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🌊 Distress Tolerance
🌊 Distress Tolerance

🛑 STOP Skill

The four-second pause between urge and action.

📖 5-minute read

STOP is the tiny gap you create between a strong urge and doing the thing you'd regret. It stands for Stop, Take a step back, Observe, Proceed mindfully.

It's not about suppressing the urge — it's about not letting the urge drive without your consent. Four seconds is often enough to change the outcome.

STOP works best when you rehearse it before you need it. Practise on small moments — the urge to snap at a slow driver, to send the reply while angry. Build the muscle when the stakes are low.

Educational only. For urgent support see Crisis Resources.

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