DBT for Addiction
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT for addiction, is a type of psychotherapy. Based on the same principles as cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT for addiction.
The main focuses of DBT include emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and relationship building. DBT can be extremely helpful if you are struggling with addiction.
Ambrosia Treatment Center in South Florida provides multiple types of therapies to learn how to manage and cope with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.
The four parts of DBT include:
- Mindfulness – examining your thoughts and feelings without judgment while feeling present and aware of your environment
- Interpersonal effectiveness – learning to interact with others in all situations, including being assertive when necessary and staying focused on the problem
- Distress tolerance – coping with emotions and stress while accepting reality
- Emotional regulation – managing emotions by identifying your feelings and obstacles and creating positive thoughts and emotions
Individuals with mental health issues and intense emotional outbursts often self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. This is a form of substance abuse that is dangerous and can lead to addiction. DBT for addiction helps improve self-image, communication, and coping skills, which are all crucial in recovery.
What is the Cognitive Triangle?
The cognitive triangle is a popular way for therapists to explain and treat the cycle of addiction and co-occurring mental health issues. When people understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, real change can begin.
Goals of Dialectical Behavior Therapy
In DBT, people learn the difference between intense emotions and valid emotions. For example, it can be very stressful when you are late to work. In reality, it’s not worth all the worry. Learning when intense emotions are valid and when they’re not can improve your relationships and your life.
One main goal of DBT for addiction is stopping the desire to use drugs or alcohol. Since almost half of people who abuse drugs or alcohol have a co-occurring mental health disorder, DBT helps address both disorders simultaneously. This further reduces the risk of relapse.
DBT can be used in a variety of settings. The structure and goals can vary depending on the setting, but the characteristics never change. They include:
- Acceptance and change – Learning to accept and tolerate life’s circumstances, emotions, and yourself. Developing these skills helps make behavior changes and improves interactions with others.
- Behavioral – Learning to analyze unhealthy behavior patterns and replace them with healthy ones.
- Cognitive – Recognizing and changing unhealthy thoughts and beliefs and changing them to positive ones
- Collaboration – DBT for addiction helps people build communication skills and work with others as a team.
- Coping skills – DBT for addiction helps build healthy coping and stress management skills.
Above all else, DBT encourages people to recognize their strengths and attributes and teaches them how to use them.
Benefits of DBT for Substance Abuse
DBT for substance abuse helps people recognize what is real and what is false. They learn to read the situation for what it is and not through their jaded perspective.
DBT also helps people recognize their role and responsibility for their actions while abusing drugs and alcohol. Once they accept responsibility, they can start repairing the damage done to relationships.
The benefits of DBT for addiction include:
- Understanding behaviors and consequences
- Learning to interact with others
- Taking accountability for mistakes
- Building a strong support system to prevent relapse
- Discovering you’re not alone in recovery or life
DBT helps people who abuse substances see all sides of the situation and not in black and white. DBT for substance abuse is tailored to individual needs and is used in both individual and group therapy.
How Does Dialectical Behavior Therapy Work?
Once emotions from these past experiences start to surface, the therapist will teach different ways to cope with emotions without drugs or alcohol. Most people struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders perceive things negatively. With help from a therapist, DBT helps people see things clearly and choose healthier behaviors and reactions.
There are four stages to DBT. During the first session, individuals and therapists establish goals for each stage. The four stages include:
- Stage One – acknowledge the chaos of substance abuse
- Stage Two – learning to regulate emotions
- Stage Three – focuses on self-confidence, improving relationships, and setting life goals
- Stage Four – Accepting yourself as a complete and whole person and building a positive mindset
Many people struggling with addiction have trouble being happy unless they are using drugs or alcohol. DBT for addiction helps them recognize the behavior patterns that hold them back.
DBT for addiction gives hope to many people struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders. Addiction eats away at self-confidence and self-worth, leaving people feeling helpless and hopeless.
Although not every person who enters treatment needs DBT for addiction, It is helpful for those who do because:
- Certain co-occurring mental health disorders, such as borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia, cause people to be distrustful, and they won’t admit they need help.
- There is a stigma around addiction, which can make admitting they need help harder. DBT for addiction uses an approach that helps them recognize they need help.
- Recovery brings up a ton of emotions like anger and being defensive. The cognitive triangle is an excellent tool in helping them understand how thoughts affect feelings and behaviors.
- Some people struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders struggle with self-harm and suicidal thoughts. It can be hard for them to use the logic and reasoning needed for CBT. But, DBT for addiction helps reframe their unhealthy and harmful thoughts.
Individuals who have multiple relapses during their recovery journey may be successful in DBT for addiction.
DBT Techniques for Substance Use Disorders
- Mindfulness
- Distress Tolerance
- Interpersonal Effectiveness
- Emotional Regulation
In DBT for addiction, mindfulness is broken down into “what” skills and “how” skills. “What” skills teach people to focus on:
- The present
- Emotions, thoughts, and sensations
- Separating thoughts from emotions and sensations
“How” skills teach how to be mindful by:
- Balancing healthy emotions and thoughts
- Using radical acceptance to tolerate the harmless things about yourself
- Taking positive action
- Being mindful
- Overcome the issues that interfere with being mindful, such as sleep issues and doubt
Learning distress tolerance skills can help:
- Cause distractions to help be calm
- Self-soothe and use your senses to calm down
- Weigh the pros and cons of the coping mechanism
Interpersonal effectiveness uses listening skills, social skills, and assertiveness training. This teaches skills including:
- Learning to ask for what you want and how to achieve it
- Learning to work relationship conflicts
- Building self-respect
How to Find the Right Facility or Therapist Specializing in DBT
If you are struggling with substance abuse, DBT may be a great therapy option for you. But how do you find it? The best way is by contacting an addiction counselor or a treatment center. DBT is available at most addiction treatment centers, including Ambrosia Treatment Center.
If you can’t attend a treatment center right now, they can usually help you find DBT therapists in your area.
Is DBT for Substance Abuse Covered By Insurance?
DBT at Ambrosia Treatment Center Can Help You or a Loved One Break the Cycle
Dr. Alam is an internationally renowned psychiatrist with academic affiliations with Northwestern University and University of Illinois, Chicago where he completed his residency training. He has been a principal investigator for over forty studies and has been involved in research leading to the approval of most psychiatric medications currently on the market. He is the founder of the Neuroscience Research Institute which continues to conduct research on cutting edge medication and interventional psychiatry. Dr. Alam is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He has won several awards and has been featured extensively on radio and television.
