Distress Tolerance

Distress tolerance is the ability to tolerate and survive crises without making things worse. The ability to tolerate and accept distress is essential for two reasons. First, pain and distress are part of life; they cannot be entirely avoided or removed. The inability to accept this immutable fact increases pain and suffering. Second, distress tolerance, at least over the short run, is part of any attempt to change yourself. Otherwise, efforts to escape pain and distress will interfere with your efforts to establish desired changes.