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