Defuser patent pending is a skills training app in. It is based on thought defusion, a skill taught in DBT and ACT. It is inspired by Dr. Temple Grandin’s work, particularly, her explanation of how many autistic brains think in pictures.

What is Defuser?

Our thoughts feelings often become associated with or fused with certain images. As an example, if a person’s parent rode horses, then every time a person sees a horse, they may think of that parent. As a result the thought of horses is fused to the thought of the parent.

Quite often, some fusions can stress on a person. As an example, a person may develop a fear or phobia of flying in airplanes. As a result, even looking at a picture of an airplane may invoke negative thoughts or feelings about flying. Defuser patent pending encourages us to utilize our senses through visual and tactile cues to teach our brains to recognize that thoughts, whether invoked by a picture or a real event, are only thoughts. When we are able to see our thoughts in this way, we begin to feel empowered. As a result, we learn to let go of unwanted or intrusive thoughts more easily.

Ultimately, thoughts don’t have to fuse to us anymore than the food we eat becomes fused to our bodies. We consume food and then we eliminate the food. We take what we need and we let the rest go. When we de-fuse, we are actively making the conscious choice to let the thought go, to move on.

How does it work?

How do I use Releaser?

Step 1: Take a few deep breaths before you get started.

Step 2: You will see several different image sections moving fast. These sections are intended to represent the thoughts, images and feelings our minds experience when we are stressed. Click on any moving image section and this will open up a single picture

*Helpful tip: If your thought about the image is very long, try to shorten the thought to one single phrase or theme.

Step 3: When you see the image, read the phrase you see below the image and state the first thought that comes to your mind about the image. There is no right or wrong response.

Step 4: Swipe right or left to let the image go.

Step 5: Repeat steps 3-4 with each new image you see.

Why use Defuser?

People want to be in control of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. People want to not have to deal with high anxiety, high stress and the lack of motivation, lack of self-esteem that goes along with not feeling in control of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

However, people spend much of their days inundated by images and sounds, mostly via information from the internet, social media, doom-scrolling, etc. This activity makes them feel big feels (loneliness, hopelessness, low self-esteem, sadness, jealousy, etc.)

Helping people manage negative, unwanted and recurring thoughts is the core mission of Defuser.