Radical acceptance is simply accepting inevitable things in life that you can not avoid. It is accepting something wholeheartedly. It is when you stop fighting reality. Acceptance is NOT approval. You can accept that something bad happened while still not approve or agree with it.

Radical Acceptance in Reality Acceptance within Distress Tolerance of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Being mindful of what you are feeling can free you from being imprisoned by your thoughts. It is important to observe your thoughts, and adopt a curious mind in regards to your thoughts. Be the detective of your mind, exploring thoughts and emotions with the curiosity of a scientist. Remembering that you are not your own thoughts. Thoughts are just thoughts nothing more nothing less. 

Mindfulness of Current Thoughts in Reality Acceptance within Distress Tolerance of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Turning the mind is the conscious effort to divert yourself from fighting reality and push yourself towards acceptance. It is realizing that you are heading in an ineffective way of thinking and making an effort to turn your mind to accept reality.

Turning the Mind in Reality Acceptance within Distress Tolerance of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Your mind and body are connected and one listens to the other. When you want to change your emotional state, starting with the body helps ease the process. Half-smiling and willing hands can help send a signal to your brain to be calm and accepting.

Half-Smiling and Willing Hands in Reality Acceptance within Distress Tolerance of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Willingness is doing what is needed in each moment. It is using your wise mind in all situations necessary. It is acting with awareness, being mindful that everything has a reaction and your actions will have consequences.

Willingness in Reality Acceptance within Distress Tolerance of Dialectical Behavior Therapy


-Radical Acceptance 

-Turning the Mind

-Willingness

-Half-smiling and Willing Hands 

-Mindfulness of Current Thoughts 


Eastern Michigan University

The purpose of reality acceptance is to reduce suffering and being "stuck' with that suffering.  It is accepting that pain is mandatory but suffering is optional. The set of skills within reality acceptance teach the person how to accept parts of their lives they can not change thus breaking the cycle of despair. 

Part Two of Distress Tolerance Module: Reality Acceptance 

Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Manual (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press. https://survivingcptsd.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/dbt_skills_training_handouts_and_worksheets_-_linehan_marsha_srg_.pdf
- The manual has 3 modules: distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Each module has handouts, which are essentially the lesson plans with descriptions and teachings of the skill. 

DBT Skills Training Manual

Schimelpfening, N. (2021, July 9). What is dialectical behavior therapy (dbt)? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/dialectical-behavior-therapy-1067402. 

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