STRATEGY:
	
IN	VIVO	EXPOSURE
In	vivo
	
is	just	a	fancy	way	of	saying,	“in	real	life,”	and	for	our	purposes,	it
means	you	need	to	experience	the	situations	you’re	avoiding.	Anxiety	has
dictated	a	number	of	your	choices	and	caused	you	to	miss	out.	Calling	up
your	fears	in	real	time,	by	approaching	what	you	usually	avoid,	will	show	you
that	you	can	work	through	your	anxiety	in	the	moment	and	get	out	on	the
other	side.	What’s	on	the	other	side?	A	life	full	of	experiences	you	value.
(When	you	try	your	first	in	vivo	exposures,	find	a	trusted	friend	to	accompany
you	so	you	have	support	if	you	start	to	feel	overwhelmed.)
Pick	something	that	you’ve	long	avoided	because	of	anxiety.	This	should	be
something	that	will	be	hard	but	that	you	can	imagine	pushing	yourself	to	do.
Examples	might	be	calling	a	friend	or	relative,	going	somewhere,	speaking	up
in	a	group,	asking	for	something	you	need,	telling	someone	something	you’ve
needed	to	say	for	a	long	time.	Take	doing	the	task	slowly.	Remember,	the
anxiety	will	be	there	as	you	push	forth	and	that’s	okay.	Here’s	how:
1.
	
Take	action:	Do	something	you	avoid	and	fear	that	blocks	you	from