How Does DBT Help with Anxiety?

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.

Overwhelming anxiety symptoms include persistent feelings of fear, worry, nervousness, and panic that are hard to manage on your own. Symptoms may interfere with your work, social interactions, and sleep. Intense anxiety can present as physical symptoms including a racing heart, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Severe and chronic anxiety is often linked to past trauma or unresolved issues. Due to the emotional and physical discomfort, anxiety can lead to avoidance of important daily activities or situations you enjoy. DBT therapy provides an opportunity to learn new coping skills, gain an understanding of the physical symptoms of anxiety and develop strategies to reduce them, process life experiences and other root causes that contribute to your anxiety, and reduce avoidance of situations or activities so you can do the things you want and need to do. You and your therapist will assess your anxiety and develop an individualized treatment plan to meet your personal goals.