Who Is This For?

This is an educational game for anyone who wants to understand *why* they act in ways they sometimes regret. It’s based on a core skill from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

This is for you if you:

• Want to understand your triggers.
• Feel like your emotions “hijack” your behavior.
• Want to find the exact moment to use a new skill (like Opposite Action or TIPP).

The Science: DBT “Chain Analysis”

This game is a simulation of Chain Analysis. This is the “detective” work in DBT. The theory is that our problem behaviors (like lashing out, avoiding, or self-harm) don’t just “happen.” They are the last link in a chain of events.

The chain looks like this:
Prompting Event (a trigger) ➔ Thoughts/Emotions/Urges ➔ Problem Behavior ➔ Consequences.

By breaking it down, you can find the “missing links”—the places where you can intervene. The most powerful place to insert a new skill (like Opposite Action or Distress Tolerance) is between the Urge and the Behavior to break the chain *before* the problem happens.

References

Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT Skills Training Manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Data & Privacy

This game uses your browser’s localStorage to save your high score. This data is stored only on your device.

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Warning & Disclaimer

This is not therapy. This is an educational tool, not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), anxiety, or any other condition.

No Guarantee: Joyful Psych Labs makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the effectiveness of this tool.

Liability: Your use of this tool is solely at your own risk. Joyful Psych Labs (and its creators) shall have no liability or responsibility for any adverse consequences alleged to have happened as a consequence of using this game.