I do need to add that I found several wonderful psychologists in the small town that put the ones in Calif to shame. Two years of group DBT gave me an understanding of how the brain works & skills, some I already used unknowingly...but most of all it gave me words to be able to express my emotions I didn't even realize I was feeling or why. I unknowingly thought from my growing up years that people were either emotional like my mom or logical like me with no emotional thinking. Boy was I wrong. It was wonderful to learn that emotions can be good in that they are our indicators that something could be wrong that needs our mindful attention. I got so much out of DBT along with all the other wonderful changes including being surrounded by supportive people who for once in my life I could trust to take care of things I couldn't on my own. That support system are wonderful friends who are more a real family than I ever had all my life. It's so different not having to just depend on myself for everything & all the right answers. It's taking me a long time to learn that I don't have to be so independent & it's ok to ask for help & get it. That has been the most amazing part to actually have friends willing to advocate for me who had the contacts I didn't.