Monday, February 6, 2012

DBT

I met with my therapist today and explained to her the realization I had. In the past, all of my therapists have had me while I was in survival mode. I've never dealt with my parents or my childhood or my shitty relationships or my fucked up view of myself. And that's what I want to do. So we're going to work on that. She suggested that I start attending their DBT group. Even though it's for people with borderline personality disorder, she feels I could get a lot out of it.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a system of therapy originally developed by Marsha M. Linehan, a psychology researcher at the University of Washington, to treat people with borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness largely derived from Buddhist meditative practice. … Research indicates that DBT also effective in treating patients who present varied symptoms and behaviors associated with spectrum mood disorders, including self-injury. Recent work suggests its effectiveness with sexual abuse survivors and chemical dependency.

My therapist and I will be meeting weekly again and I start DBT at the end of the month. I'm scared. New people. New things. But I'm going to go. I want to change. I don't want to depend on others for my self worth of happiness anymore. I want to live a life that makes me proud and fulfilled. I want to live a life that matters.

4 comments:

  1. Oh oh oh, I here this works for you! I have had some success with practiced based on Buddhist meditation. My thoughts and love go out to you.

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  2. This sounds awesome. I really hope it's helpful for you. You sound hopeful, and I'm so glad to hear that. :* Feel good! <3

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  3. DBT is an awesome approach. I did part of my 5th year thesis at university on it, and I have come to believe that it is one of the best, most rounded methods to dealing not just with borderline patients but with life and humans in general.

    Go for it.

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  4. DBT is awesome, I think you will enjoy it and it won't be a chore. Good luck!

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