ABSTRACT
When we feel stressed we often start to avoid doing things that seem hard. For example, we try to avoid:
Particular people, places or situations where we think we will feel worse
Communication
But . . .
Avoidance makes things worse because:
We don’t discover that what we are scared of usually doesn’t actually happen
It leaves us thinking that the only way to deal with a difficult situation is to avoid or escape from it
We let problems build up, feel isolated and don’t sort out misunderstandings
So, a vicious circle of avoidance occurs that worsens our anxiety. The result is that our lives get emptier and our confidence goes down and down.
