SUDS stands for Subjective Units of Distress Scale. It is simply a number from 0 to 10 that represents how intense a feeling is right now — where 0 is completely calm and 10 is the most intense feeling you can imagine.
Why we track SUDS
Anxiety, by its nature, feels permanent and overwhelming when you're inside it. One of the most powerful things a SUDS score does is introduce the idea that the feeling is a state, not a fact. It has a number. Numbers can change.
When a child starts a session at 8 and ends at 1, they have experienced measurable proof that the feeling shifted. This builds trust in the process — and crucially, trust in their own ability to influence their emotional state.
How Nova uses SUDS
Nova asks for a SUDS score before the first script begins. After every 3 rounds of tapping, she asks again — "That was 3 rounds. Let's check your SUDS score now." She never stops too early. The session is only complete when SUDS reaches 0 or 1.