Dialectics: Understanding How To Hold Multiple Truths
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that emphasizes the dialectical concept of balancing opposites. This approach can be useful for individuals dealing with eating disorders, body image issues, and communication skills. The idea of holding two conflicting emotions, thoughts, or beliefs simultaneously is challenging for many individuals, but DBT offers tools and strategies to help manage these struggles. For example, mindfulness can help individuals tune in to their emotions and observe them without judgment, while cognitive restructuring can help identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts. Learning to balance conflicting emotions can lead to greater emotional regulation, improved communication skills, and better overall mental health.
DBT skills training is an important part of eating disorder and body image coaching. DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which helps clients learn to handle their emotions, regulate their behavior, and develop healthy coping skills. There are so many benefits to helping you fill your toolbox full of tools, but more importantly, DBT offers imagery for understanding how to implement these techniques and why they matter.
What is the focus of DBT?
DBT skills training focuses on mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills help clients have a better relationship with their bodies and themselves by teaching them how to handle difficult emotions and situations in a productive
way. Research by Wisniewski L, Ben-Porath DD. (2015), indicates that eating disorders, even resistant ones are well managed with in-patient or out-patient with either a comprehensive program or even skills training.
How Does This Help My Goals?
The goal of DBT for eating disorder coaching is to cultivate self-acceptance, emotional balance, and well-being that leads to healthier behaviors around food and body image. With the help of a qualified coach, clients can learn to recognize patterns of unhealthy behavior that trigger disordered eating habits and replace those with healthier strategies. Skills such as mindful awareness, understanding triggers, expressive writing, or art therapy are used during the coaching process to promote positive behavior change and help clients learn to form healthier relationships with food, their bodies, and themselves.
What is a Dialectic in DBT Skills Training?
A dialectic is a balancing act between two opposing points of view. In DBT, this means that clients learn to accept what is and find ways to move forward when faced with difficult emotions and situations. Sometimes, when it comes to trying to address food myths or rules we hold ourselves to strict or rigid stands. It is hard for us mentally health learn to accept our body as it is and want to lose weight. Or, to recognize that food is good for us when so many rules say so much is bad for us. We are not only told tons of information about these food rules but even when we can understand it on an intellectual level our body doesn't accept this. That's where DBT skills can help. This helps to reduce stress and anxiety related to food, body image, and overall well-being.
Why does a balancing act with dialectics help my eating disorder, disordered eating, relationships, or body image?
By learning to accept what is and working through it, you are better able to handle difficult emotions and situations without using them as triggers for disordered eating or body image issues. Oftentimes when dealing with ED and body image we are using everything we can to reinforce that food is bad, movement will keep us where I am or will help us get where we need to be, and the messages we receive are true. Disordered eating is deceitful and shouldn't be trusted, but how can you accept that when nothing else works and you haven't found a different resolution? In comes dialectics. You can hold multiple truths at once. You can love your boyfriend and want to break up with him because you can do better. You can have a great childhood and have internalized harmful messages about your body. You can love your body and still wish to be healthier. I know how hard that is to receive and accept. You are not alone in this.
Dialectics
Example of dialects for disordered eating
Accepting that you have an eating disorder while also working towards recovery. Accepting that food can be both nourishing and enjoyable while understanding the importance of portion control and balanced meals. Or accepting yourself as you are right now while also striving to reach your goals.
Body Image Dialectic Example
Another example of dialectic in eating disorder recovery is the balance between wanting to have the perfect body and learning to appreciate and accept their body as it is. This can be especially difficult for people with an eating disorder, disordered eating patterns, or body image issues.
Assertiveness Dialectic Example
Another example of a dialectic that is important for eating disorder recovery is being able to express yourself assertively, while also recognizing and respecting the feelings of others.
Boundary Setting Dialectic Example
One final example of a dialectic for eating disorder recovery is the ability to set boundaries, while also being open to negotiation and compromise. This can help you maintain healthy relationships, both with yourself and those around you.
Mindfulness for managing conflicting dialectic distress
Mindfulness is an important part of managing the distress that can come from working through conflicting dialectic points. By taking time to notice and accept your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations as they arise, you can learn to manage any distress or discomfort in a healthier way. This can help you better cope with difficult emotions around food, body image, and relationships. Additionally, practicing mindfulness can help you build healthier habits, become more self-aware, and foster a more positive relationship with yourself.
Using DBT Skills to Overcome Eating Disorders
DBT skills are an effective tool for overcoming eating disorders, disordered eating patterns, and body image issues. By combining acceptance, dialectic, and mindfulness techniques, clients can learn to recognize patterns of unhealthy behavior that trigger disordered eating habits and replace those with healthier strategies. With the help of these skills, clients can create a more balanced lifestyle and foster a healthier relationship with food, their bodies, and themselves.
Recovery is Possible, and DBT is Part of the Journey!
No matter how long you have been struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating, recovery is possible. DBT provides a much-needed framework for understanding and managing difficult emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. With the help of DBT skills, you can make lasting changes in your relationships with food, body image, and yourself that will set you up for success. So what's next? Learn about me, a recovery coach for disordered eating and body image. Book a discovery call. Get my free mindfulness journal (part of the DBT framework), and purchase my course which helps you understand yourself and teaches much-needed skills. Or reach some more blogs that can provide helpful insight!
