What is DBT?

DISCLAIMER: I am not a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist. My advice comes from personal experience and LOTS of research. If you are struggling, please seek professional guidance. Just consider this as supplemental advice from someone who has seen the pit of hell and survived to tell her story. 

At the age of 30, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder I with psychotic features. You can read the full story of my diagnosis here: https://thestoryoftiff.blogspot.com/2019/12/my-diagnosis.html. This set off a series of treatment, therapy and hospitalizations. It was countless medications that either didn't work or caused harmful side effects. In 2019, the severity of my illness became evident when I qualified for Social Security Disability. It is also the time I made the life-changing decision to ween myself off all of my psych meds, slowly. With a great support system, and being home all the time, I began to stabilize. I struggled with symptoms but there is one thing that kept saving my life, DBT (dialectical behavior therapy). It was one of the many outpatient therapy sessions that actually clicked and gave me the tools I needed to not only survive, but thrive. 

"DBT is based on the concept of dialectic, or the synthesis of opposing forces. This way of thinking is itself a part of the DBT program—learning to see and think in dualities rather than in black-or-white dichotomies." (Source) Where other therapies fall short because they leave patients feeling almost incompetent, DBT focuses on accepting ourselves in order to change. It is full of acceptance and action rather than avoidance. It has been the most useful tool in my toolbelt. 

DBT was created by psychologist Marsha Linehan, who viewed standard CBT as insufficient for treating chronic self-harm and suicidal behaviors. (Source) While originally created for those who suffered with Borderline Personality Disorder, it has evolved to work for sorts of conditions. For me, it was Bipolar Disorder, but it can be applied to any type of emotional deregulation. As a mentor, I have learned to use many of these things for my clients who may be struggling with anxiety or anger. 

I created this page to share these methods with you and show you what has worked for me. I no longer feel a need to relive my trauma, my diagnosis or any of that by writing about it, although I will continue publishing old stories at https://thestoryoftiff.blogspot.com. It is time to give back to others and that is why I am very grateful to have the job I do and be able to help others every day.