Posted by trouble on January 27, 2002, at 7:05:23
In reply to Re: getting jerked around by mental health, posted by WhiteHare on January 25, 2002, at 22:50:22
Let's see, I hope I'm doing this right, trying to respond to GETTING JERKED.
I have all those diagnoses too, and then some. No hospitalizations (I am way too proud of that fact). I'd be interested in anyone's experiences with DBT. I dropped out of my class after 10 sessions. Therapy from a manual, very lame. The adherence, man. I am convinced that socio-cognitive therapies are in ascendency partly b/c they are easy to learn and easy to teach, they demand little from the practitioners, and the homework diaries reassure everyone that we're getting things done. What things?
No attempt was made at forming a therapeutic alliance, no intimacy, they don't want to know the details. To speak of cutting, hair-pulling, or face-picking was verboten. These behaviors fall under the rubric of "self-harm." Around the room we go, each of us reporting INCIDENTS of SELF-HARM. SUICIDAL IDEATION. SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THE MISERY INDEX. This is the language of distance and instrumentality. Self-harm is a category and YOU are a category, sick Borderline piece of poo. I often find categorical thinkers frightened and anxious people, and generally not the sharpest knives in the drawer.
This may sound implausible, but even bonding among group members was discouraged. I know this b/c I confronted (privately) every issue that rubbed me the wrong way, and the therapists had a justification for everything.
But what I found most insupportable is the standard policy against process. Oh good, deny ANYTHING to a borderline. Talk about being unclear on the concept. It's a PERSONALITY DISORDER, for heavens sake. Our entire schtick is about replaying troubled patterns, screwing with peoples' minds and super-kookified attempts at needs gratification. The world is my arena, bub, and that is no more apparent than in the therapist's office. I can't work w/out process and mutuality. I am a meaning FREAK, but in my group meaning as such was frowned upon. I read Linehan's manual too and this is what it said: TELL THE LITTLE BASTARDS TO EAT THEIR VEGETABLES, VEGETABLES ARE GOOD FOR THEM.
I was paying for this?
I may be rotten but I work hard and take my disorders seriously. I need help. But I knew it was time to get out when I started referring to group as my weekly bored meeting. Far as I'm concerned these socoi-cognitive therapies so popular today fill a much needed void. I wish they'd bring back Dr. Freud, but that's another rant.
I know some people have had good experiences w/ DBT and if you're out there I hope you don't hold my opinions against me. I'm a world class complainer.
But I like the BIG HUG someone sent to the original poster, that's the kind of warmth I'm still looking for in a group of personality disorders.
poster:trouble
thread:17179
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020125/msgs/17263.html