My treatment team is telling me I check out, dissociate, cut, etc because I am not tolerating emotion. What does that mean and how do you do it?
It means your brain is desperate to avoid feeling intense negative emotions and is looking for ways out.
I combat it by trying to acknowledge the emotions I’m feeling, and tha they will go away.
Back when I was a cutter, I would feel like my emotions were so strong they would never go away, and I wanted them to go away at once.
I eventually learned that emotions alone can’t hurt me, regardless of how intense they were, and that distraction worked better than cutting.
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Thank you for responding and teaching me @Pikasaur. I appreciate you! Have your emotions lessened? Do you just sit and feel?
Thanks Louise 
My emotions have lessened a lot.
When I have a feeling I’m not sure I can handle, I try to write it down and analyze what caused it and why it made me feel that way.
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I do the same thing. My therapist told me I disassocate because memories are such that I can’t yet handle them. We’re using CBT and desensitization to help.
@FlyingPurplePeopleMeeter
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Okay @Pikasaur. You’ve come so far! I can try that, too!
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Does that mean you talk about them?
When I’m not in crisis. But, it’s difficult. I get suicidal. She also suggested writing one sentence each day about a trauma. Then, the next day, read what you have, so far, and write another sentence. Desensitization
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It sounds like she knows what she’s doing!
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DBT teaches you how to move out of your emotional mind and into your rational mind. You learn to think clearly based on the current facts. There’s more to it but I never took a DBT class. Maybe you could get a workbook on it and do that with your counselor.
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I will look into it! Thanks!
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This one is supposed to be good
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Thanks for the recommendation! I might order it tonight. I have to ask my husband. THANKS!
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It’s totally on sale for $12.99!! A mercy of the Lord! I hope I can order it tonight! Half-price!
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Awesome!!! I hope it helps you!
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I have that DBT workbook. There is also one targeted for anxiety. I bought them after I had an intro to DBT at a residential crisis center I was in back in October 2014. I was impressed that the workbooks fully covered everything I’d learned while inside. What do we need a therapist for when the book is just fine?
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@anon39736208 I think therapists can give you insight you may not have in yourself which makes the program that much more helpful.
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After I got out of crisis, the only time the DBT group was offered to outpatients was in the mornings when I was working. I never got a chance to learn more about DBT with therapists, just using the workbooks.
You’re right though, I shouldn’t have said that. Just because I didn’t get anything out of therapy when I tried it doesn’t mean LouiseG won’t. I apologize.
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@anon39736208 You don’t need to apologize. Maybe you had a shi**y therapist. My friend got a lot out of DBT because she got the written info on it plus weekly sessions with a good therapist. That’s why I say they can offer insight
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