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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Roslynn on May 10, 2010, at 13:35:42
Hi,
Does anyone know if DBT is useful, and used, for severe depression? I have some DBT exercises that were given to me to do, but I feel almost like I'm too far "gone" for them to work.
Not that I am in any kind of danger, but I feel my depression is very deep and sometimes I can't even concentrate enough to read the exercises..Anyone else?
Thank you,
Roslynn
Posted by catlady on May 10, 2010, at 14:08:17
In reply to DBT for severe depression?, posted by Roslynn on May 10, 2010, at 13:35:42
I have taken a few DBT classes and it is pretty helpful for most conditions. I also have major depression among other things. Some of the emotional regulation stuff can really help same with the containment and mindfulness exercises. Emotional regulation and containment skills help you recognize your triggers before you end up in a full blown depression or spiral. Mindfulness helps you stay in the here and now and to focus on one thing and helps you also to be more aware of what you are feeling. That is the skill they usually teach you first. I feel these skills have helped me quite a bit. You can always try it and see if you like it. I hope this helps.
Posted by Roslynn on May 10, 2010, at 16:36:17
In reply to Re: DBT for severe depression?, posted by catlady on May 10, 2010, at 14:08:17
Posted by rnny on May 10, 2010, at 20:12:13
In reply to DBT for severe depression?, posted by Roslynn on May 10, 2010, at 13:35:42
Who you are when you are feeling centered and not in the throws of your mood disorder is called your "baseline". Baseline is not a term exclusively used in the psychiatric community. A person's baseline is what is "normal" for them. In depression and the use of DBT, the goal is to teach the patient to reign themselves in from two thing: 1) the length of time they stray from their baseline and 2) the level of intensity of symptoms they are experiencing while not at baseline. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the type of therapy behind DBT. Actually what it boils down to is you learn to not stay depressed as long as you might otherwise be, and not to be as depressed as you might otherwise become. That is the goal of DBT however such can be acheived through means other than DBT. DBT originally started for another illness but it was found it was effective in spectrum mood disorders. It is really not all that complicated. A. Stop you from being depressed for as long as you stay depressed and B. Stop you from being as depressed as you get. Get you back to baseline through the use of DBT techniques. And teach you how to do this for yourself.
Posted by emmanuel98 on May 10, 2010, at 20:52:10
In reply to Re: DBT for severe depression?, posted by rnny on May 10, 2010, at 20:12:13
I have been seeing a DBT therapist for over two years. I got severely depressed last summer -- unable to care for myself, get out of bed, obsessive suicidal thoughts. I found the DBT didn't help much when I was that depressed. I needed to find a medication to pull me out. But when I was better, the DBT helped a lot with understanding my emotions, which were volatile to start with.
Posted by floatingbridge on May 11, 2010, at 11:31:14
In reply to Re: DBT for severe depression?, posted by emmanuel98 on May 10, 2010, at 20:52:10
Hi Roslynn,
Sorry you're feeling so down.
I second emmanuel's comments on dbt in that they are skills built over time, like developing a muscle, or creating new cognitive pathways that become more 'natural' but are really accessible when one (I) am not in a really dark depression.
Sometimes I really need to practice w/ people--in a group or one on one. Otherwise it is like the old pulling myself up by the bootstraps situation--one that is harmful and cruel to myself--that I should be able to do 'it' myself.
Distress tolerance--reminding myself that it will pass, I'm not my pain, and resisting projecting bad feelings into the future. These remain the strongest skills for me. And sometimes those fail me. Then I try to reach out to someone. (tough for me)
hug.
Posted by Roslynn on May 11, 2010, at 13:25:00
In reply to DBT for severe depression?, posted by Roslynn on May 10, 2010, at 13:35:42
Thank you, everyone, for your helpful responses to my question. I appreciate hearing about your experiences.
Roslynn
Posted by vaisforlovers on May 20, 2010, at 19:20:07
In reply to Re: DBT for severe depression?, posted by rnny on May 10, 2010, at 20:12:13
I am knew or at least I have come back after a long time. Please tell me DBT is. Thank you
This is the end of the thread.
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