DBT, or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, is a type of psychotherapy that has shown to be effective in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and other types of personality disorders. If you are unfamiliar with the term BPD, it can be described as an intense fear of abandonment and an unstable self-image, often resulting in impulsive and/or destructive behaviours, substance abuse, and/or episodes of severe depression. Over time, this behaviour leads to strained relationships with family members and friends and often contributes to poor academic or work performance.
How DBT Helps You Manage Emotions
Dialectical behaviour therapy teaches you how to recognize and accept your emotions and manage them in a healthy way, using both behavioural and cognitive techniques. It trains you to tolerate emotional discomfort while also helping you learn how to respond more effectively to situations that make you feel stressed or anxious. This approach is sometimes referred to as mindfulness-based stress reduction because it encourages you to stay present with your thoughts and feelings instead of trying to ignore or escape them. Studies have shown that DBT can significantly reduce symptoms for people with borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, depression, substance abuse issues, impulse control problems and many other psychological disorders.
How DBT Helps You Change Behaviours
If you have an emotional disorder, chances are you have some type of unhealthy coping mechanisms. These often come in forms such as substance abuse, acting out or self-harm. These behaviours can become routine and, over time, they’ll start to make your life worse instead of better. DBT teaches you how to recognise these negative behaviours and respond with healthier ways to cope. For example, if you notice that using drugs or alcohol makes your emotions worse at night (and not better), then it’s time to learn how to manage those emotions without them.
How DBT Can Help You Choose Appropriate Responses
When it comes to your mental health, you want to make sure that you’re doing everything possible to help yourself. That’s why treatments like Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) are so useful. While some medications have been shown to be helpful in managing depression, anxiety and/or panic attacks, there can be negative side effects. And as many people who have tried traditional talk therapy know, certain problems just don’t seem to fix easily that way; your therapist will often suggest ways for you to get better on your own and then meet up again in a month or two if nothing has improved. However, as we all know, improvements in one area can often lead us to struggle in others.
How Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Has Been Proven Effective
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, or DBT, is a holistic treatment approach developed to help people manage emotional and behavioural issues. As outlined by its founder Marsha Linehan, it is based on a behavioural and skills training approach. This form of therapy combines cognitive-behavioural therapies with Eastern meditative practices like yoga, mindful meditation and other mindfulness-based methods. Originally developed to treat chronically suicidal adolescents suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), DBT has been proven effective in helping those who suffer from other conditions as well: severe depression; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); substance abuse disorders; eating disorders; ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder); and anxiety disorders.
