My name is Grace Fleming, and mental illness has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was just 9 years old when I started individual therapy, trying to make sense of feelings that felt way too big for a kid. By 14, I was prescribed my first SSRI. At 16, things got so overwhelming and unbearable that I was contemplating suicide. I was hospitalized for “suicidal ideation and intent.” This hospitalization was an outpatient program that I attended instead of school for over a month.

That month was life-changing. It was the first time I was introduced to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). DBT stood out to me because it made sense. It didn’t just talk about feelings; it gave me practical, tangible skills I could use in real life to get through the hard days, navigate the chaos in my mind, and create a life worth living.

During this time, I promised myself that I would always make an effort to improve my mental health. So in college, I joined a group therapy program focused on interpersonal effectiveness, one of the core skill areas in DBT. In this group, we talked about how to navigate relationships, set boundaries, and express ourselves in healthier ways.

Fast forward, and at 25, I found myself in another crisis and hospitalized again. As part of my recovery plan, I joined a two-year intensive DBT group program. Week after week, I went to the group, practiced the skills, and slowly began to rebuild. This experience refreshed my knowledge and reaffirmed my belief in the power of DBT.

Of course, even with these amazing DBT skills, I still struggle with my mental health. It is an ongoing battle. But at least I feel more equipped to fight with my DBT tool belt.