DBT seems like a joke to me-VERY Discouraged

Shawniecat12345 wrote:Ugh. Im about to start DBT and I am researching it a bit before I start. I honestly think it sounds silly, with all the acronyms and stuff. Very high school. My point is this-I could learn that $#%^ all day and night-whether I PRACTICE it or not is a different story. I know I should listen to Ravi Shankar and not Marilyn Manson when I'm in a horrible mood. Does that stop me? NO! I know I should breath deeply when I am freaked out and not reach for a razor blade. But I will reach for the blade every time! How do you STOP these patterns of behavior that are so ingrained into you?!! I cant force my self to do something happy when I am in a hole! Its like someone telling you to smile when you have a scowl on your face! It just pisses me off more! I am feeling VERY discouraged about this right now. I am smart enough to know what I SHOULD do. That doesn't mean Im going to do it!!! I feel like it is not going to work for me and that nothing with help me and I am NEVER going to get better. PLease I need to hear others experiences with DBT. Do you like it? Dislike it? Is it working? Not? HELP!

I've been there. And sometimes, I still get into my moods where I think exactly this. You're going to hate me as much as I hated people for saying this, but you really slowly do start to put it into practice, and it seems less and less silly with time. We're all creatures of habit. A habitual behavior is far easier to learn than to break. Though it comes with time.

Just keep reminding yourself after you slip up and don't use your coping skills and DBT skills, and work on reminding yourself closer and closer to the slip up. Eventually, you'll start reminding yourself before you slip up and fall back on old habits.

Though I'd like to say that I wouldn't cut away from the dark music unless it makes you want to cut more. Unless you put ice or something on your arms (it really does work, I used to be a cutter), while listening to the music. Sometimes, you need it to vent. Sometimes, you need to think about and express what you feel about the past. But everything in moderation. What you do is you say "I felt X about Y when Z, etc...." and notice it and acknowledge it. Then tell yourself, "it's in the past. I'm going to overcome it and prove to the world I can do this."

The strength comes from within. You already have that. You have to have alot of strength to deal with this disorder.

I think you should give the DBT a chance before you judge it. Try and get through at least two full cycles. At first it does seem a bit like wtf am I doing here, but do your homework and fully participate. It helps! I "graduated" from DBT. It did help and practice makes perfect with the skills. Use the ones that are helpful to you. It can also be quite amusing with the right group and skills "teachers".

Marsha Linehan has helped an awful lot of people by coming up with this therapy programme (although her videos are a wee bit boring!!).

Good luck

-- Fri Jul 26, 2013 1:52 am --

I think you should give the DBT a chance before you judge it. Try and get through at least two full cycles. At first it does seem a bit like wtf am I doing here, but do your homework and fully participate. It helps! I "graduated" from DBT. It did help and practice makes perfect with the skills. Use the ones that are helpful to you. It can also be quite amusing with the right group and skills "teachers".

Marsha Linehan has helped an awful lot of people by coming up with this therapy programme (although her videos are a wee bit boring!!).

Good luck