toomanyproblems- one thing my therapist suggested for me - fill a sink or bowl up with ice water. LOTS of ice. Super cold. Immerse face in it. The cold shocks the entire body. Kind of resets everything, is how she described it. I've heard others say just holding an ice cube in their hand helps them. Once I shock myself out of my emotional overload, I distract myself by any means I can, until I feel more stable. Music. Computer games. Reading. Exercising. Whatever I can find. I turn to my DBT skills whenever I am feeling overwhelmed....after I do the above. Like you, "in the moment" - my brain stops functioning, so I have to get some balance before I turn to the skills. But they do help, once I've gotten there.