Wise Mind: ACCEPTS
The ACCEPTS acronym has skills that helps keep you busy and distracted when you would typically be preoccupied by a crisis.
It is easy to dwell on what is going wrong, by focusing on the ACCEPTS behaviors, you can get yourself through hard times.
The acronym
A: Activities
C: Contributing
C: Comparisons
E: Emotions
P: Pushing Away
T: Thoughts
S: Sensations
Activities
Activities keep you busy and your mind off of problems and behaviors. The behaviors that you are focused on are healthy and helpful.
To start practicing this skill, write a list of activities you enjoy when life feels better. If you’re unsure or need ideas, go online and search for activity lists.
Add the pleasant activities into your schedule and mindfully do them.
Choose an activity and enjoy it now!
Contributing
Contribute to others. It is a way to take your mind off of your own problems, to feel connected and useful, and to create positive feelings.
Examples:
Do a favor; acts of kindness; write a thank you note; bake brownies to share; volunteer locally.
Create a list of ways to contribute to others and begin right away.
Afterwards, journal about the experience, reflecting on your thoughts and feelings.
Comparisons
Draw healthy comparisons between yourself and others. There are people living without necessities, who have gone through tragedies, or who have tremendous obstacles to overcome.
Remembering that other people are also suffering, often in worse ways, allows for you to gain perspective of what you’re going through.
This perspective also increases your feelings of gratefulness.
Emotions
Emotions arise from the things we do. You can change your emotion by changing your behavior.
When you’re depressed, do behaviors that lift your spirits. When you’re anxious, do ones that are relaxing. When angry, do ones that are calming.
Check-in with your emotions in the moment, and if you find that you want change, then choose to participate in a healthy behavior to change your emotion.
Pushing away
Pushing away means that you decide to revisit the problem at another time. Imagine putting the problem in a box, locking the box, and placing it on a shelf for later.
Thoughts
You cannot think about two things at once, so choose to direct your attention to the most helpful thought.
Some ideas to try, crossword puzzles, read an interesting book, have an intriguing conversation, watch an action movie.
Do something to occupy your thoughts away from depressive thoughts, worries, and problems.
Practice in the moment.
Sensations
Direct yourself with healthy sensations.
Things to try, dance to loud music, eat a sour lemon slice, take a hot or cold bath, smell a strong scent, like peppermint.
These things wake up your senses in an invigorating way. Notice any changes in your experience.
Another idea, create a sensations toolkit, using your favorite ways to wake up your sensations. Use your tools.
Reference
Learn more skills
CALMING THROUGH YOUR SENSES BY USING SELF-SOOTHE SKILLS
DISTRESS TOLERANCE SKILLS FOR MANAGING STRESS AND CRISIS (DBT)
AFFIRMATIONS TO GET THROUGH A CRISIS OR DIFFICULT TIME
IMPROVE SKILL (DISTRESS TOLERANCE FROM DBT)
WHAT IS MINDFULNESS AND HOW TO BE MORE MINDFUL? (DBT)
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