What is Avoidance?

What is avoidance?

Avoidance is a common behavior that we have all engaged in at some point or another. Generally speaking, avoidance describes when we keep away from particular situations, environments, individuals, or things because of the anticipated negative consequence of such an encounter or the painful feelings associated with them. Sometimes it’s as simple as avoiding doing the dishes; other times it’s something bigger, like avoiding a conversation that is causing distress. 

Avoidance can hinder growth

Sometimes avoidance is used as a means of coping, but this typically only provides relief in the short term. As an example, let’s say someone is struggling with social anxiety. For this individual, avoiding social situations might reduce their anxiety in the moment, therefore providing relief from their distress. 

Another example could be someone who has experienced a traumatic car accident. This individual may avoid driving altogether, believing that steering clear of the roads would keep them safe. While avoidance can provide temporary relief, it can ultimately hinder long-term recovery, preventing regaining confidence and independence. Is avoidance really protecting us, or are we inadvertently stunting our own growth and healing process?

Understanding avoidance

Examining the intention behind our avoidance is crucial for emotional and psychological well-being. Often, we avoid difficult emotions or challenging situations because they provoke discomfort, fear, or pain. However, by sidestepping these emotions or situations we miss the opportunity to fully process our feelings, which is essential for healing and understanding ourselves more deeply. When we don't confront the root causes of our distress, these unresolved issues linger in our subconscious, manifesting as ongoing psychological distress. This distress can take many forms, such as anxiety, depression, or chronic stress, which negatively impact our mental health and overall quality of life.

Confronting instead of avoiding

In contrast, confronting difficult situations and working through our emotions and challenges can lead to greater self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and inner strength. It allows us to build coping skills and develop a deeper understanding of our needs, motivations, and values. Recognizing and addressing the intention behind our avoidance is a key step towards fostering mental health and promoting personal development.

Therapy can help with recognizing and addressing avoidance patterns in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Gradually confronting avoided situations or emotions can help to develop healthier coping strategies and resilience to tolerate discomfort without resorting to avoidance. Ultimately, this can result in enhanced emotional well-being and improved functioning across multiple aspects of life.

Ready to get started? Our clinicians at Salt River Therapy are here to support you. Click the link below and schedule a free phone consultation with a member of our team. We look forward to hearing from you.