In DBT, distress tolerance skills are one approach to coping with uncomfortable emotions. Rather than trying to change or “fix” a feeling, the goal of distress tolerance is to simply get through it. This approach can be especially powerful for feelings that are unavoidable, or where acting upon a feeling might have severe consequences (e.g., addictions & relapse).

The Distress Tolerance: DBT Skills worksheet introduces three skills commonly used in DBT:

• Radical Acceptance
• Self-Soothe with Senses
• Distraction (ACCEPTS)

The distress caused by resisting an emotion can sometimes become a wholly new burden. The idea of sitting with a painful emotion might be intimidating, but when it clicks, it becomes a powerful tool.