[blueoctober]

I have started reading a great book called "The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Bipolar Disorder" by Sheri Van Dijk, DBT. This therapy is normally used for persons with Borderline Personality Disorder, but therapists are now seeing the benefit for persons with BP.

These are some of the skills DBT is based on:

1. Mindfulness: helps people live in the present moment rather than experiencing painful emotions that come from constantly thinking about the past and/or future.

2. Distress Tolerance Skills: Helps you better cope with crisis situations like manic or depressive episodes in healthier less destructive ways.

3. Emotion Regulation Skills: Helps you manage your emotions, as well as tolerate your emotions when you can't change them or reduce their intensity.

4. Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills: Will help you maintain relationships through acting assertively and through taking good care of yourself.

I have searched for a therapist in my area that does this type of treatment. I found one in a neighboring city, but I'm not sure if she only treats persons diagnosed with Borderline. I think it's still worth a try. Just wondering if anyone has any experiences with it?

[Lauru]

I have been doing DBT for many years now. And it has saved my life, literally. The skills, when fully understood and utilized, are life changing. It challenges your way of thinking, feeling, and behaving. It improves your communication skills, gives you strategies to get through crises, and how to work through things when you are ready. I am not the same person I was before DBT, and I have bipolar, ocd, and borderline. It works for all three.

Before, I was in the hospital every few months and sometimes every month. It was a revolving door, I self injured, was abusing alcohol and my meds, had horrendous mood swings and impulsive behavior. Now I do none of those things. Last time I was in the hospital was a year ago due to a med change causing a deep depression and drinking. Normally that would be an ongoing thing. Now it is the exception rather than the rule.

I need my meds and my DBT and my one on one T. Together they all work to help keep me as stable as possible. Hope this helps.

[Special-K]

Wow the book sounds like a fabulous resource. I need help with all of those skills you listed. I saved the book to my book list to purchase when I'm ready. Thanks!

[shadow11]

i used a book called "the dialectical behavior therapy skills workbook" by Matthew McKay, Jeffrey Wood and Jeffrey Brantley. it really helped me in many different ways. they say in the book that its for anyone with overwhelming emotions not just bpd. the workbook made me take time and energy and focus it on my recovery. the tools can be applied to many different situations. learning how to be mindful was was especially helpful to me. good luck with it.

[blueoctober]

Thanks for responding Lauru! the more I read about this therapy, the more I think it's a good fit for me!

[blueoctober]

Special-K;, your welcome!

[BNLsMOM]

I am starting with a DBT skills group next week.

[blueoctober]

Originally Posted by shadow11

i used a book called "the dialectical behavior therapy skills workbook" by Matthew McKay, Jeffrey Wood and Jeffrey Brantley.

Thanks Shadow I will look for that book. BNLSMom keep us posted on how your new group goes.