Avoidance refers to intentionally staying away from thoughts, images, feelings, or situations that cause anxiety, discomfort or distress. While avoidance can be effective in reducing anxiety in the short-term as it provides relief, it is considered a maladaptive coping mechanism as it can worsen anxiety symptoms over time by preventing individuals from confronting and/or coping with that which is feared. People experience various types of avoidance, including behavioral (e.g., avoiding specific people or places), cognitive (e.g., mentally “blocking out” upsetting thoughts), emotional (e.g., suppressing feelings), and experiential (e.g., escaping internal experiences like memories or physical sensations).
