Avoidance is one of the key defensive strategies that we use, most often unconsciously, to mitigate painful experiences caused by traumatic events, emotional turmoil, stress, and conflicts. How Avoidance Works Avoidance functions as a mechanism that allows a person to temporarily distance themselves from painful events, emotions, or thoughts. This defense comes in various forms: Avoidance of situations that are reminiscent of past traumatic situations. Avoidance of emotions or suppression of negative emotions through means such as alcohol, drugs, preoccupation with work, or anesthetic actions. Avoidance of thinking about painful events, procrastination, or forgetting them. What signs may indicate a person is trying to avoid certain situations, topics, or emotions: When a person frequently uses the phrase “I don’t know” in response to questions or situations, it may be a sign that he is trying to avoid responsibility for making decisions or expressing an opinion . Jumping from topic to topic in a conversation may indicate a person's inability or reluctance to focus on a specific topic or talk about something deeper. This can be a way of avoiding discussing painful or unpleasant issues. Limited range of emotions. By being afraid to express their emotions, a person thus avoids facing their emotional pain. Avoidance is not always negative, and in some situations it can be an adaptive way to cope with stress. And so the positive aspect of avoidance is that it gives a person the necessary pause to recover and reduce stress, helps maintain psychological integrity in moments of crisis and provides protection from excessive stress. Protection from this pain and discomfort can have negative consequences. Since it often contributes to long-term suppression of emotions and alienation from others, loneliness. In addition, as avoidance continues long enough, it limits a person's life and ability to cope. Psychological help and support helps a person develop more adaptive strategies for coping with painful experiences, namely learning emotional regulation, analysis and understanding of traumatic events , as well as developing skills in accepting pain and negative emotions. Psychological support can also help a person find a balance between avoidance and direct confrontation with painful events, which can promote healing and growth. Sincerely, Your psychotherapist, coach, interpersonal relationship specialist, Natalya Akhmedova