Many people who self-injury have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, as Self-injury is part of the criteria in the diagnosis. The main treatment for this is DBT, which originated in the USA and was created by Marsha Linahan. It is still not available everywhere in the UK but is coming more widespread, and many people see this as the last resort in getting better.
DBT has many components. Its main idea is that by using techniques to change behaviour, self-destructive behaviours will decrease. Many people who are receiving DBT therapy have experienced severe suicidal and self-injuring behaviours, many therapists will not work with them because of the risk, and this is where DBT comes in.
In DBT therapy, you receive both individual and group therapy, the group therapy is where you learn the skills that are supposed to help you in everyday life and in times of great distress. It falls into four modules.
Module One � Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the basis of the DBT therapy. It is basically meditation, being able to let thoughts go, and just concentrate on either a part you your body (such as breathing) or an object external to yourself.
Module Two � Interpersonal Skills
In this module, you learn assertiveness skills, so that you are able to voice what you would like to other people, rather than just going along with what others want of you.
Module Three � Emotion Regulation
In the penultimate module you learn about the uses of emotions, and how emotions can be changed through ideas such as �opposite to emotion� to name just one
Module Four �Distress Tolerance
The Final module is probably the most important, as it is behaviour modification in terms of replacing
There are many things that you agree to when you start DBT therapy these include that if you drop out of either of group or individual therapy you drop out of therapy altogether and the 24 hour rule, which basically states that there is no contact between yourself and your t for 24 hours after any self injuring behaviour.
Personally, I can see the basis for DBT therapy and how in some people it can help, but I cannot see how not working on the issues that cause the self-injuring behaviour, such as the low self-esteem, flashbacks, an argument to name just a few, will help. I also find real difficulty in the 24 hour rule, as I think that when you have been so low that you end up using these behaviours is when you need help most.
A NOTE TO EVERYONE ZOGGY HATES THE 24 HOUR RULE!