Identifying emotion-driven behaviors and deliberately choosing actions that move against avoidance, withdrawal, checking, reassurance-seeking, attack, or concealment.
Step-by-step guide
- Identify the emotion and its action urge
- Name the EDB that usually follows
- Clarify the short-term relief and long-term cost
- Choose one opposite action
- Practice it in a manageable situation
- Review consequences using ARC
When to use
- Module 5
- When behavior is driven by anxiety, sadness, anger, shame, or guilt
Key phrases
What did the emotion push you to do?
Follow-up questions
What would be one action in the opposite direction?
What does the EDB solve for five minutes?
What does it cost later?
Alternative phrasings
Opposite action means feeling the emotion and acting differently.
Warnings
- ⚠️ Opposite action is not suppression
- ⚠️ The action must be safe and proportionate
Source: Barlow et al. 2018
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.