Radical Acceptance Basics
Define radical acceptance.
Fully acknowledging reality as it is, without judgment or resistance.
What does the first arrow represent?
The initial pain or event that causes distress.
What does the A in ACCEPTS stand for?
Activities.
“I relapsed last year.” — Truth or Story?
Truth.
What’s one personal example of radical acceptance?
Open answer from the participant
True or False: Radical acceptance means you agree with what happened.
False. Acceptance is not approval.
What does the second arrow represent?
The suffering caused by resisting or judging the first arrow.
Name a self-soothing sensation skill.
Holding ice, hot shower, breathing exercises, aromatherapy.
“Everyone thinks I’m a failure.” — Truth or Story?
Story.
What’s one thing you can’t control in recovery?
Other people’s opinions, past actions, cravings showing up, etc.
Name one thing radical acceptance helps reduce.
Emotional suffering, shame, anger, resentment, anxiety, or relapse risk.
Name an example of a second arrow thought.
"This shouldn't have happened," "Why me?" or "I can’t handle this."
What’s an example of the “T” in ACCEPTS?
Counting backward, saying the alphabet in reverse.
Why is it important to know the difference between truth and story?
Stories add suffering; truth grounds us in what’s real and manageable.
Name one distress tolerance tool besides ACCEPTS.
Breathing exercises, grounding, self-soothing, TIPP skills.
What’s the opposite of acceptance?
Resistance or denial.
True or False: Radical acceptance removes the first arrow.
False. It helps with the second arrow, not the first.
How do ACCEPTS skills support radical acceptance?
They help tolerate distress while practicing acceptance.
Give an example of a story thought.
"I’ll never get my life together," or "No one will ever trust me again."
What’s one reason radical acceptance is difficult?
Fear of feeling pain, wanting control, habits of denial.
Name one reason people resist radical acceptance.
Fear, desire for control, habit, not wanting to feel painful emotions.
How does radical acceptance help with the second arrow?
It stops adding extra suffering by letting go of judgment and resistance.
Name all 7 ACCEPTS categories.
Activities, Contributing, Comparisons, Emotions (opposite), Pushing away, Thoughts (other), Sensations.
How does letting go of story thoughts help reduce suffering?
It stops unnecessary mental suffering and helps focus on what can be accepted or changed.
Complete this sentence: “I can accept _________ and still choose _________.”
Any valid example, e.g., “I can accept my past mistakes and still choose to stay sober today.”