DBT for Complex Trauma
Annie* had another broken relationship.
Annie came to see me after yet another long-term relationship had ended for her. Her most recent relationship had periods of calm followed by moments of high conflict.
Annie felt that most of her relationships were akin to the Katy Perry song, “Hot N Cold.” The last breakup made her feel like a failure, fearing that she would never have a fulfilling, successful relationship.
Despite having double-majored in business and psychology and landing a job after graduation, Annie had a negative self-concept and felt hopeless about her future. Outwardly, she appeared confident and put together. Inside, she felt anxiety, fear, depression, shame, and self-doubt.
Mood swings sabotaged much of her time.
In her downtime, feelings of hurt, anger, and emptiness flooded her with little warning. She described feeling like she was “bipolar” because of her rapidly shifting moods. Annie would turn anywhere to escape her feelings during times of extreme loneliness and pain—cutting herself, binge drinking, or getting high. At her lowest point, Annie thought she was better off dead.
Throughout our work together, Annie identified some triggers that led her to experience such intense, painful emotions. In sessions, she received the space to learn that her feelings and experiences were valid while also learning a new set of skills to cope more effectively outside of sessions.
After several months, Annie’s emotions became less overwhelming. She felt that she was better able to tolerate the ups and downs of her typical day-to-day life and had difficulty recalling the last time she experienced any suicidal ideations.
Over time, Annie found more meaning in her life, began to feel more joy, and an increased sense of hope, something she had not felt in a very long time.
*Name has been changed to preserve client confidentiality.
What is complex trauma?
PTSD occurs when an individual experiences one traumatic event, whereas complex trauma is caused by exposure to a traumatic, invalidating, or unpredictable environment over a long period.
Tragically, many folks who have symptoms of complex trauma didn’t have great childhoods. Perhaps they were raised by a challenging personality or mood disordered parent; an addicted, explosive, or absent parent; or an overly critical parent.
As adults, those who experience complex trauma know they are suffering because of it.
What are the symptoms of complex trauma?
Being raised in a neglectful or unpredictable environment can cause individuals to experience ongoing depression and anxiety.
They may also experience low self-worth; have a negative self-concept; experience highly intense emotions; feel despair, shame, or hopelessness; and have difficulty navigating relationships.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy helps with complex trauma.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an extraordinarily effective therapy that helps individuals learn to manage overwhelming emotions, reduce anxiety and stress, and control destructive behaviors. DBT teaches four essential skills that can help you reduce emotional waves and find more balance.
Mindfulness: DBT can help you become more mindful of your experience in the present while focusing less on experiences from the past or frightening possibilities about the future.
Distress Tolerance: You can learn to better cope with painful emotions and experiences by building your resilience and softening the effects of events that upset you.
Emotional Regulation: You learn to recognize more easily what you are feeling and not become overwhelmed by it.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Individuals learn new ways of expressing what they want and need while protecting their relationships and treating others with respect.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy addresses symptoms other than trauma.
Although DBT is known most often to help individuals who have experienced trauma or struggle with feelings of low self-worth and suicidality, the skills are very effective at treating many symptoms.
Due to their effectiveness, DBT skills are now being taught to children in schools. We consider the skills themselves basic life skills, rather than skills used to treat only one disorder.
Don’t let past trauma rule your life.
Like Annie, you can learn skills to help you move beyond what’s keeping you from the life that you want.
The moment you start using these skills, you’ll likely notice changes quickly in your mood, the intensity of your emotions, and the quality of your life. It’s never too late to learn skills to cope more effectively.
If you would like to learn more, call me today at (503) 915-4906.