Forgive me for being stupid, but what exactly does DBT stand for?

How did you get into these sessions, by your p-doc?

Nikko

I did DBT in my eating disorders clinic I had to attend after I was discharged from the hospital in Novemeber and it really helped me. It took me by surprise how they talk to you and how it seems your being mocked but its not really! Maybe giving it a chance you may start to feel better about yourself than you do now. Try a good week of it before giving up. Good luck. I'll be keeping a watch for your posts.

This was very good advice Mari and I really appreciate it. I'm not real impressed with the teacher and it is in a group setting. However when I went, there was only one other person in the group (the other one was absent) and she seemed to have the mentality of a twelve year old. Like I said before, I don't think doing emotional work is what I need to be doing now to build my self-esteem. If anything, at this stage of my life, I think it might tear me down, making me feel like I am going backwards to stage one. DBT could be helpful but I think I am capable of doing it on my own as in self-help, if I choose to do so. I don't feel like I need a babysitter to make sure that I do my homework. If they want to build my self-esteem then I suggest going for mastery. I am going to suggest to the state that they buy me the software programs and possibly upgrade my computer so I can spend my time learning new skills as opposed doing emotional work and tolerating emotional distress and sitting home feeling sorry for myself.

I am afraid that I will never find work or that I will be cleaning toilets for the rest of my life. They treat me like a nobody so I feel like a nobody. I am afraid I will run out of money. I am afraid I will have no friends. I am afraid that I will never live up to my potential. I am afraid to ask for what I need. I am afraid I will never be or feel NORMAL again.

You're not stupid, I didn't know what it meant either until I looked it up. It stands for Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Thanks Ginny, I suspect that your group might have been better run since it was done in a clinical type setting. Just my guess. This is just being run by a MSW at a local counseling center. She appears to be following the book and unable to think outside the box and personally, I don't see how this is supposed to address my needs of more structure in my life and coping skills, particularly for my ADD issues. I'm just wondering, how long were your classes? This is a six month deal... it seems way too long, especially for something I an not committed to.

All in All, I think I've decided not to go through with it. I did one group, might do one more but I don't think so. I will talk to my t-doc again about this tomorrow, I think he will agree. The problem is that I am back to square one again.

I'm sinking back into the dark hole again. I have to call p-doc as I think the change in meds recently, took the anxiety away but the depression is still here. I feel pretty dull.

Thanks so much for your replies.

~Hope

This is hard work....
be easy on yourself...
you are putting too much pressure on yourself....
take it a step down and try to go easy...slow down...
no pressure....no hurrying...try to focus on getting better....
at your own pace.
((((HUGS))))
bizi
thank you for verbalizing your fears....I know that was hard.

Dear Hope,

DBT was originally developed for Borderline Personality Disorder.

I don't have Borderline Personality Disorder and it seems to me to be difficult to differentiate it from Bipolar Disorder. However, I am assume that people with BPD lose their sense of identity, especially when stressed, and that BPD is supposed to help them retain it.

It is used now for other disorders for which it was not originally designed. I have to say that using it for ADD, at least, seems ridiculous. ADD, it is agreed, is caused by the torpidity of the part of the brain that enables concentration. That's why central nervous system stimulants are given for it.That is, so that this regulatory part will speed up and send the proper signals to the cortex to permit concentration. I don't see how changing your cognition would affect an autonomic function.

I have actually done two courses of CBT. In both, I was the only attendee who showed up for all the meetings. I found the sessions to be interesting academically, and I liked many of my fellow participants. However, I have never found cognitive therapy, (and DBT is a particular type of cognitive therapy), to be useful.

My opinion is that people like myself, with lifelong Major Depressive Disorder, need meds. We have already tried all the cognitive stuff both intuitively and as a result of research. It didn't work. I remember how outraged Francoise Sagan was when she developed breast cancer and someone implied that it resulted from her negative energy, (or some such bushwa). I think that the same is true of endogenous major depressive disorder. You can't think it better.

On the other hand, people whose Depression is situational can recover using cognitive measures and no meds. It is hard for many to know which group to place themselves in. Their life is crappy but is that a cause, an effect, or coincidence? For me it was easy.

Good luck!

Cordially

I talked to t-doc about my experience with the group last week and we both came to the conclusion that this is not for me. So, I just got off the phone and left a message and told them that I am dropping out. I feel really good about it and I believe I made the right decision.

Now, it's time to abandon that path and find another...

bizi, it was hard for me to open up and I admit that I got online again the next morning with the intention of maybe deleting my post until I saw your replies.

highhatsize, thank you. You really hit the nail on the head for me. I agree totally. This is not for me, nor does it make any real sense in the realm of ADD or depression. Cognitively, I think I know better. It's a bunch of bushwa!

Thanks again everybody for welcoming me, I so appreciate what everyone has had to say. It has helped me immensely.

~Hope

Hi,
Sometimes after we make a decision we feel much better.
I'm glad that the tdoc supported you.

You'll do fine in whatever you choose as your next step.
M.