Disgust or revulsion
For strong revulsion, feeling repelled, or the urge to create immediate distance.
- 9
- entries
- 5
- roles
- 3
- Clusters
What this is about
In DBT, disgust is first understood as a protective emotion: it marks something as contaminating, boundary-violating, or impossible to take in. Clinically it becomes important when that protection signal no longer cleanly distinguishes between actual danger and learned avoidance. At that point disgust can harden into rigid rejection, moralizing, or withdrawal without checking the facts.
Relevant skill categories are check-the-facts, mindfulness of body reactions, and opposite action when the disgust is not justified by real danger. Opposite action for unjustified disgust means moving closer to what feels contaminating — repeated exposure until the disgust response settles, not permanent avoidance. The task is not to override every disgust response, but to distinguish protection from overreaction.
How this emotion shows up
Body signals, typical action urge, and course as orientation for entering fitting skills.
- BodyNausea or stomach tightening, pulling back in the upper body, changed facial expression, tight throat, inner contraction
- Action urgeTurn away, break contact, get rid of something, judge harshly, secure distance
- Course and intensityDisgust often protects boundaries, but can quickly harden into rigid avoidance or moralizing. First orient, then distinguish between a real protection signal and an overreaction.
First entry (1)
The most direct first step for this situation.
Orient (3)
Helps frame the situation and gain an overview.
Check the Facts
If before opposing action or problem solving, it must first be checked whether the emotion and its intensity are appropriate to the facts.
Also in: Mindfulness
Recognizing Emotions
If before emotion regulation, checking the facts or choosing a skill, it must first be recognized more clearly what is actually happening emotionally.
Also in: Mindfulness
Mindfulness How-Skills
When it is not the next content but the inner execution attitude of mindfulness that needs to be clarified.
Also in: Distress Tolerance · Emotion Regulation · Interpersonal Effectiveness
Understand (2)
Explains connections and deepens understanding.
Radical Acceptance
When what is needed is not primary understanding or change, but rather recognition of facticity.
Also in: Emotion Regulation · Mindfulness
Functions of emotions
When, before regulation or behavioral change, it must first be understood what an emotion actually stands for in the current context.
Also in: Mindfulness · Distress Tolerance
Apply (2)
Concrete exercises and skills for the situation.
Opposite Action
If Check the Facts speaks against the emotional reaction direction and the situation itself does not need to be changed primarily.
Also in: Distress Tolerance
Mindfulness of Current Emotions
When emotion avoidance magnifies the problem and mindful contact with the present feeling is needed first.
Also in: Distress Tolerance · Mindfulness
Stabilize (1)
Supports calming and regulation in the situation.