Distress tolerance skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) help you survive dementia crisis without making things worse.
TIPP Skills for Acute Dementia
Temperature: Cold water on face activates the dive reflex, rapidly reducing dementia intensity
Intense exercise: 20 minutes of vigorous exercise discharges dementia physiological activation
Paced breathing: Slow the breath (especially exhale) to activate parasympathetic system
Progressive muscle relaxation: Systematic tension-release reduces dementia physical symptoms
ACCEPTS Skills for Riding Out Dementia
Activities that engage attention away from dementia Contributing to others shifts focus from dementia Comparisons that provide perspective on dementia Emotions opposite to dementia — deliberately generated Pushing away dementia temporarily when you can't act on it now Thoughts that replace dementia rumination Sensations that provide strong alternative input
When Distress Tolerance Is the Right Skill for Dementia
Use distress tolerance when dementia is intense but the situation can't change right now. The goal is surviving without making things worse — not solving dementia.