Addiction is one of the hardest situations a person can go through. It affects not only the body but also emotions and relationships. Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, is one of the few treatments that have shown promising results in helping people recover.
You might know about counseling or talk therapy, but what makes DBT therapy different? How does it help individuals deal with their addictions and emotional problems? And why is it a popular choice for therapists and clients?
In this blog, we’ll talk about what DBT is, how it works, its benefits, and how it can help those who are addicted to drugs.
What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy that uses cognitive-behavioral techniques/CBT with mindfulness and acceptance strategies. Dr. Marsha Linehan developed it in the late 1980s to treat patients with borderline personality disorder who had intense emotions and struggled with self-harm. Like CBT, dialectical behavior therapy is equally popular among therapists for treating people with substance use disorders.
The “dialectical” part means putting two opposite concepts together, like acceptance and transformation in this case. DBT therapy teaches clients to accept who they are right now, with all their problems, while simultaneously trying to improve their behaviors and skills.
DBT is different because it focuses on finding a balance between controlling your emotions and practical coping skills. It understands that individuals frequently do things that hurt them or make them feel bad to escape their feelings. DBT helps individuals understand and deal with these emotions instead of judging or suppressing them.
DBT and Drug Addiction: Why It Matters
Addiction isn’t only about craving drugs or alcohol; it’s linked to emotional distress, trauma, and difficulty managing stress. A lot of individuals who are addicted also struggle with mood swings, anxiety, and feelings of worthlessness or emptiness. This is where DBT can be particularly helpful.
DBT helps people with emotional dysregulation, which is the inability to regulate emotions in a healthy manner. This is the core of many addictive behaviors. Drugs and alcohol numb the pain or help you escape reality when your feelings are too overwhelming. DBT teaches you better methods to deal with problems without using drugs or alcohol.
Studies have shown that DBT helps people become better at dealing with their addictions. It lowers the chances of relapsing, helps people control their emotions, makes them more motivated to stay sober, and makes their lives better in general. People who have learned DBT skills can handle cravings and emotions without giving in to them.
How Does DBT Work?
DBT is a structured therapy that generally combines both individual sessions and group skills training. This is how it works:
1. Individual Therapy:
A qualified DBT therapist works with each individual one-on-one. They work together to set personalized goals and address specific problems. During crises, the therapist helps people deal with their problems and emotions, and they also teach them on dealing with their cravings.
2. Group Skills Training:
Groups get together on a regular basis to learn four primary sets of skills:
- Mindfulness: Being present and aware without judgment.
- Distress Tolerance: Dealing with problems without making them worse.
- Emotion Regulation: Understanding how to deal with and change intense emotions.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness: Making communication and relationships better.
Group sessions with other people who are going through the same things helps you learn these skills and make connections with them.
3. Phone Coaching:
Many DBT programs provide phone or text coaching between sessions to assist people in using the skills they learn in real life. This immediate support is quite important when you’re feeling tempted or overwhelmed.
4. Commitment to Change:
DBT requires a commitment to attend sessions, do homework, and practice skills you learn. Building trust and encouraging progress is something that the therapist and client do together.
DBT programs usually last between a few months and a year, depending on individual needs and progress.
Key DBT Skills and Techniques
DBT focuses on the practical and can change your life. Let’s take a deeper look at the four core skill sets:
- Mindfulness:
Mindfulness helps individuals to be aware of their thoughts, emotions, and body sensations without trying to change or judge them. This increases awareness in individuals, helping them stop acting on instinct and feel less alone.
- Distress Tolerance:
Everyone has difficult times, but when emotions become too strong, some individuals act out or take drugs as an escape from the situation. Distress tolerance skills help people get through tough times without harmful behaviors, such as with borderline personality disorder. Some of the techniques include distraction, self-soothing, and radical acceptance, which means accepting a situation as it is without trying to change it.
- Emotional Regulation:
This set of skills helps you understand how emotions work, makes you less likely to have negative feelings, and helps you change how you feel. It also helps individuals feel more balanced over time and less likely to have mood swings.
- Interpersonal Effectiveness:
Addiction puts a lot of strain on relationships. These skills enable people to effectively communicate with each other, keep healthy boundaries, ask for what they need in a polite way, and maintain trustful relationships, all of which are important for recovery assistance.
Benefits of DBT Therapy:
DBT has a lot of benefits, especially for those who are trying to get over drug addiction:
- Emotional Regulation:
People are less likely to act on impulse or turn to drugs when they learn how to deal with intense emotions.
- Reduced Self-Destructive Behavior:
The original purpose of DBT was to reduce self-harm and suicidal thoughts. These benefits work effectively for addiction, as they lower the chances of relapse.
- Better Stress Management:
People who have distress tolerance skills can deal with cravings, impulses, and stressful situations without resorting to drugs.
- Increased Self-Worth and Motivation:
DBT helps people with self-acceptance, but it also pushes them to make good changes, giving them a feeling of purpose and optimism.
- Improved relationships and Support Systems:
Recovery heavily depends on social support. DBT’s interpersonal skills help you fix and make stronger relationships with family, friends, and the community.
- Holistic Healing:
DBT is not only about quitting drug use; it also helps heal emotional traumas, improve mental health, and make life more balanced.
Who Can Benefit from DBT?
DBT is quite beneficial for persons who:
- Have a hard time controlling their emotions and acting on them.
- Have a history of self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
- Have co-occurring mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
- Have had trouble staying sober because of emotional triggers.
- Want to improve their relationships and coping skills.
DBT is a good fit for teens, adults, and older people because this treatment is organized and focuses on skills. Many addiction treatment centers now include DBT as part of their group therapy program due to its effectiveness.
Conclusion:
Dialectical behavior therapy is a proven balanced and practical way to treat addiction and emotional issues. DBT helps individuals break away from harmful patterns and live a better life by teaching them new skills such as mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction or emotional problems, DBT is the future of treatment therapies developed that can help individuals recover and stay sober. Keep in mind that rehabilitation is a process, and reaching out for help is the best possible first step. Contact us today to manage your challenges of addiction symptoms and live a life free of drugs.
