Let's Practice
True or False: Crisis survival skills are designed to be used for everyday problems.
False! Crisis survival skills are designed to be used in a crisis! (pg. 326)
True or False: When you're in the middle of a crisis and you can't think clearly, the first step is to use Emotional Regulation skills to decide what to do before using any other skills.
False! In a crisis, Distress Tolerance most often comes first! It may not be possible to use complicated Emotional Regulation skills until you use Distress Tolerance skills to access your wise mind.
True or False: The best way to practice mindfulness is to sit quietly and notice your breathing.
False! The best way to do it is different for everybody! Practicing mindfulness can include activities such as dance, sports, art, music, etc.
True or False: Putting an unpleasantly strong sour candy on your tongue is a good way to self soothe with taste.
False! Self soothing utilizes pleasant sensory experiences. An unpleasantly strong sour candy might be a good way to Distract using the ACCEPTS (Sensation) skill though!
True or False: Radical acceptance equals approval, compassion, love, passivity or against change.
False! You can dislike current circumstances and push for change while still radically accepting that those circumstances exist in the first place.
What can you do to practice the Self Soothing skill?
Soothing each of your five senses - Vision, Hearing, Smell, Taste, Touch
When you need to pause to consider before proceeding in a crisis, what skill is designed to help you take a step back?
STOP
What skill are you using if you tolerate distress with Imagery or a brief Vacation?
IMPROVE
What does TIPP stand for?
T = Temperature
I = Intense exercise
P = Paced breathing
P = Paired muscle relaxation
True or False: Distress Tolerance skills are designed to solve your problems and build a life worth living.
False! Distress Tolerance skills help you to get through the moment without making anything worse or accept reality as it is.
Your partner breaks up with you by text while you're at work, what's a distress tolerance skill can you use?
Multiple answers: e.g. STOP, wise mind accepts, self soothe, improve, reality acceptance skills
How do you use Turning the Mind?
It's often used alongside the Radical Acceptance skill when you need to make an inner commitment to accept reality as it is, and to keep doing so over and over again. (pg. 345)
What skill can you use to tolerate distress by changing your body chemistry?
TIPP
What does STOP stand for?
S = Stop what you're doing
T = Take a step back
O = Observe
P = Proceed mindfully
What skill is used to accept reality with your body and posture? Name and describe it
Half Smile and Willing Hands - Relaxing the muscles in your face, having a slightly upturned smile with a serene expression. Relax muscles in your arms, put your hands on your lap, turn palms outwards.
How do you know the situation a crisis?
(You are in a crisis when the situation is: _____)
Highly Stressful
Short term (it won't last a long time)
Creates intense urgency to resolve the crisis now (pg. 326)
What skill could you try to help pick between two courses of action? For example, choosing between acting on your crisis urges and not acting on your crisis urges
Pros and Cons
What Distress Tolerance skill can you use to observe your thoughts without blocking or suppressing them by adopting a curious mind?
Mindfulness of Current Thoughts
Name 3 different things from the ACCEPTS skill you can use to distract
Activities, Contributing, Comparison, Emotions, Pushing Away, Thoughts, Sensations
Describe the difference between willfulness and willingness - give examples
Willfulness is refusing to tolerate the moment, make changes, the opposite of 'doing what works'
Willingess is doing just what is needed/acting from wise mind
What are some types of situations that need crisis survival skills?
(Use crisis survival skills when: ______)
You have intense pain that can't be helped quickly
You want to act on your emotions but it will only make things worse
Emotion mind threatens to overwhelm you and you need to stay skillful
You are overwhelmed yet demands must be met (pg. 326)
How do you use a pros & cons list before an overwhelming crisis urge hits?
How do you use a pros & cons list when an overwhelming crisis urge hits?
Write out your pros and cons, carry them with you, rehearse them over and over.
Get out your list and read it over again. Imagine the positive consequences of resisting the urge. Remember the negative consequences of giving in to the urge. (pg. 328)
When you put your face into cold water and hold your breath, the mammalian diving reflex tells your brain you are going underwater and slows down your heart rate. What is the name of the skill that uses this reflex to Tolerate Distress?
TIPP - Temperature with an Ice Dive(pg. 329-330)
Describe 3 ways you might use the IMPROVE skill?
Imagery, Meaning, Prayer, Relaxing, One thing in the moment, brief Vacation, self-Encouragement
Define what Radical Acceptance means
RADICAL acceptance means acknowledging reality as it is - all the way, complete and total (accepting in your mind, heart and body). It's when you stop fighting reality, stop throwing tantrums because reality is not the way you want it, and let go of bitterness (which is not the same as giving up or approving of reality)