Emotional dysregulation refers to experiencing difficulties managing your feelings and how you act on them. It’s a common issue that many people face, and it can play a significant role in substance use disorders. For treating emotional dysregulation, one of the best options is turning to a dialectical behavior therapy program. At Northpoint Omaha, we offer dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for emotional wellness. With the right tools, you can effectively manage your emotions for the long term. Learn more about how dialectical behavior therapy can impact emotional dysregulation by contacting us today at 888.687.8014.
What Is DBT for Emotional Wellness?
Dialectical behavior therapy is a type of talk therapy that is typically best suited for people who struggle with managing their emotions. It’s based on cognitive-behavioral therapy but focuses mainly on emotional regulation.
DBT can be helpful in the treatment of many conditions, including:
- Substance use disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Depressive disorders
Dialectical means the combination of two opposing ideas. In this case, it means teaching people to accept their current realities while at the same time assisting them in finding ways to change harmful behavior.
How DBT Helps Emotional Dysregulation
People who struggle with emotional dysregulation tend to experience very intense emotions, which fluctuate often. If you struggle with this issue, you may notice that your emotions apparently come out of nowhere, and it’s tough to get them back under control.
Emotional dysregulation can also feel like numbness. You may not understand what you’re feeling, and you may make a concerted effort not to feel anything at all. To manage these challenges, you may have turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including alcohol and drugs.
DBT has four key parts, each one ready to help with emotional dysregulation. Mindfulness is the first of these, and it’s a key part of how DBT helps emotional dysregulation. Mindfulness requires that you be fully present in the moment, allowing yourself to feel your emotions and experience your thoughts without judgment.
DBT’s second component is distress tolerance. It focuses on helping you build coping mechanisms for handling emotional crises so that you don’t resort to harmful behaviors.
Then, you have emotional regulation, which helps you identify the emotion you’re feeling. By being able to label what you feel, you can better adjust your coping strategies. Finally, DBT also focuses on interpersonal effectiveness, which strives to teach you how to communicate effectively and build healthier relationships.
Benefits of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Emotional Health
When it comes to how dialectical behavior therapy can impact emotional dysregulation, a notable advantage is that it allows you to increase your self-awareness. By being able to understand complex emotions, you have a better chance of managing them and making better choices.
Another key benefit of dialectical behavior therapy for emotional health is that it helps you resolve all-or-nothing thinking by teaching you to accept yourself and your life while striving to make positive changes.
Additionally, DBT for emotional wellness can help you improve your relationships with yourself and others by encouraging you to accept yourself as someone with complex emotions. This lets you accept what you feel and take responsibility for your actions, which means you’ll not experience the same need to lash out at others.
Turn to Northpoint Omaha Today for Dialectical Behavior Therapy
If you’re struggling with emotional dysregulation, DBT can be an excellent tool to help you better manage what you feel. This therapy can aid you in addressing the maladaptive behaviors you may have resorted to in your struggle to handle your emotions.
At Northpoint Omaha, we offer a number of different programs to help you achieve better emotional wellness. Not sure which is right for you? Contact us to speak with our dedicated team by calling 888.687.8014 or using our online contact form.