I work in a psych hospital and a coworker and I were just discussing this. The thing is that those skills SEEM super self evident and easy when you're detached from them, but they can be much more difficult when you're actually in need of them. My coworker and I were joking about how often we reinforce DBT training and other practical, useful techniques to our patients, but then go home after a rough day at work and just get drunk or other non-healthy coping skills, or allow ourselves to fall into catastrophic thinking when we should know better.

I guess the trick to using them, when needed, is to give yourself constant reminders. Leave yourself notes, wear a symbolic bracelet, set notifications on your phone, etc. Because it is incredibly easy to forget when you're in the throes of emotional upheavals.