I can't tell anything about 1. and 3., but depending on how you do 2. it might be a form of mental exposure from CBT. Assuming you reach the threshold level (i

I can't tell anything about 1. and 3., but depending on how you do 2. it might be a form of mental exposure from CBT. Assuming you reach the threshold level (i.e. you're outside your comfort zone), and stay there, a habituation happens, because your brain adjusts to the situation. In case of fear, you basically think about the proverbial spider so long, that the brain realizes "hmm, it's been 30 minutes, so maybe it won't annihilate me"? (Again, you need to actually feel the fear to the point of being uncomfortable.) (Of course I don't know your specific case, and also I'm not a professional.)