DBT experiences - Q & A

Ive seen many people mentioning and discussing DBT throughout this forum for a while now, so i thought maybe its time it deserves its own thread.

Use this thread to help others
Share your good/bad experiences, links to helpful videos (if DBT isnt available in your own area)

What is DBT Therapy? (dialectical behavior therapy)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDJi86n9-Rk

Mindfulness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftL7l4KiHag

Radical Acceptance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyH1JLZcVR8

This lady has the most calmest voice of the DBT videos ive found
(others were to irritating voices for me)

Must apologize though about this lady plugs her book.
nevertheless she has helped me a lot to learn techniques to learn to manage my reactions better

[mod edit]

.

There was a group home I stayed at that did DBT twice a week, and the psychologist who ran it was amazing. She made it more hands on and practical than I previously had it explained to me.

The first DBT I had was at a hospital - the worst one I've ever been to. They made it sounds like some kind of voodoo #######4 that we were supposed to believe and didn't give us the practical skills to put it into practice. They just showed us motivational youtube videos with the words "mindfulness" and "walking the middle path" and all of that fun stuff.

Thank you loneyhear
Both experiences are important (i know one was bad)
Im sorry your 2nd DBT wasnt as helpful to you as your first

Nice that you got to experience both instead of just the bad one. At least you can see not every thing we try is good. you have seen both and like you said the first one was amazing

Thanks for sharing your experiences

I had a pretty good experience with DBT, although I only attended the group not the individual support session too. I used to get frustrated at the male t's rushing through things. I was bolchy enough to it.

Sadly I don't actively use DBT as much as I perhaps should, but I have used my skills to deescalate others who have been about to self harm or who are having very intense feelings. I recently spent time trying to encourage someone to do it, as I strongly believe it would have benefitted her. She refused it outright on Friday.

Personally I would definitely recommend it, although it is important to make sure you have a good relationship with the t beforehand

My therapist is absolutely lovely, so I think right off the bat I've had a better experience than others. I once said that my reaction was "beyond stupid" and she made sure I never called myself or my reactions "stupid" again. She's taught me how to validate my feelings and to refuse to put myself down for them. She says to me that if anyone had the experiences that I've had, that they would only do the same and that it is difficult to re-pave these paths.

The tools I've been given through solo DBT therapy has been key in my progress. There are outside factors of course that made my symptoms worse that are no longer present, but the core of my relief has been what she's taught me. Small things, like for instance, when my anxiety is skyrocketing I'll now rub my feet on the floor and describe the sensation, or internally verbalize my every action. This helps me to stay grounded in the present. Or, when I'm feeling overwhelmed and ready to explode from anger, I'll say, "I can't change what's happened up to this point. It's already happening. Now what can I do?" It seems so little, but realizing you can't control every action leading up to things helps me cool down and tackle what I can accomplish or change.

There are some other things I've learned so far, but these have been the most helpful for me.

Side Note: My symptoms have not disappeared and I am not void of BPD symptoms still. However, it has dramatically lessened my outbursts and for me, that's a HUGE win. I was on the brink of losing my job and my boyfriend, which would have absolutely wrecked me.

**Bumping this thread**

we have new and some regulars asking about DBT again and how it can help us. so
i think its important to keep in mind that there are tips and techniques to help defuse some reactions and situation some of us have to fight in our daily life

Links i use are on the posts post

Maybe this thread should be a sticky?

ensley wrote:Maybe this thread should be a sticky?

Thank you for that
i was actually going to make this a sticky when i made it ..but then decided not too.