The Grouport Journal

Explore all things mental health. Check out some of our latest journals below.

Understanding Autism and Emotional Regulation

DBT

Understanding Autism and Emotional Regulation

Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder, presents a myriad of challenges for those diagnosed, and one of the predominant challenges is emotional regulation. For many with autism, understanding, expressing, and managing emotions can be intricate. The aim of this article is to provide clarity on the subject and suggest strategies to facilitate better emotional regulation for those on the autism spectrum.

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ADHD and Emotion Regulation: Understanding the Connection

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ADHD and Emotion Regulation: Understanding the Connection

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often associated with difficulties in focusing, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. Yet, one dimension of ADHD that isn't as frequently discussed, but is crucially important, is its relationship with emotion regulation. For many individuals with ADHD, managing emotions can pose a significant challenge. This article delves into the connection between ADHD and emotion regulation, exploring why these difficulties arise and how they manifest in everyday life.

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Mastering Emotional Regulation: A Guide to Balanced Living

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Mastering Emotional Regulation: A Guide to Balanced Living

Emotions, with their intense power and depth, are pivotal in shaping our experiences, actions, and interactions. While they serve as tools to communicate our needs, desires, and boundaries, mismanagement can lead to personal and social challenges. Regulating emotions, therefore, isn’t about stifling or denying them but about understanding, expressing, and navigating them in healthy ways. This article delves into techniques and practices that can assist in achieving emotional equilibrium.

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Mastering the Journey: Coping Skills for Substance Abuse

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Mastering the Journey: Coping Skills for Substance Abuse

Substance abuse and addiction are challenging battles that many individuals face in their lives. It's not only about physical dependency, but the emotional and psychological factors that come into play as well. With the right coping skills, individuals can navigate this challenging path and find a way towards recovery. This article delves into the essential coping skills for those dealing with substance abuse.

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Coping Skills Activities for Adults: A Guide to Finding Balance

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Coping Skills Activities for Adults: A Guide to Finding Balance

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to become overwhelmed by life's challenges. Whether you're dealing with personal, professional, or emotional struggles, it's crucial to have a toolkit of coping strategies at your disposal. This article aims to explore some effective activities and techniques that adults can adopt to manage stress, anxiety, and other challenging emotions.

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Safety First: Essential Coping Skills for Personal Well-being

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Safety First: Essential Coping Skills for Personal Well-being

Safety is a basic human need. Whether one is recovering from trauma, struggling with mental health challenges, or navigating stressful situations, cultivating coping skills focused on safety can make a significant difference. This article explores various strategies designed to bolster personal well-being by emphasizing safety and stability.

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Navigating Life with Bipolar Disorder: Effective Coping Skills

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Navigating Life with Bipolar Disorder: Effective Coping Skills

Bipolar disorder, characterized by periods of depression and mania, is a mental condition that presents unique challenges. However, with a combination of medical treatment and effective coping skills, those diagnosed can lead fulfilling lives. This article aims to elucidate the nuances of bipolar disorder and introduce various coping strategies to assist in managing its symptoms.

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Coping Skills for Overcoming Addiction: A Roadmap to Recovery

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Coping Skills for Overcoming Addiction: A Roadmap to Recovery

Addiction, whether to substances or behaviors, is a complex issue that affects countless individuals globally. Navigating the path to recovery requires more than sheer willpower; it demands the adoption of effective coping skills. These tools can aid individuals in resisting cravings, handling triggers, and building a life free from the clutches of addiction. This article sheds light on understanding addiction, identifying triggers, and embracing coping strategies for sustainable recovery.

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Effective Coping Skills for Overcoming Self-Harm

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Effective Coping Skills for Overcoming Self-Harm

In the face of emotional distress, some individuals may resort to self-harm as a means to cope with their feelings. While this can provide temporary relief, it's not a sustainable or healthy solution. It's crucial to recognize the importance of developing alternative coping strategies to navigate emotional pain. This article will delve into understanding self-harm and its triggers, and offer effective coping skills to help individuals deal with challenging emotions.

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ADHD Coping Skills: Strategies for Thriving with Attention Differences

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ADHD Coping Skills: Strategies for Thriving with Attention Differences

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by symptoms such as impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Individuals with ADHD often face unique challenges in daily life. However, with tailored coping skills, many can lead fulfilling lives, optimizing their unique strengths. This article offers insights into effective coping strategies for ADHD.

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Healthy Coping Skills: Mastering the Art of Resilience

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Healthy Coping Skills: Mastering the Art of Resilience

Life is a tapestry of experiences, both challenging and joyous. When faced with stressful situations, it's essential to have an arsenal of coping strategies to maintain balance and promote mental well-being. This article will delve into various coping skills that can help individuals navigate life's turbulence with grace and fortitude.

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Creating Effective Coping Skills Worksheets: A Guide to Enhancing Resilience

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Creating Effective Coping Skills Worksheets: A Guide to Enhancing Resilience

Coping skills worksheets offer a structured approach to help individuals identify, analyze, and manage their reactions to stress and challenging situations. These tools serve as a roadmap to navigate life's challenges and cultivate resilience. In this article, we will explore the elements of a successful coping skills worksheet and how to use them effectively.

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Coping Skills for Kids: Strategies for Emotional Well-Being

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Coping Skills for Kids: Strategies for Emotional Well-Being

Every child faces challenges as they grow, whether it's the pressure of school, social dynamics, or just the process of understanding their emotions. Teaching children coping skills not only helps them navigate these challenges with resilience but also sets the foundation for a balanced and emotionally healthy adulthood. This article delves into effective coping skills tailored for children, offering parents and caregivers practical tools and strategies to empower young ones.

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Does Anxiety Cause Weight Loss?

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Does Anxiety Cause Weight Loss?

Anxiety is a common mental health disorder that can impact various aspects of a person's life, including appetite and weight. While weight gain is commonly associated with stress, anxiety can also lead to weight loss in some cases. This article delves into the complex relationship between anxiety and weight loss, providing insights into how anxiety can potentially influence body weight.

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Daily Affirmations: Positive Statements for Everyday Life

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Daily Affirmations: Positive Statements for Everyday Life

Daily affirmations are powerful tools used to reprogram our subconscious mind and inspire change in our lives. These are positive statements expressed in the present tense to reinforce our ability to make beneficial choices and achieve desired outcomes. This article delves into a list of potent affirmations that can be repeated every day.

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Emotion Regulation Strategies: A Detailed Overview

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Emotion Regulation Strategies: A Detailed Overview

Emotion regulation is a crucial aspect of human psychological functioning. It encompasses processes that individuals use to manage and modify emotional experiences and expressions. Effective emotion regulation can enhance mental wellbeing and improve interpersonal relationships. This article will discuss five key emotion regulation strategies.

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Mastering the Art of Responding to Invalidation: A Guide to Empowerment

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Mastering the Art of Responding to Invalidation: A Guide to Empowerment

In a world filled with diverse perspectives, it's inevitable that we'll encounter invalidation at some point. Whether intentional or not, invalidation can be a disheartening experience. It's essential to develop skills to handle these situations with grace and assertiveness. This article aims to guide you on how to respond effectively when your feelings or experiences are invalidated.

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The Duality of Self-Pity: Understanding Its Role as a Coping Mechanism

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The Duality of Self-Pity: Understanding Its Role as a Coping Mechanism

Self-pity is a commonly misunderstood emotion, often viewed negatively due to its association with victimhood and lack of action. However, like all emotions, it serves a purpose and can function as a coping mechanism in challenging times. This article explores self-pity as a coping mechanism, its potential benefits and drawbacks, and healthier alternatives for managing distress.

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The Altered Reality: An Exploration of Distorted Thinking

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The Altered Reality: An Exploration of Distorted Thinking

A distorted mind can significantly alter one's perception of reality. Characterized by consistent irrational, negative, or exaggerated thought patterns, cognitive distortions can often lead to emotional distress and mental health concerns. This article will delve into the concept of distorted thinking, its impacts, and strategies to manage it.

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Navigating Emotional Expressions: Guide to Describing Feelings

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Navigating Emotional Expressions: Guide to Describing Feelings

Emotions are at the heart of the human experience, influencing our thoughts, actions, and interactions. Articulating feelings accurately can be challenging, given their complex and often intangible nature. This article provides insights into the process of describing feelings, emphasizing its importance and offering useful techniques.

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Minimizing Symptoms of PTSD

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Minimizing Symptoms of PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and intrusive thoughts about the event. While PTSD is a serious condition, there are effective ways to minimize its symptoms and regain control over one's life. This article will explore strategies for reducing symptoms of PTSD, including mindfulness, exposure therapy, and cognitive restructuring.

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DBT Skills to Know - Radical Acceptance

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DBT Skills to Know - Radical Acceptance

The concept of Radical Acceptance is rooted in the idea that all suffering originated not in pain, but in our attachment to pain. In fact, Radical Acceptance has origins in Buddhism with the tenant that relief from suffering begins first and foremost with acceptance. ‍As a Dialectical Behavior Therapy skill, Radical Acceptance refers to the ability to accept our situation when the circumstances are out of our control, which can reduce the suffering we feel. Instead of being attached to our

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DBT Skills to Know - Emotional Regulation

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DBT Skills to Know - Emotional Regulation

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches critical skills relative to Emotional Regulation, which is arguably relevant for people of all backgrounds, behavior types, and with or without mental health conditions. We can all benefit from greater emotional regulation. ‍While emotions are important and feelings are relative in our relationships and day to day life and processing (they help us communicate and understand our experiences), they can also create a great deal of emotional suffering

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DBT Skills to Know - How to Think and Act Dialectically

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DBT Skills to Know - How to Think and Act Dialectically

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is, at its core, founded upon principles of Dialectical thinking, which involves an integration of two foundational opposites: acceptance and change. ‍Learning to think and act in a dialectical manner can open up your thought process and increase your awareness of the different nuances in the world around you, rather than allowing you to exist in extreme black and whites. Extreme highs and lows are what drive many of the mental health conditions DBT is use

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DBT Skills to Know - What is a “Wise Mind”?

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DBT Skills to Know - What is a “Wise Mind”?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), is a specific type of psychotherapy under the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy umbrella that was curated for Borderline Personality Disorder. However, this type of therapy has been proven to be successful in the treatment of a myriad of other mental health conditions, including but not limited to anyone struggling with: Overwhelming emotions.Impulsive behavior.Self injury.Suicidal thoughts.Substance abuse.Eating disorders.PTSD and other trauma disorders.&nbsp

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How DBT Skills Help Manage Eating Disorders

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How DBT Skills Help Manage Eating Disorders

Over 28.8 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders are generally classified as a type of mental illness characterized by harmful behaviors related to food. Those with eating disorders (such as bulimia, anorexia, binge eating, ad more) usually struggle with impulsivity, compulsive behaviors, negative body image, and even coexisting conditions like depression, anxiety, and more. ‍Eating disorders are the second most deadly mental illness (the first is

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How DBT Helps with Managing Anxiety Disorders

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How DBT Helps with Managing Anxiety Disorders

These days over 18% of US adults are living with an anxiety disorder. For many people living with chronic anxiety, experiencing a daily, significant and ongoing sense of fear or anxiety can lead to restlessness, panic attacks, isolation, poor sleep, and physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, body aches, stomach pain, and more. These and a host of other symptoms can be debilitating and may significantly decrease the sufferer’s quality of life. ‍Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is usu

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Dialectical Behavior Therapy: An Effective Approach for Depression

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Dialectical Behavior Therapy: An Effective Approach for Depression

Depression is a common mental health condition characterized by persistent sadness, decreased interest in activities, and difficulty functioning daily. While there are many treatment modalities for depression, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is particularly effective in providing individuals with tools to manage their symptoms. This article will delve into the ways DBT can aid in coping with depression.

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Essential Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills: Distress Tolerance and Mindfulness

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Essential Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills: Distress Tolerance and Mindfulness

Are you interested in learning more about Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)? This unique form of psychotherapy - a variation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can be used for a wide variety of mental health issues and conditions. While DBT was specifically developed for treating individuals who have difficulty managing and regulating their own emotions, (such as with Borderline Personality Disorder), this treatment type has also been proven to be effective for a variety of other condi

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Is Group Therapy Beneficial for Borderline Personality Disorder?

BPD

Is Group Therapy Beneficial for Borderline Personality Disorder?

Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a difficult challenge for many. The struggle to control thoughts, actions, and reactions permeates their everyday lives and relationships. Their sense of self is highly dependent on their mood swings and often chaotic relationships with others, and they have difficulty managing stress, conflict, and the emotions of others. Living with BPD essentially means coping with a pattern of regular instability that spans mood, behaviors, identity, commu

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Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy Right for Me?

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Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy Right for Me?

Do you have intense emotional highs and lows? Maybe regularly find yourself engaging in self-destructive behaviors such as substance abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, and interpersonal conflict? Have you been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder? Or maybe you can identify with one of the following: ADHDAnorexia NervosaBulimia NervosaAnxiety DisordersMajor Depressive DisorderSuicidal BehaviorOCDPTSD‍If so, Dialectical Behavior Therapy may be the right treatment to get you back on

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How is DBT Different from CBT?

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How is DBT Different from CBT?

Psychotherapy offers exclusive benefits as a treatment method which differs from traditional talk therapy. If you’re at all familiar with psychotherapy, you’ve probably heard the terms “DBT” and “CBT.” DBT stands for Dialectal Behavior Therapy, and CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. If you’re trying to decide which one is right for you, it’s important to understand the differences between the two. ‍Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT is closer in concept to traditional talk ther

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What Everyone Should Know About Dialectical Behavior Therapy

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What Everyone Should Know About Dialectical Behavior Therapy

If you’re considering Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for you or a loved one, you probably already know the basics: DBT was developed in the late 1980s by Dr. Marsha Linehan specifically for patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). DBT is a highly beneficial treatment for many individuals for various mental health disorders and conditions, and traditionally follows the same path or protocol of treatment through 4 key modules to achieve success. The 4 main stages of DBT are:&n

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How to Talk About Mental Health

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How to Talk About Mental Health

In today’s day and age, mental health is a HOT topic, and we’re excited about that! However, for many people entering a new, sometimes scary world of discussions about inner workings, mindset, worldviews, diagnoses, emotions, and more, it may be daunting to get pulled into a discussion about mental health. ‍If you’re struggling to understand what kind of language to use to participate in discussions around mental health, or even to discuss your own, this guide will help you get started on t

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4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting Dialectical Behavior Therapy

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4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, is a modified version of another well-known type of psychotherapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The primary goal of DBT is to help individuals struggling with certain behaviors and mental health conditions to better cope with stress, regulate their emotions, stay present in every moment, and consequently improve the health of their relationships with others. ‍While DBT was initially developed to treat a specific condition - Borderline Perso

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The Top 5 Benefits of Online DBT Group Therapy

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The Top 5 Benefits of Online DBT Group Therapy

When approaching Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), many people are surprised to find that online group sessions actively work on the skill development required to succeed. While it’s often presumed that DBT is most effective in a one-on-one setting, in reality DBT skills are best adopted in a group setting where members can actively practice their new skills and participate in discussion around common mental health challenges. ‍Benefit 1: Community & AccountabilityFor the majority of

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What Therapy is Best For Borderline Personality Disorder?

BPD

What Therapy is Best For Borderline Personality Disorder?

When it comes to Borderline Personality Disorder, there is currently only one empirically-supported treatment protocol for this condition: Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT. A form of psychotherapy developed in the late 1980s by Dr Marsha Linehan, this treatment protocol is based on cognitive behavioral principles applied in specific ways in order to target common symptoms of BPD such as chaotic relationships, emotional lability, instability, and impulsivity. Over the last few decad

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What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy Used For?

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What is Dialectical Behavior Therapy Used For?

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or DBT, was developed in the late 1980s by Dr. Marsha Linehan following extensive use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). DBT was developed specifically because it became clear that CBT was not fully effective for patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). In order to improve treatment for BPD, Dr. Linehan and colleagues created and tested additional techniques in order to achieve greater success as they sought to improve the health and wellbeing of t

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What Is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy?

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What Is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, is a modified version of another well-known type of psychotherapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The primary goal of DBT is to help individuals struggling with certain behaviors and mental health conditions to better cope with stress, regulate their emotions, stay present in every moment, and consequently improve the health of their relationships with others. ‍While DBT was initially developed to treat a specific condition - Borderline Perso

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What Are Therapies For OCD?

OCD

What Are Therapies For OCD?

The road to treatment for OCD can be a difficult one, and often requires significant courage and determination to succeed. Establishing a healthy level of support from a group can encourage you during the treatment process and is a healthy and beneficial step as you get started. ‍ERP & SRIsThe majority of psychologists will agree that the best and most effective treatments for OCD are Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in combination with medication such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (

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