Depression is a mood disorder caused by interactions between genetics, brain chemistry, hormones, and other factors. To most people, depression is a feeling of intense sadness, but it is more than that. A person who shows symptoms of inability to feel emotions may also be depressed.
There is no quick and easy fix for depression; its treatment takes intentionality and great effort. Instead, medical practitioners try to combine therapy and medical treatments to help relieve patients of their symptoms.
Psychotherapy is talk therapy, and there are a variety of ways to do talk therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tries to teach people to change their thought patterns to enhance their ability to cope with their problems.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of CBT, but instead of teaching people to change their thought patterns alone, it teaches them to accept who they are. It was first developed to help people with bipolar disorder who felt like CBT therapists were attacking them. It can help people with other mental health conditions, such as depression and destructive behaviors. A person can undergo TMS and DBT therapy concurrently to improve their chances of healing.
What is TMS?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnets and electricity to stimulate specific brain areas. This will then interrupt depressive thoughts and activate better emotional regulation in a person.
Clinics that offer TMS therapy, like this clinic for TMS therapy in Massachusetts, usually provide sessions over 3-6 weeks, about five times a week. TMS is painless, and the patient can be awake throughout the procedure. It is one of the best methods of treating anxiety that has been shown to cure patients with treatment-resistant depression successfully.
The side effects of TMS are minor and easily overcome, but people rarely experience seizures. Because of this risk, people prone to seizures are advised not to undergo TMS therapy.
How Does DBT Work?
The word ‘dialectical’ means accepting that opposite things can be true.
DBT is based on cognitive behavior therapy, but it differs in that it focuses on helping people accept who they are before they start thinking of modifying their attitudes and thought patterns. It is used to help patients who experience very intense emotional feelings.
Dr. Marsha Linehan first developed it to help her patients with bipolar disorder who felt like CBT was attacking them. Since then, it has been adapted as a treatment for depression and other psychological conditions related to rigid mind states.
DBT can be carried out through group therapy, individual sessions with a therapist, or via the phone. The goals of DBT are to help people:
- Understand who they are and why they behave the way they do,
- Learn coping skills
- Make positive behavioral and emotional changes
Dialectical behavior therapy can take several years, but treatment for a minimum of 6 months is recommended for patients.
The core techniques of DBT are teaching patients mindfulness, how to behave appropriately in their interpersonal relationships, tolerating distress, and regulating their emotions.
Patients can be taught distraction techniques, how to soothe themselves in distressing situations, and think their way through and improve them. It is a beneficial technique for patients who are regularly overwhelmed by anger, anxiety, depression, and frustration.
How Do TMS and DBT Work Together?
Depression is influenced by both physical and psychological factors, necessitating treatment that addresses both aspects. Most psychiatrists like to prescribe medication for their patients alongside therapy. This will help to stabilize the brain’s chemicals and give them skills that help them make sense of their situation and cope with it.
TMS can activate areas of the brain that promote better emotional regulation and enable patients to think positive thoughts. DBT will help them talk about it, accept their feelings and learn healthier coping methods.
If a patient decides to have TMS alongside sessions of DBT, then they can do both simultaneously. They can attend DBT sessions two times a week and have TMS treatments five times weekly. This personalized treatment plan that uses TMS and DBT concurrently will effectively combat depression and its symptoms.
Conclusion
Depression is a mental health condition that manifests in various ways and cannot be resolved hastily. Healing people of their symptoms will require time and much hard work.
DBT is a modified version of cognitive behavior therapy that teaches people to accept themselves and change their behaviors and thought patterns.
It can be used with TMS, a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to cause changes in people’s thought patterns. When used together, people who suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, and other psychological conditions that involve rigid thinking patterns can have a better chance at healing.
FAQs
- How do I find a DBT therapist?
A therapist can be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or family therapist. To find a therapist, ask your healthcare provider for recommendations. You could also look up online registries of therapists in your area so that you will find one that is near you.
Also, ask for referrals from someone you know who has undergone DBT therapy in the past.
- How long will my treatments take?
DBT therapy sessions may take up to several years, and even after that, you still need to consciously practice your DBT techniques in your day–to–day life. Therapists advise their patients to attend sessions for at least six months before deciding if they want to continue.
- Can I get insurance to cover the cost of my DBT and TMS treatments?
The NHS covers part of the cost of DBT and TMS treatments, but it depends on some factors. You could also speak to your insurance company to see if they provide plans that pay for part or the whole of these treatments.
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