What is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or DBT ?

What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based model of therapy, developed by Marsha M. Linehan in the 1970’s, that helps people learn and use new skills and strategies to support them in building lives they feel are worth living.

Since we know living with epilepsy can be challenging to say the least, it’s no surprise that Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers powerful tools to help manage life with this chronic disease more effectively. DBT is a type of therapy used in mental heath that focuses on four key skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills can make a significant difference in your epilepsy journey, helping you navigate challenges common to those of us living with chronic illness with greater ease and improving your overall quality of life.

Make no mistake DBT, will not cure your epilepsy and it won’t stop your seizures like a rescue med, but if used consistently it can help manage the day to day stress and trauma that we face that puts us more at risk of seizures. So with that said, I want to introduce you to my series on how DBT can be used to benefit life with epilepsy.

Skill 1: Mindfulness – Stay Present and Aware

Mindfulness is a core DBT skill that involves staying present and fully engaged in the moment. For individuals with epilepsy, mindfulness can help reduce stress and recognize early signs of seizures. By practicing mindfulness, you can become more aware of your body’s signals and take proactive steps to manage your condition. Techniques such as deep breathing, body scans, and mindful observation can be integrated into your daily routine, offering calm and balance.

Skill 2: Distress Tolerance – Handling Difficult Emotions

I think we can all agree that epilepsy brings with it some pretty difficult emotions. Distress tolerance equips you with techniques to handle difficult emotions and crises without making things worse. We’ll cover a variety of tools in this series that fall under Distress Tolerance. This skill is particularly beneficial for managing the intense emotions that can accompany epilepsy. Techniques such as distraction, self-soothing, and radical acceptance can help you cope with challenging moments and prevent emotional overload. By building your distress tolerance, you can navigate crises more effectively and maintain emotional stability.

Skill 3: Emotion Regulation – Understand and Manage Your Feelings

This one can be especially important when navigating overwhelm and the longterm impacts of living with epilepsy. Emotion regulation is the ability to understand and manage your emotions, preventing them from becoming overwhelming. For individuals with epilepsy, emotion regulation is crucial in maintaining emotional balance and reducing stress. DBT provides tools to identify your emotions, understand their causes, and develop strategies to manage them. By improving your emotion regulation skills, you can prevent emotional overload and enhance your overall well-being.

Skill 4: Interpersonal Effectiveness – Communicate Your Needs

Interpersonal effectiveness ensures that you can communicate your needs clearly and build stronger relationships. This is so important when it comes to advocating for yourself! This skill is essential for individuals with epilepsy, as it helps foster a supportive network of family, friends, and healthcare providers. Techniques such as assertive communication and the DEAR MAN skill from DBT can help you express yourself confidently and effectively. By improving your communication skills, you can enhance your support systems and improve your overall quality of life.

More on DBT

DBT offers a comprehensive set of skills that can significantly improve life with epilepsy. By mastering mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, you can navigate your epilepsy journey with greater ease and achieve better health outcomes. Start incorporating these DBT skills into your daily routine and discover the difference they can make in your life.

And watch for more in our series on DBT and Epilepsy.