DBT Revisited…

Tonight I will be heading back to my DBT group after a 2 month hiatus.  I completed the program in June and decided that I wanted to return for the Interpersonal Skills module.  I wasn’t quite ready or able to get a solid grip on the things we covered in that section because of all the upheavals in my life at the time.  But now, I am in a much more balanced and stable place, and am finally ready to tackle other people… well, not literally.  But I hope to at least learn to navigate my relationships with other people a little more effectively.

Relationship skills are something I really need to work on, though I imagine most people could use a little refresher on how to be part of a relationship, whether it be one based in romance or friendship.  But for someone struggling with BPD, and the people who are in a relationship with someone with BPD, maintaining a healthy relationship becomes that much more challenging.  Let’s face it…  Being in a relationship with someone with BPD is a lot like that picture over there.  Warm and fuzzy one moment, but watch out if the BPD wakes up!  Because when it does, things can get hairy fast.

Which is why the Interpersonal Skills module is such an important part of recovery for someone with BPD, and in my opinion, also a must for anyone who is in a close relationship with someone with BPD.  (If you want more information on DBT or would like to check out some interpersonal skills lessons, DBT Self Help is a great starting point.)  Without the skills to interact effectively with other people, someone with BPD could find themselves repeating the same tragic cycle of making friends only to lose them, thus feeding the fear of abandonment that plague so many of us.  And for Non-BPD’s, these skills could make the difference between an improved relationship and one that makes you want to pull your hair out… and if you work on them together, these skills may even help you stop walking on eggshells around the BPD in your life.

As I did before, I will post each lesson as I work through it and include my thoughts and perspectives.  And I hope that my close friends are willing to let me practice these skills with them (or at least be tolerant of my attempts to integrate these skills into my life).

~ by Enygma on August 19, 2008.