When a perceived situation creates anxiety, one
convenient option is sometimes to avoid it. Although avoidance can provide an
escape from a particular event, it neglects to deal with the cause of the
anxiety. For example, a person might know that they are due to give a stressful
presentation to colleagues at work, and take a sick day in order to avoid
giving it. Avoidance in this situation might be only a short term option,
however, if the presentation is rescheduled to another day. Someone may also
avoid thinking about something which causes anxiety, preferring to leave it
unresolved instead of confronting it.
Description
In avoidance, we simply
find ways of avoiding having to face uncomfortable situations, things or
activities. The discomfort, for example, may come from unconscious sexual or
aggressive impulses.
Avoidance may include
removing oneself physically from a situation. It may also involve finding ways
not to discuss or even think about the topic in question.
Avoidance has two spectrums’.
On one hand, it can be seen as a defense mechanism used to evade difficult
circumstances from time to time, and then there is another level. It can be
seen as a disorder. There is in fact an avoidance disorder that is characterized
by convincing patterns of interpersonal reticence, feelings of insufficiency,
intense sensitivity to negative assessment and evasion of social contact.
People with this illness perceive themselves as being socially undesirable. It
is there self-perception that often determines their social outcome. The fear
of rejection, judgement and criticism often feeds this problem.
In evasion, we basically
seek ways of getting around having to face challenging situations, things or
happenings. The discomfort, for instance may come from unaware lustful or
intense instincts.
I dislike another person at work. I avoid walking past
their desk. When people talk about them, I say nothing.
Student does not like doing homework. Whenever the
subject of school comes up with discussion with the parents, he changes the
topic.
Avoidance Disorder
symptoms
A person that suffers from avoidance disorder displays
these symptoms.
1- Evades work related activities that entail prominent
personal interaction, because of anxieties of rejection, judgement and
criticism.
2- Is not willing to get involved with individuals unless
they are guaranteed to be liked.
3- Demonstrates resistance starting personal connections
because of the fear of being mocked, ashamed, or rejected due to intense low self-esteem.
4- They are consumed with being criticized or rejected in
social encounters
5- Is limited in new social situations because of sensations
of inadequacy.
6- Perceives self as socially unattractive, unappealing
to anyone, or below others
7- This person is usually resistant to taking personal
chances or to engage in any fresh activities because they may prove
embarrassing
Avoidance is a simple way of coping by not having to
cope. When feelings of discomfort appear, we find ways of not experiencing
them.
According to the dynamic theory, avoidance is a major
defense mechanism in phobias and anxiety. Procrastination is another form of
avoidance where we put off to tomorrow those things that we can avoid today.
To get someone to face what they are avoiding, you may
have to corner them or otherwise present them with a situation where they are
unable to avoid the situation. If the discomfort is very strong, they may fight
back hard, so be careful.
You can also use avoidance to persuade a person to do
something. Give them a choice of two actions, one of which is something you
know that they tend to avoid or which is likely to be less desirable. They will
pick the path you want in order to avoid the less desirable way.
Beneficial forms
of avoidance coping
Literature on coping often classifies coping strategies
into two broad categories: approach/active coping and avoidance/passive coping.
Approach coping includes behaviors that attempt to reduce stress by alleviating
the problem directly, and avoidance coping includes behaviors that reduce
stress by distancing oneself from the problem. Traditionally, approach coping
has been seen as the healthiest and most beneficial way to reduce stress, while
avoidance coping has been associated with negative personality traits,
potentially harmful activities, and generally poorer outcomes. However,
research has shown that some types of avoidance coping have beneficial
outcomes. A study by Long and Haney found that both jogging and relaxation
techniques were equally successful at lessening anxiety and increasing feelings
of self-efficacy. Therefore, it seems that positive forms of passive coping
such as exercise and meditation have qualitatively different outcomes from
negative forms such as binge eating and drug use. These positive forms of
passive coping may be particularly beneficial for alleviating stress when the
individual does not currently have the resources to eliminate the problem
directly, indicating the advantage of flexibility when engaging in coping
behaviors.
Avoidance and
Anxiety
Avoidance coping causes anxiety to snowball
because when people use avoidance coping they typically end up experiencing
more of the very thing they were trying to escape.
Here are some examples related to anxiety disorders, but
the principle applies to anxiety generally.
- People with panic disorder engage in
avoidance coping (including not leaving their home in some cases) in order to
try to avoid panicky feelings. The more they try to avoid situations that might
trigger panicky feelings, the more almost every situation begins to trigger
panicky feelings.
- People with eating disorders put tremendous effort into
avoiding feeling fat, but the more they do so, the more their lives are
consumed by weight and shape concern.
A non-clinical example is when people who fear abandonment
act needy (e.g., ask their partner "Do you promise you won't leave
me?") and their reassurance seeking (aimed at reducing their fears)
creates a self-fulfilling prophecy because their partner gets sick of the reassurance
seeking.
Even rumination
can be considered a type of avoidance coping. When people engage in
rumination (overthinking) they are typically trying to think their way out of
uncomfortable emotions. A common example is ruminating to try to escape
feelings of uncertainty.
Sources and
Additional Information:
