DBT: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy was designed to treat people struggling with intense emotional instability. It was majorly used for Borderline Personality Disorder but now is being applied to conditions like self harm behaviours, substance use and eating disorders.
The term dialectical refers to two seemingly opposite ideas :
“Acceptance” and “Change”
Acceptance of yourself and your current emotions and change in unhealthy behaviours and thought patterns.
Patients are taught that they’re doing the best they can while also learning that they must do better.
People with Borderline Personality Disorder experience:
- Intense and rapidly shifting emotions
- Fear of abandonment
- Impulsive behaviours like self harm
- Unstable relationships and self image
DBT consists of four key modules
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Mindfulness : To learn to observe your thoughts and emotions rather than react impulsively.
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Distress tolerance : To tolerate emotional pain without resorting to self harm
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Emotional regulation : To identify, understand, and manage intense emotions.
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Interpersonal effectiveness : Focused on improving communication and relationships.
You learn to-
- Assert your needs
- Set boundaries
- Maintain self respect while interacting with others
Some people don’t feel emotions they drown in them. A small moment becomes overwhelming. A word feels like rejection and silence feels like abandonment. DBT was created not to silence these emotions but to teach you how to survive them.
Are our emotions really the problem or is it the way we respond to them that shapes our lives?
MBH/PS