This is so late but I wanted to tell people about my first intake session for getting into DBT for borderline.
So out here before you are placed into the programs they like to do 4 sessions of intake to see if you are suited well for the program. Which I think is really good cause it allows them to gauge the level of recovery you’re at to see if you’ll be able to be benefit from the program. It also is helpful cause if your in crisis they can help you find better support. And I think thats also super important.
Meeting with the lady on Monday – I was nervous before hand. I was kind of scared It would be like a drill of like ‘how borderline are you?’ or like really diving deeply into “lets talk about your trauma” and other processes of intake I’ve done for mental health stuff. I was also scared of the possible judgement that might be assumed or even just feeling like the energy in the room was – hm. Uncaring I think would be the word I’m looking for.
However, what I was assuming, and then fearing and then telling myself “This is whats going to happen”. Was surprisingly dismissed (in a kind way.) and I was able to enjoy the intake. I also like it too because the anxiety I was experiencing lifted quickly enough that it wasn’t a huge issues for me. I still took my deep breaths sometimes, and fidgeted when I needed too. But sitting in the room I felt invited and I felt comfortable. I really liked the lady I ended up talking too. She was professional and really understanding and nice. She also asked me questions like “So what have you heard about dbt?” and those kinds of questions and would let me speak, and then give me answers to the questions I had, or clarify any info I might be missing. She also is one of the people who run the program for DBT so I’m sure she’s seen people like me before.
I learnt the program I’m going to hopefully be getting into is about 14 months. (So a year and 2 months) and she asked me If I can reasonable see myself doing it. And I told her yes. And I still feel like yes – that’s totally doable for me. And she explained how the program is ran a little. Which is when your accepted your first placed into mindfulness, and then they cycle people into different module. We also get 1 session with a DBT therapist per week, and one classroom session. (So group and then private 1-1)
We also went over a list of questions (which she also gave me my own copy of and wants me to also fill it out at home, just so she can get more) and I have them with me to answer. The questions are as followed:
“The purpose to this program is to help people manage negative emotions. Please identify the mean reason why you want to learn how to manage your emotions”
“Please Identify 5 specific behaviors that you want to increase and indicate how each may help you. Some examples of behaviors you may want to increase may be… (then a short list)”
“Please Identify 2 behaviors you want to decrease. Indicate how each behavior interferes with your daily life (Examples)”
“Learning new skills requires repetition and practice. Are there things you know about that might get in the place of practicing? (Examples) ”
“How might you prepare yourself in order to prevent some of your old habits from getting ino the way of learning new skills. “
“Is there a right time in your life for you to participate in a dbt group? Do you have motivation and desire to make changes at this time?”
I still need to fill these out. I might do a couple today, then a couple tomorrow and so forth.
I also learnt some interesting things from the meeting too. More so of my own emotional cycle I go through and the first and then secondary emotions. Which I always kinda saw as one big emotion. Or I saw my second one being me “crash” back to “normal”. It was also interesting to have someone map it out with me using some examples from my life and identify what my own pattern is with borderline. And for me I found it insightful. And I think it also just really sunk in more seeing it really be written down. Compared to just orally talking about it.
We also explored how my secondary emotion always goes back to shame and fear and guilt. I’m just really grateful I was able to have it written down. Cause Its helping me become more aware!
Im honestly looking forward to the next appointments and I’m looking into challenging myself, and changing for the better with some behaviors. I’m really hoping too that I can just keep learning about me.
I’ll try and keep you guys updated as appointments come and go. I don’t want to overshare about myself on here. But I think its okay to explain more of the process of my own healing. As I might also be able to receive tips or guidance from other people who also are recovering too.
Thank you for reading. =)
So I bought them and brought one package home with me to have as a birthday cake. I found it to be really nice. Super soft and not like super sweet. But like just low key sweet. Plus it was strawberry flavored which is my favorite. I also really like how japan does candy and sweets vs some of the american/canadian styles which is like slapping your taste buds like “Bam!! I’m sweet!”