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ACCEPTS is an acronym for a distress tolerance skill used to help cope with intense and unpleasant emotions. Each letter represents a way to distract yourself in difficult emotional situations.
Having distractions allows us to shift gears in the short term and come back to whatever we were experiencing or facing when refreshed or less emotionally charged. Typically, intense feelings and emotions pass or lessen in intensity over time. Once things lessen or pass, we are more capable of navigating the dynamics that led to the intense emotion.
ACCEPTS stands for: Activities, Contributions, Comparisons, Emotions, Pushing Away, Thoughts, and Sensations.
Watch this video to learn more.
For additional reading, check this out: Tolerate Distress with A-C-C-E-P-T-S - Mindfulness Muse
Don’t forget that there is a big difference between distracting yourself for a short period of time as opposed to consistently avoiding the concern altogether. That can makes things worse. If you are unsure, reach out to someone for support and guidance.