Peng thanks again for your thoughtful response. You're such a sweet person I can see why you have gone into the field. You obviously care a great deal about other people.
And thank you also for encouraging me to stay with T. Firstly let me say that she texted me this morning at 5 am to say that she was so sad to read that I wanted to quit. She said she wants to work with me and that she sees so much potential and worth in me that she really wants me to keep trying with DBT. She says she has seen people just like me who think they can not get better and then they do get better. She has witnessed it apparently. I have heard of this too. However it is like going through the lion's den to get to the other side. After reading the book about DBT and other sources about DBT I can say that it is an exposure therapy for the most part. And let me tell you it feels like it too. The whole thing is laced with exposures. The second half of DBT is for PTSD resolution. The first half is getting control of your reactions and behaviors then if you have PTSD as well the second half is -get this- prolonged exposure! Ugh.. But the T told me that she has a number of ways of minimizing the harshness of it. We may do emdr.
Some of my problem is that I am having flashbacks right now and they are to be put away until phase 2. I am supposed to do things to get them to go away like use ice or hard exercise etc to control them. It's like putting a small bandage on a huge wound and saying "Okay that has to work until stage 2 which is most likely in a year from now."
I know I am complaining. I should be grateful for this opportunity.
((((Peng)))) and (((Jones))))