Hello there. My name is Stefan Maurer. I am a 25-year-old male who has a learning disorder called Asperger’s Syndrome, as well as ADHD, and Bipolar Disorder. Growing up as a kid, I noticed that I was different from other kids. I found that others tended to avoid me for some reason, almost as if I had a contagious disease. This always made me sad, and confused. Sometimes, I would just go home, and start crying. However, I could never relay my thoughts whenever my mom, dad, or therapist asked me, “What is wrong”, because I did not know what to say, and how to express my feelings.

Due to my inability to express myself, I lashed out at others with anger, and had bouts of depression, where I secluded myself away from other people, usually in my bedroom. My bedroom seemed to be my only sense of comfort, and was a constant companion of mine. My bedroom was almost like an only friend, since I knew I could always rely on it to be there, waiting for me, and would always comfort me with a bed, a light, and books/games I enjoyed. These were what I called my childhood years, and were some of my earliest memories of when I was growing up.

There was one most important event that happened to me, that completely changed my life for the better. It was when I was in high school, and I was on the verge of being expelled. My parents were fighting tooth and nail, trying to get me the services, that they think I should be eligible for, but was not getting at my current school. After countless hours of research, and talking to lots of people in the Clarke County School District, Athens, Ga., my mom was finally able to get me accepted in a facility called Hillside, where not only did this place have a school, but also therapists, doctors, nurses, and other adolescents who had similar issues.

Due to her research, and countless hours talking to various members of the school district, she fought for me to have the school district pay for my whole program at Hillside, and I was the first person in Clarke County to have been sent to a long-term treatment facility at the expense of the school district. At this program, not only did I graduate from High school, but I did so with a Dual Seal with Distinction, which had the highest requirements, in regards to number of classes needed to get this diploma seal. I learned countless ways to deal with my anger, and depression, and the doctor found the perfect medications for me.

Now, you may be asking, what is the purpose of all that I have stated above, and why have I not yet included the criteria for my biography as stated under the scholarship deadlines? I.E. Education goals, extracurricular activities, and other interests that help better explain who the individual is and what they are about.

The reason I was not able to immediately jump into my goals for education, what activities I am now a part of, and any other interests, is because my whole being, meaning who I am today, and all my successes that I have been experiencing for several years now, are the result of what I experienced as a child and what I have gained from Hillside. Without my experiences as a child, I would not have had the opportunity to go to Hillside. And, without Hillside, I would have most likely dropped out from high school. Without Hillside, I would not currently be enrolled at Athens Technical College with a 3.58 GPA (Updated after this Spring 2017 semester that just passed), and still going strong. Without Hillside, I would not be the young man I am today, who is the reporter for Phi Beta Lambda. Not only am I the reporter for Phi Beta Lambda, I have also won both the District and State 1st place award for Impromptu Speaking (A performance event where my college and other tech schools competed in) and also received 3rd place in Business and Marketing (A written event at the District level), and 3rd place in Retail Management (A written event at the State level).

The reason I am so successful is Hillside has taught me not only ways to deal with my Bipolar Disorder, but also ways to effectively socialize with other people my own age, and to be a productive member of my community. I wanted to outline the above part of my life first, so that I can give credit to the organization, and the people in it that changed my life. They are a huge reason of why I am so happy in life today, and successful.

Some of the biggest changes in my life is being more outgoing, and sociable. I have a lot more positive outlook on life. I have ways that I can effectively deal with my emotions, as well as stress. I am not only an achiever, but also an overcomer in life. All obstacles in my life, are nothing but barriers that only exist, so that I have the pleasure of tearing them down, and overcoming the challenge. I now have goals that I continuously set every month, whether it is an improvement to be made in the classroom, a change needed in my daily life, or anything else that I can think of that will allow me to be a better, and more successful young man.

I have been able to mark my interests, such as fixing computers, data entry, and program design. I am in a major that specifically is meant for computer support specialists, which covers a wide variety of topics for computers. I am on track to graduate in the Summer of 2018, and I am currently speaking to my career adviser at Athens Tech, to get a job as an intern at a computer company in Athens, Ga. There are so many opportunities available to me. All I have to do is seize them.

Thank you all so much for your time in reading this. I am so glad that I had a chance to share my story with you all.

Essay: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Stefan G. Maurer
Athens Technical College: RehabMart Scholarship Fund

The therapeutic technique that I have found to be the most beneficial in improving peoples' lives would be Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or commonly referred to as DBT was developed by psychologist Marsha M. Linehan in the late 1980’s. This has made people have the ability to be more independent and gives people the tools and coping skills needed to lead more productive lives. Initially designed to treat borderline personality disorder, it has also been known to be used for other mental health disorders since its’ development. DBT is a specific type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), that addresses certain issues that Marsha M. Linehan felt needed to be mentioned and included to effectively treat symptoms, and help clients come to an understanding and acceptance of their disorder, or symptoms and how to effectively deal with and cope with these difficulties, and certain situations that can escalate or worsen if left untreated. I will go over the four categories of DBT below.

Mindfulness
During “Mindfulness”, a person is “In the Moment”. You must let go of all things past, and focus solely on the “Present”. You must become aware of your thoughts and feelings at the current time. Mindfulness can often be described as a “Core function of DBT”, since mindfulness helps a person accept and tolerate certain emotions they may be feeling, and can allow them to adjust their thoughts and emotions from a rational, and nonjudgmental mind. Two skills can allow a person to achieve this: “What Skills”, and “How Skills”.
What Skills include Observe, Describe, Participate. These three skills allow a person to first observe what is going on in their environment, to describe what was observed to themselves or others, and then to become fully immersed in an action that will be beneficial to themselves and those around them. The whole point of the “What Skills” is to allow you to define what has happened, and a way to effectively deal with it, or do something about it.
How Skills include Non-Judgmentally, One Mindfully, and Effectively. These three skills co-exist with the What Skills, in that each step of the What Skills are best used in-tandem with the How Skills. For the Non-Judgmentally How Skill, you would want to use that along with the Observe What Skill, since whatever you are observing, you want to do so non-judgmentally. When you are being One Mindful “How Skill”, you also want to be that way while you are Describing “What Skill” what you are experiencing. When doing what is Effective “How Skill”, it would be most beneficial if you do that as you are Participating “What Skill” in any action.

Distress Tolerance
Most therapies today focus on changing traumatic events such as death of loved ones, being in an accident, mental illness, and other serious events. They do not think to find meaning in or to help tolerate those events that have already come to pass. Distress Tolerance allows a person to realize that what has happened is real, and can’t be changed, yet there are ways to effectively deal with this “Real” feeling you are experiencing. There are two specific skills one can use to do this, as well as a 3rd additional skill which is my personal favorite and helped me tremendously when I first started intensive therapy sessions and DBT groups.

The first is “Distract with ACCEPTS”. ACCEPTS are ways you can distract yourself from your current emotions. You can:
--Do Activities (Positive ones you enjoy such as sports, dancing, or listening to music)
--Contribute (Give back to your community with volunteering or service projects)
--Comparisons (Compare yourself to others who are in a less fortunate than you, to realize that your situation is not all that bad)
--Emotions (Cause yourself to feel something different by use of positive/happy thoughts or a humorous joke/funny TV show)
--Push Away (Put your situation to the back of your mind for now. Focus on something different until you feel comfortable enough to address the emotions/situation later)
--Thoughts (Force yourself to think about something else)
--Sensations (Take a cold shower, eat something spicy, or anything that allows you to feel a different intense feeling compared to what you currently feel)

The second is to “IMPROVE the Moment”. After you have accepted the reality and did what you could do to first distract yourself, now you can improve the moment by doing some of the suggestions below:
--Imagery (Imagine something comforting to you, such as the ocean, raindrops, or a beautiful sunset)
--Meaning (Find a reason/purpose behind the event/situation/emotion)
--Prayer (This can either be based on your religion, or just a personal slogan for yourself to cheer you up)
--Relaxation (Taking deep breaths, and listening to calming sounds, such as the wind blowing, raindrops, or waves crashing/birds chirping)
--One thing in the moment (Be only in the present. Do one thing at a time. Do not over-stress yourself trying to do multiple things at once)
--Take a Brief Vacation (Take a short rest or break)
--Encouragement (Use positive thoughts, or “Cheer-leading Statements”. “I can do this easy-peasy!”, “I got this in the bag!”, or “I can do anything I put my mind to” are just a couple ideas)

And finally, my favorite Distress Tolerance tool is “Radical Acceptance”. This is what first got me to accept and come to terms with my disabilities, and realize that what I have will never change, yet it is not something that defines me, and it does not control me. It is just part of who I am, and there are many ways to cope with my illnesses, and lead a just as fulfilling life that other people who don’t have my diagnosis may have. If it was not for this skill of Radically Accepting, I would still be in complete denial today, and I never would have changed for the better and have the successes I do today, since I still would have been as before where I did not see any issues with me, therefore, I saw no reason to change, since I had initially felt nothing was wrong with me. Once I came to terms with my Asperger’s Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, and ADHD, I was then able to take the necessary steps to change some of my behaviors and find coping skills that suited me to deal with daily life, and stressful situations much more effectively.

Emotion Regulation
Individuals who experience intense emotions ranging from depression, extreme anger, or lots of anxiety can greatly benefit from Emotion Regulation. By learning ways to regulate emotion, people can identify not only their current feelings, but also the obstacles they are facing when they are constantly changing emotions. People can reduce the likelihood of reverting back to “Emotional Mind”, where emotions control your actions and behaviors, and can focus more rationally, to balance their emotions with reason, thereby generating a “Wise Mind”. Also, once you learn to regulate your emotions, a person can more effectively use the “Distress Tolerance” module mentioned previously, to deal with any situation or emotion that arises.
To effectively deal with emotions and regulate them well, a person must realize that there is what is called a “Story of Emotion”. Your job is to understand and define your “Story”, to better deal with your emotions.

You need to ask yourself several questions:
--What event prompted your feeling?
--What interpretation did you make regarding that event?
--What are some of the sensations your body is experiencing? (Sweaty hands, increased heart-rate, reddened/heated face, or muscle spasms are just a few)
--What is your current body language telling others?
--What do you feel like doing because of your feelings?
--What action did you end up doing/deciding on?
--What would you name your emotion, because of the list above?

Now, you can ask yourself, if there was any point that you could have changed your feelings, or actions? Was there anything different/better that you could have done to prompt a better result/action? If so, what actions/steps could you have taken to handle the situation more effectively? By coming up with your “Story of Emotion”, it allows you to evaluate yourself based on previous events, to cope with/plan for future events that may happen, so you know what you need to do differently to handle a similar situation more effectively.

Interpersonal Effectiveness
This module is designed at accomplishing three things: Getting what you want by asking, saying “No”, and coping with interpersonal conflict. The goal is to achieve what you want/your goals or desires, yet without harming the relationship.
The first of three skills are DEAR MAN. This used in assisting a person in getting what they want in an effective way.

You must first,
--Describe what you want or what your goal is.
--Express why this is important to you, or why you feel a certain way.
--Assert yourself by clearly stating what you want. (No beating around the bush)
--Reinforce your desire by stating what good would come out of it, should you be given a “Yes” answer.
--Be Mindful of your situation, such as your body language, tone of voice, and how you are presenting yourself, and ignore distractions.
--Appear confident, even if you don’t feel that way.
--Negotiate with the other party if you feel they are unsure how to respond, and offer a reasonable compromise.

This part of the Interpersonal Effectiveness module is one I found very interesting when I was first told about it in my stay at Hillside Hospital. When I first read through this part with my therapist and in group, I asked a question regarding some of the wording this module uses, and the order things were set up to follow. Regarding the DEAR MAN part, I asked, “Do I have to follow all these steps in order? Because aren’t there times in which a person will not be given the time/ability to complete one of the steps or may not even need to, to get what they want? For example, if I am at a Super Market wanting to return a good I had bought. Why would I even bother saying my feelings regarding why I am returning a product, and why I want a refund? Wouldn’t it be easier to just say, “Please give me a refund, and be through with that whole situation?” What my therapist said made me surprised. He said, “All you have to do is what is effective. Regardless of any skill you use in any module of DBT, all we want to express is to do what works for you, and that it is effective. If a situation occurs where you feel that by skipping certain steps will make your conversation go more smoothly, and still get a positive result, then do just that. However, remember this: Just because you feel you can skip steps on one occasion does not mean it would be beneficial to you to always skip that step. That is why we stress that you are in “Wise Mind”, and not just thinking/talking based on your emotions, before using DEAR MAN, or any of the steps in it. That way, you know that if you choose to skip a step, then you are truly confident in your decision to do so, since you have thought wisely, instead of emotionally, and it is very unlikely that it will end up turning poorly, with you not getting what you are aiming for.”

The second set of skills are the “GIVE Skills”. You use these skills whenever you are giving something to someone else. This can help you maintain relationships, deal with customers and fellow employees at work, and school.

--Be Gentle (All this is, is saying for you to be kind and courteous with your words. Let go of saying sarcastic or rude remarks, even if you find it funny. Be polite, and use language that is appropriate for all ages)
--Act Interested (This is saying to maintain eye contact. Listen to what the other person is saying and ask questions when the opportunity presents itself. Respond to the other person politely after they have finished speaking)
--Validate (Express your understanding of the other person and sympathize with them. Your response whether verbally, or non-verbally, such as body language can be a huge part on whether you are truly Validating the other person)
--Easy Manner (Just be yourself. Be funny, be assertive, be a shoulder the other party can lean on. Do not pressure the other party or distract yourself from them by texting/messing on your cell phone)

My Own Experiences with DBT and how it helped change my life:

My first experience with DBT was when I started at Hillside Hospital in Atlanta, Ga back in March 2008. I was an individual who was going through depression, constant mood swings, poor communication skills, and had much stress and personal issues I was dealing with, ranging from family matters, and poor relationships, all the way to having suicidal thoughts, and no effective ways to deal with my emotions. What I came to find out over my stay at Hillside was that even though I had so many rough spots, and edges that were jagged, and sharp protruding outside, I was still very much a diamond on the inside (Like a diamond in the rough). Hillside took the time to deal with all those rugged edges, and things that were sticking to me like glue (Emotional stress and baggage), and polished me good by providing me tools and knowledge on how to effectively deal with my issues, and situations that may pop up that would normally escalate me. I found out over my two plus years at Hillside that everything they had taught me will be with me for life. I found out that the things I learned through DBT, and therapy had allowed me to effectively communicate with people. It allowed me to come to terms with my disabilities, and as a result, make changes in my life to make myself a better and more productive member of my community. DBT provided me with the skillsets that have allowed me to make progressions in my life, and set goals that I now know I can accomplish, since I now have the skills needed to accomplish things. DBT has made me transform from a depressed and troubled adolescent teenager whose prospects looked bleak, to a prosperous and successful young man who is destined to a great future. I know that DBT has not only helped me in my life, but has helped many peoples’ lives, and I am blessed to have been taught DBT, and the skills it has provided me to lead a successful life.

What I find absolutely amazing, was that as I was writing this article/essay answering the topic provided, even though I used multiple references to recheck facts on what the skills are, I had already known well over 75% of the material, and remembered most of what I typed from all the way back to when I was at Hillside from March of 2008 until December of 2010. DBT will stay with me for life, and it is something I will never forget. DBT has not only helped me, but many other teenagers, and young adults who have similar symptoms, and have benefited from what DBT has taught us.
(Maurer, Stefan)

References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectical_behavior_therapy#Mindfulness
http://behavioraltech.org/resources/whatisdbt.cfm
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dialectical-behavioral-therapy#1
https://psychcentral.com/lib/whats-the-difference-between-cbt-and-dbt/
https://psychcentral.com/lib/an-overview-of-dialectical-behavior-therapy/