Acupressure Desensitization Protocol: SUD Scale and Image

Baseline Measurement Using the SUD Scale

The acupressure desensitization protocol is a key strategy for counteracting the compulsive urge associated with pornography consumption.

The first formal step involves assessing the intensity of distress or craving using the Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) scale.

This quantitative assessment tool allows the user to rate emotional distress or urge on a numerical scale ranging from one to ten.

On this scale, a score of one represents absolute calm or a total absence of urge, while a score of ten reflects an uncontrollable compulsion or a peak of extreme anxiety.

Accurately identifying this initial numerical level provides an objective baseline for monitoring the effectiveness of the therapeutic procedure.

By assigning a specific number to the impulse, the individual is able to distance themselves from their automatic reaction, facilitating an analytical framework.

This measurement is repeated at the end of each round of stimulation to verify the reduction in distress.

Formulation and Function of the Adjustment Phrase

After quantifying the urgency on the scale, the protocol requires the formulation of a personalized adjustment phrase.

This statement combines the explicit verbalization of the specific problem with an explicit declaration of self-acceptance and a commitment to remain present in the face of distress.

For example, the person might say: “Although I feel this strong urge to seek out explicit material, I choose to accept myself deeply and remain present.”

This phrase is repeated three times in a row while gently massaging or tapping the side of the hand or the center of the chest.

Its primary goal is to deactivate unconscious self-sabotage and dissolve secondary resistance to suffering.

By validating the emotion without judging or repressing it, the cognitive anxiety associated with the internal struggle is reduced.

In this way, the mind opens up to the bodily experience, preparing the nervous system to receive the desensitizing stimulation from the acupressure points.

The Still Image for Focused Exposure

To process cognitive fixation during the journey through the acupressure points, the still image technique is used.

It involves selecting a specific, static mental image that represents the triggering scene or the fantasy of substance use.

Instead of projecting a dynamic video in the mind, the user isolates a single static frame.

Holding this still image in working memory while stimulating the body sequence allows the user to address the trigger without activating an overwhelming emotional response.