Materials:
Drawing or painting materials (paper, paints, pastels, markers, etc.).

Instructions:
Illustrate the experience of riding out a strong emotion without acting on it. Use visual metaphors like waves, storms, wind, or mountains to represent the intensity and process of the emotion. Focus on what it feels like to experience and survive the emotion, rather than trying to change or fix it.

Goals:
This activity builds awareness of emotional extremes and supports the skill of riding the wave of distress. It emphasizes that emotions can be intense but temporary, and that you can survive them without engaging in impulsive or harmful behaviors. This reinforces core DBT distress tolerance tools such as urge surfing and crisis survival.