If you suffer from a mental illness, have you tried Dialetic Behavior Therapy (DBT)? Did it help?

Question

I have severe depression and anxiety, OCD, body dysmorphic disorder, bi-polar II, and they think I also have borderline personality disorder. I want to get better so bad but I don't know if this is helping. I see a therapist once a week for an hour and then do DBT for 2 hrs. once a week. I don't think it's enough but I have Medicaid and that's all they'll pay for without me being in a mental hospital. I tried suicide last spring but haven't really thought about it since then so it must be helping somewhat. I'm only taking Prozac and Xanax right now 'cause I'm also on Methadone for an opiate addiction (I'm also a recovering drug addict and alcoholic, I have a lot of problems, don't I?) and I don't want to be on too many meds. Please share your experience with DBT. I just finished the first part of DBT with like the "Wise Mind" and "Dear Man" and stuff. It's kinda confusing. I can't see myself thinking about using these skills when I'm having a big problem like an anxiety attack or I want to use drugs.

Answer 1

I have done DBT for borderline personality and I think it is the best kind of therapy for me. Nothing else really helped. You just have to make sure you stick with it and keep using your skills you learn. It takes some practice but it is very worth it.

Answer 2

hiya I am just in the early stages of DBT and it seems to be working for me, when i am having a bad night or day i take time and do some mindfulness and it really does work i am also a recovering addict and when i feel that i really want a drink or a joint i use the mindfulness tecneques and it does help but you have to go into it feeling confident and optumistic if you do it thinking it aint going to work then it wont just give it  a go and get back to me and tell me how you got on. Take care.

Answer 3

I've practiced DBT with clients.  It can work if you focus on your journaling and practice, practice, practice.  Are you doing roll play with your therapist as well?  Have you done the behavioral chain analysis?  If you've just started DBT with the many issues you have the courage to face problems in therapy and through medication management, then you have the will to remember that other than practice, you must use patience.  Take getting well seriously day by day, one day at a time.  INTERESTING: you say you are "only taking Prozac and Xanax". That's a lot.  Remember, you can't medicate thoughts and behaviors.  Resolution and health comes from building the thought and emotional regulation DBT (or even martial arts) provides.  Good luck to you.

Answer 4

It is the most effective treatment for BPD. View the techniques for control of anxiety/panic attacks, in section 8, at ezy build, below. Begin, on this first occasion, only, by holding your breath for 5, or 10 seconds: this will give you the confidence to realise that YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR BREATHING, but not pass out, or die (your autonomic nervous system resumes breathing, if you become unconscious). Understand panic attacks, and what triggers them, in your life (if it is unresolved anxiety, or stress, see sections 6, or 42, respectively). The paper bag method works for most people: try it.  

   If you are fairly suggestible, the following are reliable: http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/

Your last alternative is psychotherapy, to address its fundamental cause: read section 1, and examine the http://1-800-therapist.com/  website, and use the locators, and phone book. I used to suffer from panic attacks, until I questioned what had changed in my life, at, or just before that time, to trigger them. For some people, this is enough. These days, I have instilled the habit of, whenever a situation occurs where panic is likely, I visualise a large, "STOP!" sign, as vividly as possible, followed by repeating to myself: "stay calm" in my mind. You could try the same method. It usually takes 30 - 40 repetitions, for most people, to establish a new habit. I also suggest that you learn, then practise the controlled breathing technique, until competent, then employ it, at the very first sign of a panic attack.  

   Practice one of the relaxation methods on pages 2, 11, 2c, or 2i, daily, and when needed. Also, give the EFT a good tryout, to see if it helps you. There is also a version for use in public places, (if you like, you can claim to have a headache, as you massage/lightly tap your temples, but you would then be restricted to subvocalising: saying it to yourself in your mind). Section 53, and pages 2, 2.q and 2.o at ezy-build also refer: "Even though I sometimes suffer from panic attacks, I deeply and completely accept myself." Note: the controlled breathing only helps with the symptoms (as do medications/herbal remedies): you need to address the underlying cause, and this requires some form of therapy, and Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy has proved effective.

   Advice from a published psychiatrist on controlled breathing. (1.) Get a clock, or watch with a second timer. (2.) Practise for 5 minutes, 4 times daily, until proficient. (3.) Take a small breath in, and hold it, for 6 seconds. (4.) Think to yourself: "RELAX", just before breathing out. (5.) Try to feel a sense of releasing tension, as you breathe out. (6.) Breathe in for 3 seconds, then out, for 3 seconds. Try to make your breathing very smooth, and light, as you breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth, or nose. (7.) For the next minute, continue to breathe in, and out, every 3 seconds. (8.) Go back to step 3, at the end of the minute, and proceed through to step 7, doing this for 5 minutes. Use this at the very first sign of a panic attack starting, or any time you feel anxious, or tense.  

   Because many people can't access/afford professional therapy, I include the EFT, and EMDR variant for them to try, free of charge. Cognitive Behavio(u)ral Therapy is generally available in most areas, but EMDR (see section 33) may well be worth trying, and is becoming more widespread.

A variant of EMDR therapy, which has been used successfully for those people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, insomnia, and anxiety is shown in section 8, at ezy build. I have found that the 2 - 3 minutes spent using the EMDR markedly reduces distractions to the relaxation process, and is repaid many times over.

It may also help to minimise, or eliminate caffeine products from your life (coffee can be a trigger) and sugar. Xylitol, or Stevia is preferable, (health food stores) or fruit sugar (fructose, such as "Fruisana", from supermarket sugar aisles) or even a little honey. Minimise/eliminate consumption of highly processed foods, particularly grain products, such as white bread, donuts, cake, cookies/biscuits, or anything with sugar. Opt for more wholefoods, non-starchy vegetables, and fruit. BPD & DBT: section 15, at ezy build. Drugs: section 52: use support groups, ginseng & chamomile. Congrats & keep it up!  

Answer 5

DBT totally changed my life in about 4 months.  It's been a year since I finished it, and I'm still improving in big leaps and bounds.  I've heard that it doesn't help people, but I suspect those are the people who really still want someone else to fix them. It's hard work, it takes practice, it takes letting go of a lot of beliefs, and sometimes a lot of dreams, but it's all worth it.  Good luck.

Answer 6

holly h**l man, i feel so bad for you

i wish you luck

ive never tried dbt but ive heard wonderful

things about it .. and its especially helpful

for those with borderline p.d

try yoga/meditation

it may sound dumb, but it does help

it calms you and teaches you how to deal

with certain emotions

ive been doing cbt for about a year, and the main

thing ive learned is that is def. depends on the

therapist you have

for about 7 or 8 months i was getting no wher

with my therapist, all he did was up my meds

but i switched doctors and feel so much better

i also did group therapy which helped a lot

again, good luck

i hope you find something that works

Answer 7

Cheers. You dont realise it but you people make me realise that i have got **** all to worry about. Cheers once again.

Answer 8

I have tried DBT many times. Didn't help. at all. The only way you're going to get through this is to realize you need to get healthy, and then just get healthy. If that makes sense. Therapy and meds can help you through it but you're the only one who can change yourself.