I have that experience too, of being amazed at how effective self help skills are if I actually do them.

I very much like your idea of knowing you are a strong person who is not afraid of feeling bad. I think this is a key realization. Telling myself that this too shall pass, or at least be different, helps me sometimes. Knowing that all my feelings are okay, including pain and fear helps too.

Practice makes such a difference.

Sometimes when my symptoms increase, I may think that surely nothing simple can help -this-, something complicated is needed. I try some simple things anyway and find that they work.

Reminds me too of how seemingly simple things like making sure I've eaten something and have gotten enough sleep, maybe some B complex vitamins, makes an immense difference. Doing a special place visualization and/or using another skill is effective, even if while in the midst of it I'm not certain that anything will help.