Let's do Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)

[Former-Member]

Fantastic thread @Phoenix_Rising. I am still reading through it all but wanted to say thank you for starting it as it is hugely helpful and informative  

[Catcakes]

I also wanted to say @Phoenix_Rising, that all of us found it difficult to be in the room at first and I’m sure the psychologist and her co-facilitator had a degree of trepidation as well. There were certainly moments that certain emotions overwhelmed each one of us but at other times we laughed and supported one another. Since we were not allowed to form relationships outside the group, I have no idea how the other participants have fared since.

[Shaz51]

Love the drawing @Catcakes 

I am back into action again @Phoenix_Rising , crazy last few weeks , I am showing signs of carer / Wife burnout  xxxx

[NatalieS]

Hi @Phoenix_Rising and everyone

Haven't participated much here  but there is so much information to absorb and pracitce which is fantastic. So it'll be good to return.  I'm finding it really interesting (when I'm in the right headspace, though things  seem to be improving) when I'm not so distracted.

Thanks so much for putting it all together, what a great effort!

And I love the egg thing, though I don't think I'm ready to have a go just yet.  

[Awpgirl]

I hope my doctor can refer me to a DBT class.
At the moment I'm doing my best with the app I have
Whilst it helps a bit I think old benefit from a class setting

[Former-Member]

ok @Phoenix_Rising @CheerBear

Here is my egg!

[Phoenix_Rising]

Yay to @Former-Member for balancing an egg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[Phoenix_Rising]

Good morning DBTers. 

So...you know that plan I had of posting the next bit of the DBT adventure this week. Yeah...given it is Monday morning and I haven't started writing it yet, that won't be happening. Still, given that when I do write, I seem to end up writing a trillion word essay, it's probably not a bad thing that the next one is at least a week away. Yay for turtle pace! Anyway, I'm assuming everyone is super busy balancing eggs.  Thus far @CheerBear and @Former-Member have risen to the egg balancing challenge. I'm super hoping to see some more egg photos.

Hey @Former-Member @Former-Member @NikNik @Former-Member @Former-Member @Former-Member I think you should all do some egg balancing in the SANE office. It counts as work - it is role modelling mindfulness for Forumites. Go on, you know you want to! 

@CheerBear it is a bazillion percent ok if this thread becomes scattered. That is why I am creating a table of contents, so we can bounce around all over the place and still end up with a thread that can be navigated usefully. 

Mindfulness is definitely super hard and I think it takes a super gigantic amount of practice. That's why I find is sad when people say they tried mindfulness and it didn't "work". I think it is sometimes sold as an instant solution when it really really isn't!

I can definitely see how crocheting would be a cool mindfulness activity @CheerBear. Flow states are definitely very cool. It is logically impossible to be experiencing icky big feelings while in a state of flow. 

I agree that I am fine with people trying to work out what I'm thinking/feeling, so long as they are open to me saying "no that's not right." I simply do not understand how someone can claim to be "right" about what I am thinking/feeling. It is absurd and super infuriates me! I super like how your LF help you to have a position of respectful curiosity when supporting them to figure out their feelings. 

I love how you described going from hating the egg to becoming one with the egg. I think that is super cool! 

@Awpgirl It sounds like you feel you'd super benefit from a DBT group. I super hope you are able to find one that you can get to. 

@Catcakes I am super excited to hear that our DBT adventure is reminding you of the skills you learnt in your DBT group. Skills take a LOT of practice (just ask my neighbours how much I practice my violin playing skills ). It is cool to hear about your experiences in a DBT group. I wonder if you did any of the "participating" activities when you did the mindfulness module? Along with egg balancing, some other examples include calligraphy, writing backwards and origami. There are also a whole lot of group activities such as dancing (those are the ones that I looked at and thought "I don't think so" ). I really like the examples of mindfulness exercises that you did at the start and end of your DBT class. I think it is super helpful for others here in the DBT adventure to hear about people's experiences in a real live DBT class, so super big thank you for sharing. 

I smiled at your comment that the facilitators probably had some trepidation at the start of the group. I'd say that is highly likely. Linehan spends a LOT of time in the DBT treatment manual talking about the challenges of facilitating a DBT group. This is why she is very insistent that therapists who do DBT need a good professional support network. 

Catcakes what do you think about that rule re. not forming relationships outside the group? I'm not sure what I think about it. I can see the rationale for it, but I'm not entirely sure that I agree with it. 

@Former-Member super big thank you for your positive feedback regarding the DBT adventure. I have to admit, it is a little more work than I had initially anticipated, but so super worth it! 

@Shaz51 It's super to see you back here in the DBT adventure. I'm sorry to hear you are struggling with carer/wife burnout. I think burnout is the topic for topic Tuesday this week over in Carers Town isn't it?

Hi @NatalieS, it is super good to see you here. It is a bazillion percent ok to just read along. I am certain you are not the only one doing that. 

Happy DBTing everyone. 

[Catcakes]

Thanks for the mention @Phoenix_Rising.
I think I remember a few “participate” activities from my DBT group.
One was drawing with eyes closed and another was with a partner, looking into each other’s eyes. A bit confronting that one.
The psychologist running my group was pregnant so she was hoping to get the group finished before baby arrived. The co facilitator had completed DBT herself as a client.
There were several sessions that emotions got a bit tricky and that I’m glad the facilitators has supervision around those issues because sometimes things could be handled better.
We also had an individual session with the psychologist each week so you could also talk about how you were going with DBT there.
I can understand the reason for not forming relationships outside the group as that could compromise the group but at the end of the group I guess there could have been an opportunity to connect. I’m not sure if this would have been helpful.
I do think about some of the other group members and wonder how they’re going.
As I have said, I have all my notes here somewhere😩
Some boxes I still haven’t looked at since I moved.....

[Shaz51]

I think burnout is the topic for topic Tuesday this week over in Carers Town isn't it?-- this week or next week @Phoenix_Rising, I will have a look

super glad to be back and ready to go