DBT: Has Anyone Here Gone Through This Therapy?

[Gloria]

I worked at accepting my dog's death. I realized that my dog had never even been left home alone as I was always home or a housekeeper or son was there. My dog went everywhere with me and slept in my bed until her arthritis prevented her from getting on the bed. At which time, I got a huge five inch foam and covered it in beautiful pink velour for her bed. So I'm okay with it now. My boy friend is built a ramp so that she can go up and down the stairs herself but her time is very limited.

So back to DBT practice and feeling much better. In my thought log I put in a column for accept or change after the automatic thought because from the very beginning I realized that there are some things that just can't be turned into positive but we can accept them.

 

[Changing4Best]

There is a website on it that you can experience some of it at: dbtselfhelp.com and it is wonderful. Check out some of the instant mindfulness videos, they are great.

I joined a group about a year ago and have been going on and off for that year when I can. No contracts. It has definitely helped me and the website does too. I get my meds from the psychiatrist there at the center where they have this group too. I'm very grateful for it all.

My insurance pays the doctor and the group is for free. I think the place is supported by state taxes as well, but I am not sure.

 

[Gloria]

I value so much the wonderful people on this site who are truly sincere, caring and supportive. I have websites and other tools to use but have gone through health and family illness issues and using DBT and the encouragement of my loved ones and friends is so important.

I just found out yesterday that the Veteran's Administration was granted millions of dollars to provide drop-in centers for veterans suffering from PTSD and there is one only a mile from my house that my son can go to. I think this is simply wonderful. However, since the recession the free mental health clinic in my area was closed and I feel very bad for friends and neighbors who have no insurance and no money so they receive counseling and help for whatever their problem is.

Missy is actually recuperating from her stroke and can get up and down stairs again. I had a rough time dealing with illness of my own and in the family but DBT helps. My faith in God is also strengthened by DBT as I learn to use my faith and trust in God that things will be okay and that the world is a safe place. I am aware of the evil in the world but try to navigate away from people who don't have the good energy that I need to be around. As my pastor said in the sermon this morning that so many people have become overwhelmed and discouraged because of the economy (and they don't have PTSD).

I do appreciate very much the people on this forum who have good intentions and give me a sense of good karma.

 

[Gloria]

I had a major meltdown because my son who is an Army veteran with serious injuries has been having major mental health issues. God is good. My boy friend reminded me of the last sermon we saw together and to be grateful for all God has given me. It's almost impossible to be ungrateful when he constantly reminds me of the lucky breaks I had in my life and all the gifts that I have been given. I forgot for a while because my son was pushing me over the edge. But today I am back to remembering all the people who didn't have children or who have children that can't be helped because they are to sick.

Miracles do happen. There is a twenty four hour drop in Veteran's Assistance Center only a few miles from my house. After calling the police to have them try to calm my son down (not violent just delusional), we took him to the center and they will follow up with psychiatric care and medication which the government pays for. I also found out that he is eligible (at no cost) for a day program that he can go to every day to talk out the things that are bothering him. He will be seeing a DBT therapist and both he and I are will join the DBT group just a few miles from our house when the facilitator comes back from medical leave.

DBT helped me so much so I am looking for a hospital that takes Medicare. I found quite a few that do in-patient DBT all over the United States but it's self pay and costs $30,000. I think that's obscene. But as another example of how DBT is keeping me sane, I maintained my sanity and through the last few months and have done so well in confronting the problem and not going losing it. I am not determined that I will practice the DBT every single day faithfully.

My DBT therapist told me that one day I will think of the world as a safe place and be optimistic.

Life is good. My champion Cavalier spaniel is expecting puppies in about a few weeks. How cute is that? Plus I put fertilized eggs from our chickens in the incubator on the tenth to hatch on Easter. How much fun is that? Life is not easy a lot of the time but I am concentrating on the good in my life. My boyfriend has had a speech impediment since he was born and to this day I see how people are so cruel to him because they think he is mentally handicapped. My boy friend is super intelligent and a millionaire but people can't see it because of his speech and he never spends money on clothes or cars. He reminds me of Forrest Gump sometimes.

 

[Nighthawk]

I am entering into an intensive DBT therapy. Ill let you know how it goes. So far I feel like I am being treated like a child needing lots of parenting.

 

[Gloria]

Dear Nighthawk,

Please keep us posted. I haven't been on the site much and missed you. It was terribly difficult the first few weeks trying to train my brain but after I got the method down it changed my life. My prayers are with you! Please keep us posted!

Hugs,
Gloria

 

[Hashi]

Nighthawlk, I hope the programme is a good one for you. Sending encouragement and support to you.

 

[Nighthawk]

My journey has begun. I have started with a DBT T who specializes in PTSD. I have to fill out a diary card everyday. I use an app that looks like a brain. The first course of action is to eliminate any self harm behaviors. Mindfulness will be what we are going to start on in group next week. I'd tell you I am nervous of the group but she already told me Ill be he only one n it next week. Seeing as the group is for patients with PTSD the group is going to be held to a maximum of 4 patients. Should be doable. As of right now I am hating every step of the way. Maybe its all the change I have been through in such a short period.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Angelguard]

Hello, I'm a newbie at this. I've just done 10 1/2 months of DBT and then my T forced me out waving the contract in my face (over the phone) I was singled out in front of the whole group and "picked on" and this made me really upset! I was in tears and before group finished the T was about to leave and I said I'm not ok (also in front of the group) that I was singled out and the issues wasn't my fault, and I was really hurt, the T said she was "conscious" of the fact that she was ill prepared, no sorry or anything.

The next week in group that T was not there, it was a Mindfuness module and it came up about "judgements" I broke down again and said "but it's ok for some people to judge us, people who should know better". I was pretty upset but in no way abusive or loud etc. I said I cannot see this T for 1:1 anymore, but would very much like to finish DBT.

The T rang and said there is no one to see you for 1:1. I refuse to see you, so I'm out! She did not want to hear anything I had to say at all, but she can say whatever she likes when ever she likes in front of whoever she likes!

I'm sad, angry, teary etc. etc I'm in a much worse place now than I was before I started DBT and now I have no idea what to do! I'm heart broken! All the other 1:1 Ts are nice, but my 1:1 is group leader too and so very harsh! Way too harsh! When I began I'd been off the booze, the pills and not self harming, now I'm just a complete mess. What can I do? Any ideas?

 

[Nighthawk]

Wow

I am sorry to read the above. Are there any DBSA groups in your area. Anyone you can talk too. I don't know what to say. I hope it gets easier.

 

[Gloria]

I hated my one on one DBT therapist. He said some ignorant things and I just didn't like him so I got the workbooks and did the work myself. Today because I am having a really bad day I used my thought log or diary. I wrote down the things that I was saying to myself and then wrote a much more positive outlook. Things keep happening today but DBT helps me a lot to get through stuff.

I have been in group therapy and there always dynamics when you with other people with their own agenda and own issues so I really don't go to group therapy any longer. Just remember that it doesn't matter what other people think of you because what you think and know of yourself is most important. I pray that you will improve your self confidance and start to understand that you are much stronger and better than you think right now.

The saying I have over my computer is "Watch your thoughts, they become words, watch your words: they become actions, watch your actions, they become habits, watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny. Margaret Thatcher quoted this in the movie (The Iron Lady).

This is what DBT is all about. We become very mindful of our thoughts and it changes our destiny.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Gloria

This

 

[Only 1 of me]

I'd like to follow along too, I have a DBT skills app on my ipad which has given me some helpful tools, but I'm doing EMDR with my therapist so that's my main focus. There are lots of helpful apps, maybe I should start a thread....