"It's my life, please don't take it from me, Borderline Personality Disorder"
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Summary of Chapter 16

My Life Today.
 
Without DBT, I haven’t a clue where I would be today.
I learned a lot about myself, as well as many new skills to help me get through life.
 
I learned to accept myself and become mindful of life.
I learned to love and accept things in me.
 
I learned to love many people at Portland DBT.  Heidi, Michelle, and Tim.  I realize that without them, this "Troy" would not have been possible.
 
They were so unselfish from that moment I walked in that door, and I realize, I will always love them very much for what they gave to me.
I remember my first visit with Heidi, I assured her I was motivated, I wanted change, I wanted to know why these things were happening to me, and Portland DBT did that for me as well as taught me new skills to help me with problems in the future.
 
I am very much in agreement with Melissa Thornton.  This disorder almost claimed my life, and I am so Thankful for the DBT program.
Where I am today..  I wish I could say that life is perfect, that there are no problems.  DBT does not solve all problems, but it helps in not making matters worse.
 
I miss Seattle and have plans on returning. 
 
I’m clean and sober today, thanks to DBT, AA, NA and Smart Recovery and intend to keep it that way.

While staying in Oregon I was leading a meditaion group at Hazelden on Sundays and was a facilitator for Smart Recovery.  I stepped down from both positions in order to spend a little more free time enjoying other parts of my life.  I am so thankful that I was able to become involved with Hazelden; it was a true gift while staying here in Oregon.
 


I finished classes from UW - Behavioral Tech on learning to teach DBT skills to clients.  I am also trying to finish a degree in Drug/Alcohol counseling. I current;y have a QAC.
 
Troy*
 
"A lotus is a flower that grows in the mud.  The thicker and deeper the mud, the more beautiful the lotus blooms."
 
Zen saying
 
I learned at Portland DBT.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been getting a lot of request from people who want to  learn more about DBT. 
 
DBT was invented to treat BPD specifically by Marsha Linehan at the Univ Of Wash.  Her program was a design of many types of therapies rolled into one, with the primary therapy being cognitive.
 
DBT stands for Dialetical Behavioral Therapy - It's premise is based on Eastern Zen Practices - hince - "Dialetical" along with Cognitive therapy.
 
There are 4 modules in her therapy:
 
Core Mindfulness
Emotion Regulation
Distress Tolerance
Interpersonal Effectiveness
 
There is often another module that can be included known as the problem solving and relapse prevention module specific to each BPD's target behavior.
 
To learn more about DBT :
 
http://www.behavioraltech.org
 
http://www.tara4bpd.org

 

http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/index.html

http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/oerp/webcast/default.htm


WHAT Others had to Say about DBT....

 

What can I say, DBT has meant that I HAVE a life, lets just say that.
It's not perfect, I still really struggle, self harm, beat myself up
etc, but it's so much better than it used to be. I try to utilise the
skills on a daily basis, and even when I am unable to do this, they are
always there in the back of my mind for next time.

I just remember not to beat myself up too much, don't put everything
down to BPD, you are a person who happens to have BPD, not a BPD
person, you are so much more.

Bex xxx