The ACCEPTS skill in DBT stands for "Activities, Contributing, Comparisons, Emotions, Pushing Away, Thoughts, and Sensations." It's a set of coping strategies designed to help individuals manage distressing emotions and situations.
ACCEPTS skill in DBT is useful because it provides practical strategies for managing distress, promoting emotional regulation, and enhancing overall well-being. By incorporating these skills into daily life, individuals can cultivate greater resilience and cope more effectively with life's challenges.

• Activities: Engage in activities to distract yourself from distressing emotions or situations. This could include hobbies, exercise, or socializing with friends.
• Contributing: Focus your attention on helping others or contributing to the community. This can shift your focus away from your own problems and provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
• Comparisons: Compare your current situation to a worse scenario or to how things could have been worse. This helps put your current challenges into perspective and reduces feelings of distress.
• Emotions: Allow yourself to experience emotions fully without judgment. Recognize that emotions are a natural part of life and try to observe them without getting caught up in them.
• Pushing Away: Temporarily push away distressing thoughts or emotions by mentally visualizing putting them in a box or on a shelf. Tell yourself you can come back to them later when you're better able to handle them.
• Thoughts: Replace distressing thoughts with neutral or positive ones. This can involve distracting yourself with thoughts of something enjoyable or imagining a peaceful scene.
• Sensations: Focus on physical sensations to distract yourself from distressing emotions. This could include taking a hot or cold shower, holding ice cubes, or engaging in progressive muscle relaxation.