Psychological avoidance refers to an individual's attempt to alleviate discomfort or avoid emotional burden by avoiding or refusing to face these stressful situations, unpleasant situations, or difficult emotions to deal with. Such avoidance behaviors may include avoidance of painful memories, avoidance of difficult conversations, or avoidance of real-life problems.
Psychological avoidance may manifest itself in the following forms:
1.Avoidance of thoughts: The individual avoids thinking deeply or reflecting on a particular topic, especially those related to negative emotions or painful experiences.
2.Emotional avoidance: Avoiding experiencing or expressing specific emotions to keep oneself in a state of apathy or numbness.
3.Social avoidance: Avoid engaging in certain social interactions or avoiding conversations involving sensitive topics to avoid causing discomfort.
4.Behavioral avoidance: Avoiding the reality of a problem or emotion by being busy, indulging in recreational activities, overwork, etc.
5.Escapism: Staying away from the stresses and challenges of real life by becoming obsessed with virtual worlds, over-consumption, or other means of escape.
While psychological avoidance may provide short-term relief, in the long run, it may hinder an individual's psychological growth, well-being, and problem-solving skills. Moderate psychological avoidance may be a mechanism for self-preservation, but it may require attention and intervention when it becomes the primary means of coping with the problem in the long term. In some cases, professional psychology** can help individuals face and deal with avoided situations, leading to healthier emotional coping and coping strategies.