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