting blinked, “I’m okay.”
“Now, we will level the fear—’level 6′ almost makes you faint from fear, ‘level 1’ means not afraid at all.” Nan Zhubin said, “So, how would you rate your fear just now?”
Chen Ting didn’t think long and answered, “About level 1 to nearly 2; it’s not that there’s no feeling, but I’m not scared anymore.
It’s more about dislike.”
Nan Zhubin wrote “level 1” on the paper in front of him.
In fact, the bodily responses Chen Ting showed earlier contained elements of “fear,” which did not align with her subjective feeling of “not being afraid anymore.”
Through Nan Zhubin’s [Micro-expression Analysis], Chen Ting wasn’t strongly denying or lying; she truly didn’t feel scared.
This indicates that Chen Ting had developed a bodily conditioned response, but she wasn’t yet aware of it.
Therefore, the [System Desensitization Therapy] was needed to take effect.
“Let’s take a break, and then we’ll try the next level scene.”
Chen Ting was eager: “I can do it right now.”
Nan Zhubin smiled and shook his head, waiting for a while.
The next level was “Having already been admitted to Jiang University and thinking she’s finally free from Wang An, but her mom yet invites Wang An back again.”
“Inhale longer and lighter; exhale quicker and heavier.”
“Inhale—, exhale, inhale—, exhale, inhale—”
The second [Imaginary Desensitization] lasted slightly longer than the first, the first was 30 seconds, and now extended to 1 minute.
Progress was promising.