DBT saves lives! I was told it was the ‘gold standard’ when my 12 year old daughter went through a mental health crisis that included very scary self-harming. The program was intense- 4 hours a week, group therapy + individual sessions for the adolescent and caregiver for 6 months. At the last session, everyone agreed ALL adolescents would benefit from the mindfulness/validation/life skills lessons we learned. Can’t say enough good things. I saved my folder I still reference it for so many areas of my life. Great post!
Hi Lindsey, thanks so much for sharing your experience. It does sound intense from my reading but that it's quite supportive too. I had not heard of DBT prior to starting this unit and had some awareness of ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy). One of the papers I read compare the two. Both quite good approaches.
Ruork AK, Finkelstein J, McLean CL, Rizvi SL. Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Areas of Overlap and Distinction. Journal of Contemporary
I'm a big fan of Hugh and the team at the Resilience Project as I think they are leading the way to bringing mindfulness, validation and understanding into the schools, exposing children to these skills.
I agree with what you say about labels. I have ADHD. Getting diagnosed was amazing not because I could wear the label, but because I could then research and identify strategies to help me cope with some of the adverse affects of the condition.
I like to think that we are all on the same spectrum in a sense. We are all damaged, we are all traumatised. It's simply not possible to navigate life without experiencing those things. But because we are all in different situations at different times with different tools or coping mechanisms, we react differently to each other based on those (and other) contributing factors.
I really wish stuff like this was taught in schools so more people understood both their own and others behaviors. I have been guilty in the past of writing someone off because they displayed a certain behavior or reaction to a stress because I didn't understand at the time that basically all behaviors, good or bad, are a reaction to something else. These days when I observe something in someone else or even myself that I find peculiar, my first instinct is to ask why. What has happened to that person that makes them react this way? What does it actually mean? What are they scared of? Do they even understand themselves that what they are doing is actually a sign of fear or a need to protect themselves, etc.
I think a huge part of any solution to these types of things is education. Teaching people so that they understand when someone does something untoward, inappropriate or even just a little different to the "normal", there is almost always a far deeper and more understandable reason why. A reason that if you knew, you'd stop and think, "yep, that type or behaviour/reaction actually makes perfect sense now."
I think through education/knowledge we could learn to be more empathetic, compassionate, considerate and understanding, the exact things that people experiencing these problems crave so badly.
Schools I believe is the best place to start because there is equal access to exposure, whilst for the generations who have already finished school it's a little tougher because exposure is by choice and the people who need it the most are the hardest to reach. Of course this awareness doesn't excuse the persons behaviour but it helps you understand it and it's way more helpful to understand than it is to be resentful or critical of the person/behaviour.
Geez your writing is getting good Clare! "What if we shifted from blaming to understanding?"- 100% agree with this, but sadly its just easier to blame then to understand for most people. As is sitting comfortably inside a "label" vs growing beyond what someone else says we are
Thanks Ben! :). Blaming is definitely easier and helps people distance themselves from the situation rather than taking it on.
I would have to do more research but am aware than men die younger although I'm not sure if it's necessarily from disease/illness. Last I read depression is higher in women than men but more men die by suicide that women.
Much respect Clare for you response (was worried you might get angry at what I said) and it’s certainly no contest as to which sex is doing it tougher. We are all people after all!
DBT saves lives! I was told it was the ‘gold standard’ when my 12 year old daughter went through a mental health crisis that included very scary self-harming. The program was intense- 4 hours a week, group therapy + individual sessions for the adolescent and caregiver for 6 months. At the last session, everyone agreed ALL adolescents would benefit from the mindfulness/validation/life skills lessons we learned. Can’t say enough good things. I saved my folder I still reference it for so many areas of my life. Great post!
Hi Lindsey, thanks so much for sharing your experience. It does sound intense from my reading but that it's quite supportive too. I had not heard of DBT prior to starting this unit and had some awareness of ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy). One of the papers I read compare the two. Both quite good approaches.
Ruork AK, Finkelstein J, McLean CL, Rizvi SL. Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Areas of Overlap and Distinction. Journal of Contemporary
I'm a big fan of Hugh and the team at the Resilience Project as I think they are leading the way to bringing mindfulness, validation and understanding into the schools, exposing children to these skills.
This is a bloody ripper, Clare! Love this stuff!
I agree with what you say about labels. I have ADHD. Getting diagnosed was amazing not because I could wear the label, but because I could then research and identify strategies to help me cope with some of the adverse affects of the condition.
I like to think that we are all on the same spectrum in a sense. We are all damaged, we are all traumatised. It's simply not possible to navigate life without experiencing those things. But because we are all in different situations at different times with different tools or coping mechanisms, we react differently to each other based on those (and other) contributing factors.
I really wish stuff like this was taught in schools so more people understood both their own and others behaviors. I have been guilty in the past of writing someone off because they displayed a certain behavior or reaction to a stress because I didn't understand at the time that basically all behaviors, good or bad, are a reaction to something else. These days when I observe something in someone else or even myself that I find peculiar, my first instinct is to ask why. What has happened to that person that makes them react this way? What does it actually mean? What are they scared of? Do they even understand themselves that what they are doing is actually a sign of fear or a need to protect themselves, etc.
I think a huge part of any solution to these types of things is education. Teaching people so that they understand when someone does something untoward, inappropriate or even just a little different to the "normal", there is almost always a far deeper and more understandable reason why. A reason that if you knew, you'd stop and think, "yep, that type or behaviour/reaction actually makes perfect sense now."
I think through education/knowledge we could learn to be more empathetic, compassionate, considerate and understanding, the exact things that people experiencing these problems crave so badly.
There is some really promising changes coming to the ACT education system which is outlined in the 10 year plan https://www.education.act.gov.au/our-priorities/future-of-education/resources/The-Future-of-Education-An-ACT-Education-Strategy-for-the-Next-Ten-Years which I believe will promote the learning of these skills.
Schools I believe is the best place to start because there is equal access to exposure, whilst for the generations who have already finished school it's a little tougher because exposure is by choice and the people who need it the most are the hardest to reach. Of course this awareness doesn't excuse the persons behaviour but it helps you understand it and it's way more helpful to understand than it is to be resentful or critical of the person/behaviour.
Geez your writing is getting good Clare! "What if we shifted from blaming to understanding?"- 100% agree with this, but sadly its just easier to blame then to understand for most people. As is sitting comfortably inside a "label" vs growing beyond what someone else says we are
Although I disagree with the cultural conditioning bit because men die younger (on average) then women.
Thanks Ben! :). Blaming is definitely easier and helps people distance themselves from the situation rather than taking it on.
I would have to do more research but am aware than men die younger although I'm not sure if it's necessarily from disease/illness. Last I read depression is higher in women than men but more men die by suicide that women.
Much respect Clare for you response (was worried you might get angry at what I said) and it’s certainly no contest as to which sex is doing it tougher. We are all people after all!
This is a safe space and all views are welcome :) its how we learn afterall