Cbt therapy

[Putz]

Anyone had good success with cognitive behavioral therapy? If so how long did you go before you started to see results? Thanks for any information you can provide on this topic!

[caperj]

CBT is very useful in helping a person with an anxiety disorder recognize the different types of negative thoughts they experience on a daily basis. It also gives you the tools to break down these thoughts and to show you how unrealistic they are. That is a very short description of CBT. There is so much more. I lived with severe social anxiety since a very young age (12-13 yrs. old). I'm now 56 yrs. old and didn't start learning about CBT until I was 51. For me personally, I started noticing a difference in my anxiety levels after 3-4 months but the progress has continued and although I don't think I will ever be "cured" , today feels like night and day as far as my anxiety goes. The amount of time it takes is different for everyone and you usually get out what you put in. I highly recommend learning about CBT to anyone with an anxiety disorder.

[Putz in reply to caperj]

Thank you so much for your feedback. It was very helpful!!

[Opossumish]

I'm currently in Dialectical Behavior Therapy group, which combines CBT and Mindfulness. DBT teaches skills of Emotional Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Relationships. It teaches one to recognize the subtle physical signs of emotions (like anger/fear) early, *before* one has done or said something regrettable, and teaches tools to choose alternative behaviors. I've found it immensely helpful. As someone else mentioned, you get what you put into Behavior Therapy. We get homework every week, and I definitely get more out of it when I do it all week long as opposed to when I slack off and just do it the day before.

I'm in my second 6 month module (one 2 hour group per week, plus one hour/week of therapy with a therapist trained in DBT). The first run through was mostly learning the skills and starting to put them in place; now I'm working on making them second nature. I felt immediate effects for the most critical stuff, like learning skills for self -soothing and avoiding self -harm. I've learned to largely banish my "negative self narrator", who used to endlessly tell me how much I suck and now mostly only appears when I'm distressed.

Honestly, I think CBT/DBT provide great skills that everyone should learn, regardless of the existence of mental illness. If you're willing to put in the work, you'll get a lot out of out. I also find it comforting to know that I'm actively working on my recovery, instead of just sitting there hoping I'll feel better.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[Struggling777 in reply to Opossumish]

So good to hear how CBT/DBT is working so well for you. That's brilliant. I wonder if the specialist might suggest it for me? Hope the anxiety continues to get easier with this treatment -- it's so good to hear things getting better and always gives others hope too.

[Opossumish in reply to Struggling777]

I suggest actively pursuing CBT/DBT if you're interested, rather than waiting for a provider to suggest it. I'd been getting therapy for at least 25 years before anyone mentioned it, and then it took another 5 for me to realize how much I needed it and get it organized! I'm trying (using my DBT skills!) not to wallow in regret, but I sure wish I'd learned these skills in my youth!

Good luck to you!

[Struggling777]

Hi Putz -- such positive replies -- hope it's successful for you if you decide to go for it.

[Lag1]

I have been through both CBT and DBT. I found DBT better but both are good. The key to success is buying into the program and working the program...living it.

[Putz]

Thank you all for the positive feedback! I have to next look into if I can afford it and go for it! Thank you all again for your comments and input!!