In the course of treatment that followed, Bellina underwent a double mastectomy, lymph node extraction, a hysterectomy due to her associated high risk of ovarian cancer, and six months of chemotherapy. Throughout it all, she drew on specific dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills that resonated with her. DBT, a structured form of psychotherapy with a strong educational component, is widely used to help patients at Princeton House.
“Everyone’s journey is different,” says Bellina, who lost a special aunt to breast cancer shortly after completing her own treatment. “But I believe that DBT skills are essentially life skills that can be beneficial for everyone, particularly during difficult times.”
Here’s how she applied certain DBT skills to her own cancer journey.
Middle path. Bellina embraced a true dialectical viewpoint by walking the middle path, meaning that she recognized that two opposite things can be true at once and she found a balance between them. For example, she was terrified, but she also knew she was in good hands with her oncology team. She allowed herself space to recognize both.
Cope ahead plans. Bellina was very intentional in planning ways to distract herself. This included pre-planning conversation topics with caregivers, such as asking her oncology nurse about her cat or finding a joke to tell during treatment.
STOP skill. Stopping, taking a step back, observing, and proceeding mindfully (STOP) was valuable for Bellina. Despite being scared, she paid attention to what was happening around her and noticed that all of her caregivers were confident. This supported her ability to move forward.
Turning the mind. Bellina gave herself space to cry on the way to every chemotherapy appointment, knowing it was her time to express that emotion. But when she arrived, she turned her mind so she could walk in with a smile, ready to take on treatment.
Opposite action. Fear was justified for Bellina, but acting in an opposite way helped her control the way she perceived the situation and make her treatment more tolerable. For each appointment, she brought a small gift such as cookies to her caregivers, and she did something nice for herself as well.
Embracing change. Bellina understands that cancer took things from her, but it also changed her in many positive ways and gave her new viewpoints on life. She promised herself that she would share insight from the experience with others. She always dons something pink to remind her, whether it’s a bracelet or nail polish.
Bellina recommends that behavioral health providers practice what they teach in using DBT skills – not only for their own benefit, but for patients as well.
“Using DBT skills brings them to life, making it easier to connect with patients using specific examples,” says Bellina, who has successfully completed her treatment. “Keep in mind that some DBT skills may be more useful than others depending on the individual, and that’s OK. We take what works and leave what doesn’t. In my case, DBT skills helped me take lemons and make lemonade.”
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Hear more about Bellina’s story with Princeton House’s Mind on Mental Health podcasts at princetonhouse.org/podcast. They include:
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Similar to walking the middle path, sunshine and showers can both exist at the same time. In facing the challenges of cancer and embracing the growth that accompanied it, Danielle Bellina put her DBT skills to work to help her through her journey.
