Mark, I'm SO glad that you have asked this!!! I have been in DBT since
October 2004 and my personal experience with it has been life changing.
My journey through the program has very, very difficult and very
painful. I have wanted to quit many times, and I have found, in
staying, that it was in those times when the many women who I have seen
quit, turn out to be the many who today are the ones that have nothing
but very negative things to say about the program. Had I quit the
first time I wanted to, I'd have been so much worse off, and I'd like
to give you one good example.
DBT was designed by Dr. Marsha Linehan of Seattle, WA; specifically
(but not exclusively) to treat Borderline Personality Disorder (I will
refer to it as BPD). Personality disorders tend to be a distortion of
cognition/ways of thinking and interacting within the world around you
and interpersonally/with people. BPD by definition is highly
behaviorly oriented. When I was dx with BPD in 2002, I met all 9
criteria of the DSM-IV for the DX, and my way of life had become
completely unmanageable when I went into therapy in 2004.
Here is my example: 3 months into therapy I was ready to quit because
I had become much worse. Nearly ALL of my negative behaviors had
become worse, so much so that I was in the hospital 3 times in those 3
months due to my behaviors, and I had NEVER been in before due to
acting out. I was furious, but more than anything, I was out of hope
and I had given up. What I came to learn was that this was called an
"extinction burst" according to my psyciatrist when I asked him a few
weeks later after I rapidly improved and became 'suddenly' skillful!
This means that when we are working hard to erradicate a negative
behavior, it is very common for it to become far worse than ever before
it suddenly disapears!!!
I have approx 10 months left of DBT level 2 (just started level 2 in
March) and I HIGHLY reccomend the program, but I will say it is NOT
easy and it takes time and it takes work!
Post by MaggiePost by MarkeyHi,
I have heard a lot about DBT.
Has anyone taken training in DBT?
If so, what were the results?
Mark
Mark.
I'm crossposting this to alt.support.depression.manic becasue Sonja has
extensive experience with this and has found it very helpful.
she's the best person I know to tell you about it from the patient
side.
Maggie