Emotions serve an important purpose. Fear is a normal and adaptive response when there is a threat to life, health, or wellbeing, as it motivates us to action to protect ourselves. However, fear and anxiety can arise when it is not helpful or productive and can lead to symptoms, behaviors, and consequences we don’t want. DBT is a comprehensive treatment that assists clients in developing skills to reduce overwhelming anxiety and change behaviors that can lead to symptoms.
Emotions serve an important purpose. Sadness is a normal and adaptive in response to loss or grief, disappointment or setbacks, or changes in life circumstances. Sadness becomes a concern when it lasts for an extended period of time or interferes with your daily life, relationships, or work. DBT is a comprehensive treatment that assists clients in developing skills to reduce overwhelming sadness and increase a sense of well-being.
The fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response is a natural human reaction to perceived threat or danger. When trauma happens, this threat system takes over in order to keep us safe. After trauma, if we avoid our thoughts, feelings, and memories or are unable to talk about them with someone we trust, our threat system can stay stuck and lead to PTSD symptoms.
You struggle with extreme emotional highs and lows, a deep sense of emptiness, and difficulty maintaining stability in your relationships. You are not alone and it is not your fault. Many people who experience these symptoms have endured traumatic invalidation (e.g., grew up in a household where emotions are not discussed or tolerated) and other traumatic experiences.
The DBT Center of Wisconsin LLC offers trauma-informed mental health counseling services via telehealth to adult individuals throughout Wisconsin.
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