[PrairieCat]

Can anyone please tell me if Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy would be better to help me with my depression and anxiety?

If you know the difference between them, can you please let me know? I only know that CBT came first.

Thanks.

PrairieCat

[glok]

Hello, PrairieCat.

Psychotherapy - Psych Central

I think a professional trained in both is a key.

I wish you well.

[shabur]

CBT is generally a short-term treatment that focuses on helping us understand how our thoughts and feelings influence our behaviors when dealing with specific problems, and how we can interpret and deal with it.

DBT uses CBT, but it tends to focus more on generalized situations. It teaches us skills that we can develop into a plan for when we are facing these situations. As an example, I sometimes become overwhelmed with anxiety for no apparent reason and after a while of feeling this way I have become suicidal in the past. I have a plan I carry with me always that I use when I start to feel anxious. It includes several different options so if one doesn't work I have others to choose from.

You should talk to your therapist about which one is most appropriate for you.

[i dont matter]

DBT can definitely help

[kiwi33]

Learning CBT methods from my clinical psychologist was very helpful in my recovery from clinical depression. Another related approach which you could discuss with your care team is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

I have no direct knowledge of DBT but my understanding (based on my reading in another mental health forum that I help to administer) is that it can help people with Borderline Personality Disorder, people who self-injure, people who experience suicidal thinking and people with substance abuse issues.

My impression is that DBT programs are intense (needing a lot of interaction between the client and the mental health professional) and are typically lengthy (12 months is common) but they can be very helpful.