The Use Of DBT In PTSD Treatment Granbury TX

By Dorothy Sullivan


People who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder often experience a host of symptoms that go hand-in-hand with this illness. They may experience frequent bouts of anxiety and panic. They also might suffer from debilitating depression that leaves them unable to get out of bed for days on end. All of these symptoms combined can make it difficult or impossible for sufferers to engage fully in society. By undergoing dialectical behavior therapy as part of your PTSD treatment Granbury TX patients like you might regain your good mental and emotional health in a matter of months.

DBT therapy has been around for at least 20 years. However, it gained prominence in the mental health field within the last decade. It is now a commonly used therapeutic approach to treat a host of mental illnesses including panic disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and chronic depression. People who go through it commit to a year long program that pairs individual therapy with group DBT sessions.

Within DBT itself are four individual therapeutic components. These components include Core Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Each component has its own set of skills that patients learn and practice over the course of a year. Core Mindfulness skills, for example, include Observe, Describe, Wise Mind, and Participate. Distress Tolerance skills include opposite-to-emotion action and radical acceptance.

The scientific studies that have been conducted regarding DBT have shown that people often have higher success rates with recovering than people who rely solely on medications or individual therapy. People in DBT also have to go to individual therapy sessions. However, they take a one-year long DBT course that is in essence group therapy where they learn skills and practice what they learn on a regular basis.

Patients practice their skills in group sessions with their fellow classmates. They also practice with therapists who lead their groups. However, outside of the therapy group, people also are expected to practice these skills on their own. They keep track of their progress with diary cards they must turn in weekly to their therapists.

Another aspect of DBT involves filling out and submitting weekly diary cards. The diary cards are formatted to take note of effective and ineffective behaviors. People rate on a scale from zero to five, with five being the most intense or destructive rating, behaviors ranging from feeling suicidal to experiencing joy and wanting to quit going to therapy.

They also take part in individual therapy sessions on a weekly basis. These sessions are a chance for patients to vent and express frustrations. They also are challenged by their therapists to try new behaviors like going into stores alone or socializing with people again. These challenges help people overcome emotional and mental challenges and also change their lives.

PTSD is one of the most challenging mental health conditions from which to recover. However, more therapists are using dialectical behavior therapy to help patients overcome it. This type of therapy has high recovery rates than traditional therapy and medication. People learn skills that they incorporate into their everyday lives to create lives that they believe are worth living for them.




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