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