Before we discuss the effectiveness and working of online DBT, let’s first understand what Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) actually is and how it is treated. DBT is an evidence-based and modified type of Cognitive behaviour therapy. The term "Dialectical" refers to bringing together two opposite ideas or thoughts. In terms of therapy, it would mean that there is a maladaptive thought in a person`s mind, but we make the individual think of an alternative, a more adaptive view to focus on. Dialectic would then mean the existence of two opposite thoughts, and dialectical behaviour therapy would facilitate their presence and bring about acceptance and change. The focus of Dialectical behaviour therapy is to help an individual develop an adaptive, more positive pattern of thinking and behaving. It involves mindfulness, healthy coping mechanisms, and better control over their emotions. It is a gold standard therapy for patients who have borderline personality disorders. But recent studies show that it can be adapted to help people with other mental health conditions. For example, it is helpful for people who have a problem regulating their emotions and indulge in self-destructive behaviours (like eating disorders, substance abuse etc.) <h2>4 Major Components of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy</h2> 1) Mindfulness: It involves focusing on the present or living in the present moment. It helps you become attentive and accepting of your current thoughts, feelings, and impulses. It allows you to calm down when your mind is in emotional turmoil. 2) Distress Tolerance: This skill helps you accept yourself and the ongoing situation that is causing distress. It involves learning techniques like distraction, self-soothing, and weighing the pros and cons of the situation. This technique becomes useful when one feels overwhelmed with emotions and helps one cope with them in a positive way. 3) Interpersonal Effectiveness: This skill helps you in managing your social relationships. Listening attentively and communicating assertively and effectively are some of the things one can learn and practice. It will help in building more meaningful and long-lasting relationships. 4) Emotional Regulation: It involves finding a way to manage and balance emotions. BPD patients have to deal with intense emotions, which is difficult. Thus learning this skill helps long-term in relationships and situations that are emotionally challenging. <h2>How Does Online DBT Work?</h2> With the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent extended lockdowns, mental health practitioners had to adapt and change their mode of delivery of therapy- from in-person sessions to online sessions. This change was welcomed by some and not so much by others. However, one must go with the flow in order to grow! Like any other therapy, an individual can have access to DBT. Be it online DBT or offline, the structure and nature of therapy remain the same. An individual will have weekly sessions online with the therapist on the agreed timings. Skills of DBT will be discussed and taught via activities. After the end of each session, the therapist will give out worksheets to read and practice. It will help to keep track of the progress made. In online mode, the "homework" would have to be scanned and shared with the therapist. Online DBT’s efficiency depends on the client`s willpower and motivation to change. It can be effective if the client is forthcoming towards the therapist and also practices and inculcates the skills learnt during the sessions in their day-to-day lives. <h2>Pros and Cons of Online DBT</h2> The pros would include that the patient can engage in therapy from the comfort of their home. They wouldn`t have to travel long distances, saving time and money. Cons would involve technical difficulties like poor internet connection, lack of accessibility to specific equipment like Wi-Fi or laptop etc. Other issues can be a lack of privacy and maintaining confidentiality. <h2>Challenges Faced in Online DBT</h2> One of the significant challenges with DBT is safety concerns since it is mainly practised with individuals with Borderline personality disorder- which involves symptoms of self-harming behaviour/ suicidal thoughts and actions. Thus, a safety plan is discussed beforehand with the client so they can know how to handle these destructive urges to cause harm to themselves. It also becomes necessary to involve a family member or other loved ones to be part of the session to discuss how to go about making the client`s environment safe—for instance, by removing all lethal equipment that a client might potentially use to harm himself. The majority of the hurdles can be overcome if the therapist and the client work as a team. For example, to maintain privacy, clients will be suggested to choose a spot in their homes that they find comfortable and quiet. To preserve the confidentiality of information shared, the therapist shares a consent form with the confidential clause signed by both parties. This guarantees accountability. If a situation comes in which the therapist is unavailable and can`t be reached out, immediately contact your nearby hospital to ensure safety. <h2>Choosing a Therapist for Online DBT</h2> While searching for a therapist who provides DBT online, ensure that the therapist is certified and has enough experience in dialectical behavioural therapy. A client can ask for a therapist`s credentials beforehand. It is their right and encouraged to have questions and doubts answered before starting therapy. Finding a therapist that can cater to your needs can take some time, but it is a step toward the path of change and growth. At Connectedminds, we have <a href="https://user.connectedminds.ai/home" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">experts who provide online Dialectical behavioural therapy</a>. You can reach out to us for more information and support.

We’ll explain how does online DBT (Dialectical behaviour therapy) work along with its pros and cons so that you can decide whether or not it is good for you to opt online method.  

How Does Online DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) Work

Autistic burnout is a syndrome faced by people who have autism. Autistic burnout occurs due to long-term stress and physical and mental exhaustion. While trying to cope with this, an autistic person might be unable to carry out his daily activities as before. It might so happen that the individual might start losing skills. While this condition is not yet listed under the <a href="https://psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition</a> (DSM-5), thus the term is not widely used. But there has been a lot of research that claims it is an actual situation. Recent studies broadly list the following symptoms that define autistic burnout: <ul><li>Chronic exhaustion</li><li>Losing skills</li><li>Reduced tolerance for stimuli</li></ul> <h2>Signs and Symptoms of Autistic Burnout</h2> Knowing that burnout can impair an individual’s daily activities is essential. The symptoms of autistic burnout vary from person to person. One can always look out for signs to know if someone you know is going through it: <ul><li>Difficulties in starting/completing tasks</li><li>Difficulties in decision-making skills</li><li>Problems in carrying out activities of daily living like cooking, cleaning, poor self-care</li><li>Issues in speech and communication</li><li>Difficulties in social interactions leading to exhaustion</li><li>Problems in maintaining eye contact</li><li>An increased urge for stimming (making repetitive movements or verbalizations)</li><li>Difficulties in emotional and self-regulation</li><li>Require alone time to regain energy</li><li>Difficulties in memory</li><li>Disturbed sleep patterns</li></ul> <h2>Why does autistic burnout occur?</h2> There are many reasons, some of which are: 1) Camouflaging or masking - It involves hiding their autistic traits and behaviours. For instance, they force themselves to make small talk, trying to maintain eye contact and suppressing the urge to engage in repetitive behaviours. 2) Trying to “fit in” and living up to the expectations of family and society can cause stress. It can also involve forcing themselves into uncomfortable situations like sitting in a noisy environment. 3) Significant life changes or trauma can cause stress, like changes in school, graduating from high school to work, death of a loved one etc. These stressors can overwhelm an individual with autism and can trigger burnout. Therefore, it is vital to have support from family and loved ones so that they can overcome this phase. <h2>What to do when experiencing burnout?</h2> Keep in mind that this burnout is only temporary, and it will pass once you get the required rest and recharge yourself. Social situations can be draining. Thus it is essential to plan out recovery periods. It is also understandable that if you are working or are a student, there are some obligations that need your attention. Thus some of the following tips can be adopted to make sure that both work and recovery periods can be managed. <ul><li>Remove yourself from the situation that triggered the burnout</li><li>Plan out periods of rest in between social interactions</li><li>At work, you can use means such as earphones, adjusting the lights, taking frequent breaks and working in a quiet place.</li><li>Put in a request for work from home</li><li>Confide in a trusted colleague for emotional support</li><li>Sometimes these may not be enough, so take some time away and apply for leaves. Find out what facilities your organization can offer to support you.</li><li>At school, seek out quiet and calm environments, like the library.</li><li>Connect with your school counsellor or a professor who can aid you</li></ul> <h2>Ways to Prevent and Recover from Autistic Burnout</h2> In order to prevent something that impairs you, it is crucial to gather information about it, acknowledge it and then work upon it. Thus, self-awareness in the situation is critical. Over time, people with autism can learn that certain events can lead to burnout. They can sense subtle signs as well that they are close to burnout. When they actively look out for these signs, they will be better prepared with strategies to prevent them. Examples include leaving social situations early, planning a recovery day, etc. 1) Gaining support from loved ones: Involve yourself with those people who can understand your condition and will genuinely support you and accept you as you are so that you don’t need to mask or camouflage yourselves in front of them. You can even join communities. 2) Formal support: Talk to your organization to receive proper support like work from home, adjustments in school work deadlines etc. 3) Decrease load: Take frequent breaks, avoid too many stressful activities and keep your social interactions to your level of comfort. 4) Set boundaries and be assertive: It is important to set healthy boundaries to manage the expectations of others so that it doesn’t end up distressing you. Then, seek help when you require it. Seek help from mental health professionals who can work with you to identify patterns of signals and behaviours of burnout. In addition, you can <a href="https://user.connectedminds.ai/home" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reach out to our experts at connected minds</a> for more information and tips on autism and autistic burnout.

In this blog, we’ll explain autistic burnout along with its symptoms and causes. We’ll also list various ways through which you can recover from autistic burnout. 

Autistic Burnout: Symptoms, Causes & Recovery

Everyone`s relationship with food is unique. While it may be a source of comfort, indulgence, or survival for some, for others, it may be a negative, or even harmful, relationship with food. Eating disorders are serious mental health problems that suggest an unhealthy relationship with food. In addition, eating disorders can be caused by other mental illnesses, genetics, media, negative body image, and trauma. <ul><li>The global prevalence of eating disorders has risen <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31051507/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">from 3.4 percent to 7.8 percent between the years 2010 to 2018</a> (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2019).</li></ul> <ul><li>Eating disorders are more prevalent in young men than men.</li></ul> <ul><li>Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. One person dies every hour due to it (<a href="https://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eating Disorders Coalition</a>, 2016).</li></ul> People suffering from eating disorders obsess over food, their body weight or shape, and how to control their food intake. Eating disorders are classified as follows: 1) Anorexia nervosa is characterized by extreme dieting, starvation, or excessive exercise to lose or maintain weight. 2) Bulimia nervosa is characterized by symptoms such as purging, laxative use, exercise, or fasting to avoid weight gain after binge eating. 3) Binge eating is the practice of consuming an unusually large amount of food in one sitting regularly. In this article, we’re mainly going to cover Anorexia Nervosa and will explain its symptoms, causes and treatments. So, let`s get started. <h2>What is Anorexia?</h2> Anorexia nervosa is one type of eating disorder wherein people suffering from it are terrified of gaining weight. They drastically reduce their food intake and can become dangerously thin. Anorexia has an impact on both the body and the mind. It may begin as dieting, but it quickly spirals out of control. You are constantly thinking about food, dieting, and weight. As a result, you have a distorted perception of your body. Others think you`re too thin, but when you look in the mirror, you see an overweight body. A person is diagnosed with this disorder if they weigh at least 15% less than their normal/ideal body weight. Excessive weight loss in people suffering from anorexia nervosa can result in dangerous health problems and even death. Females are more likely to suffer from anorexia than males, though the rate is rising in males too. People suffering from anorexia are typically high achievers, excelling in school, sports, work, and other activities. They are perfectionists who suffer from obsessive, anxious, or depressive symptoms. Anorexia nervosa typically begins during puberty, but it can develop at any age. <h2>Causes of Anorexia</h2> Anorexia is a biopsychosocial illness which is caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Even when certain predisposing or precipitating factors, such as a family history of eating disorders or a traumatic event, are identified, there are likely to be multiple other contributing factors. <h3>Biological or Genetic Causes:</h3> 1) Family History: Other people in your family have an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa. 2) Personality Traits: You are the type of person who always tries to be perfect, never feels good enough, or worries a lot. 3) Co-existing illness: In the mental health community, co-occurring disorders are defined as two mental health disorders that occur simultaneously, with one or both being the cause. As a result, anxiety may cause anorexia nervosa, or anorexia nervosa may cause anxiety. Anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and self-harm behavior are co-occurring psychological disorders with anorexia nervosa. <h3>Psychosocial Causes:</h3> 1) Perfectionism: Individuals suffering from anorexia often view mistakes as personal failures that must be avoided at all costs. High levels of perfectionism can be seen in individuals with anorexia nervosa 2) You are involved in a job or sport, such as ballet, modelling, or gymnastics. That emphasises body size. 3) Beauty Ideal: Societal influences to attain the thin beauty ideal have led to increased body dissatisfaction and weight problems, contributing to anorexia nervosa. Being bombed with pictures of extremely skinny models in the media has encouraged the internalization of anti-fat attitudes and the need to control weight. Western ideals and values have spread globally as a result of modern developments such as social media. Recent research has found an increase in eating disorders in non-Western cultures and minority groups. <h2>Symptoms of Anorexia</h2> <ul><li>Skipping meals, eating very little or ignoring high-in-fat foods</li></ul> <ul><li>Lying about when and how much you ate and also lying about your weight</li></ul> <ul><li>Take medicine to suppress your hunger, such as slimming or diet pills.</li></ul> <ul><li>Too much exercise, making yourself sick, using laxatives to help you poop, or diuretics to make you pee to avoid gaining weight.</li></ul> <ul><li>Having strict eating rituals</li></ul> <ul><li>Believing that losing a lot of weight is a good thing</li></ul> <ul><li>Believing that you`re fat when you`re a healthy weight or underweight</li></ul> <ul><li>Refusing to admit that your weight loss is serious</li></ul> <h3>Physical signs and Anorexia symptoms could be:</h3> <ul><li>Unusually low body mass index</li></ul> <ul><li>Weigh and height being less than what they should be at a particular age</li></ul> <ul><li>Late periods in young girls or early menopause</li></ul> <ul><li>Abdominal pain and bloating, constipation</li></ul> <ul><li>Reduced sex drive</li></ul> <ul><li>Feeling cold, dizzy and very tired</li></ul> <ul><li>Hair loss and dry skin</li></ul> <h2>How Anorexia Affects Your Health</h2> <ul><li>Anaemia</li><li>Depression</li><li>Anxiety</li><li>Obsessive-compulsive disorder</li><li>Irritable bowel syndrome</li><li>In females, loss of menstruation</li><li>Substance abuse</li><li>In males, lowered testosterone</li><li>Electrolyte imbalances</li><li>Heart disease</li><li>Kidney problems</li><li>Dehydration</li><li>Slow metabolism</li><li>Osteoporosis</li><li>Liver problems</li><li>Gallstones</li><li>Muscle wasting</li><li>Thoughts of suicide</li><li>Death</li></ul> <h2>Anorexia Treatments</h2> Anorexia is typically treated with a combination of talking therapy and supervised weight gain. It`s critical to begin treatment as soon as possible to reduce the risk of serious complications, especially if you`ve already lost a significant amount of weight. Anorexia treatment differs slightly between adults and those under the age of 18. <h3>For Adults</h3> 1) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy <a href="https://connectedminds.ai/blog/what-is-cbt" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)</a> entails speaking with a therapist who will collaborate with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.They will assist you in: <ul><li>Dealing with your emotions</li><li>Make healthy food choices</li><li>Understand nutrition and the effects of starvation</li></ul> 2) Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA) MANTRA entails speaking with a therapist in order to determine what is causing your eating disorder. It emphasizes what`s essential to you and helps you to change your approach when you`re ready. 3) Advice on diet You will be advised on eating healthy. However, this alone will not help you recover from anorexia on its own. You will require counselling as well as dietary advice. <h3>For young adults and children</h3> 1. Family Therapy Family therapy entails you and your family meeting with a therapist to discuss how anorexia has affected you and how your family can help you recover. 2. Diet advice 3. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

In this blog, we’re going to explain what is Anorexia Nervosa along with its symptoms and causes. We’ll also list some of the popular treatments of Anorexia.  

	Subscribed	Non-subscribed
Posts
Articles
Guides
Podcasts
Chat
Virtual therapy*	5% platform fee**	10% platform fee**

Connect with your mind

Our Partners

Explore our stories on Mental Well-being

How Does Online DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) Work

Autistic Burnout: Symptoms, Causes & Recovery

What is Anorexia Nervosa? Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Start your journey towards mindfulness today

User Monthly

£1.99

User Yearly

£19.99

FOLLOW US

COMPANY

JOIN OUR NETWORK

FOR USER

FOR EXPERT