DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR BIPOLAR DISORDER

Anyone else struggling with Radical Acceptance in DBT? I feel like it is one of the most important skills for me to learn. But it is the hardest!

I'm trying to apply what we have been taught to two big challenges in my life. Sometimes I can see the fork in the road so clearly and now what I should do. But 5 minutes later my reasonable mind and emotional mind are having arguments with each other;p

(Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a system of therapy originally developed by Marsha M. Linehan, a psychology researcher at the University of Washington, to treat people with borderline personality disorder. DBT combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques for emotion regulation and reality-testing with concepts of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness largely derived from Buddhist meditative practice. DBT may be the first therapy that has been experimentally demonstrated to be generally effective in treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). A Meta-Analysis found that DBT reached moderate effects. Research indicates that DBT is also effective in treating patients who present varied symptoms and behaviors associated with spectrum mood disorders, including self-injury. Recent work suggests its effectiveness with sexual abuse survivors and chemical dependency.

There are two groups correlated with Time Zones in hopes most people can attend one or the other. We hope you'll take advantage of this. These coping strategies can make a difference especially during the holidays.

LivingWell will be conducting the discussion.

Here are the times they begin according to various Time Zones:

Cheeky Monkey Group

New York: 6:00 PM, Nov. 4
Chicago: 5:00 PM, Nov 4
Salt Lake City: 4:00 PM, Nov4
Los Angeles: 3:00 PM, Nov 4
Honolulu: 1:00 PM, Nov 4
London: 11:00 Midnight, Nov 5
Joannesburg: 1:00 AM, Nov 5
Istanbul: 1:00 AM, Nov 5
Tokyo: 8:00 AM, Nov 5
Brisbane: 9:00 AM, Nov 5
Sydney: 10:00 AM, Nov 5
Wellington: 12:00 Noon, Nov 5

Itchy Monkey Group

New York: 3:00 AM, Nov 5
Chicago: 2:00 AM, Nov 5
Salt Lake City: 1:00 AM, Nov 5
Los Angeles: 12:00 AM, Nov 5
Honolulu: 10:00 PM, Nov 5
London: 08:00 AM, Nov 5
Joannesburg: 10:00 AM, Nov 5
Istanbul: 10:00 AM, Nov 5
Tokyo: 5:00 PM, Nov 5
Brisbane: 6:00 PM, Nov 5
Sydney: 07:00 PM, Nov 5
Wellington: 9:00 PM, Nov 5

Forever, regarding Radical Acceptance, I think sometimes we try to take it too far. It doesn't mean we shouldn't set boundaries. It doesn't mean not being hurt. It doesn't mean sugar coating painful things. It's not about calling harmful things positive. It just means acknowledging what the reality of a situation is. It is about calling a spade a spade and dealing with issues as effectively as possible. As you will have read, I am not a DBT guru but that is my take on radical acceptance. ;)
A personal example: A couple of weeks ago I was in tears over the contract on the house I was intending to buy. Despite my every effort, the vendor was just not honouring the contract. Once I accepted I had done all I could and it just wasn't going to happen, I could see things as they were. I terminated the contract based on the facts of the situation, even though it broke my heart. People's philosophic attitudes of "things happen for a reason" were no healing balm for me, though. I had a dream and I was grieving it. Then my solicitor gave away my whereabouts to a friend of my abuser; and I have to now leave where I living. I am so glad I didn't buy that house! I found out on the news that the vendor is wanted for defrauding the government a million dollars! ...And I have got myself a solicitor with a better record of client confidentiality and protection. Lots of ugly stuff but not as bad as if I had stuck my head up my arse and denied it the facts as they unfolded. Does that makes sense about seeing things as they are; and acknowledging them for what they are, and acting on the facts; not the fantasy? Hope it helps, Jade x

I've done a personal time search for you - the next group is Friday 16 December, 5pm, Missouri time :)

Hi Lynn,
Yes, the groups are in the Mental Earth Community. We don't work from a book. We merely workshop concepts. At the moment, we are discussing any Festive Season issues we are experiencing and helping each other with how we might apply dbt to our various challenges. The next group will be Missouri time (St Louis) will be Friday, 16 December 2011 at 5:00:00 PM. The reason it is Friday for you is because you are 16 hours behind Brisbane (Australia) time where it is Saturday. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook by "Matthew McKay, Jeffrey C Wood and Jeffrey Brantley" will give you a very good basis for feeling confident with participating in the discussion. Any questions just ask. Lots of people (including me) set an alarm for group, as memory can be so affected with mental illness.
Looking forward to seeing you there Lynn :),
Jade