How DBT Helps to Manage Depression

Dialectical behavior therapy can help to manage depression in many ways. Depression can cause an irregularity and instability in mood. Depression can impact one’s daily functions such as hygiene, sleep, appetite and interactions with others. Depression can cause some unwanted, ineffective and even harmful behaviors.

One main focus of DBT is emotional regulation. DBT teaches skills to help regulate mood, manage crises and cope effectively vs relying on ineffective behaviors. DBT also focuses on safety which is important when treating depression as it is common for clients who are depressed to struggle with SI and SH. Another key point in DBT is creating a life worth living. DBT can help depressed clients to feel empowered and use skills such as improve the moment to help find meaning and enjoyment in life. 

The main four components of DBT are mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness skills. Mindfulness skills help us to learn how to ground ourselves and develop awareness. Being able to identify which state of mind we are in can help to reduce ineffective behaviors. Distress tolerance helps us to cope and tolerate painful emotions through distraction rather than avoidance. Emotional regulation as mentioned earlier, can help us to manage, change and accept our difficult emotions. Interpersonal effectiveness skills can help us when feeling depressed because it is likely we have avoided and isolated which has separated us from our social network. This leaves us with less support which can increase depression. 

 For those who struggle with sharing their emotions, DBT can help. The structure of DBT helps clients to feel less pressure to know how they feel. As our clients learn skills they will get to the place when they can identify, process, cope, and express their emotions effectively. DBT especially group, is helpful in sending the message to depressed clients that they are not alone and helps them to feel validated.