Anxiety is a highly uncomfortable feeling, a lingering presence that causes physical and mental tension, fills the mind with endless “what ifs,” and is capable of spiralling into episodes of paralyzing anxiety attacks. People with anxiety will typically focus on reducing or eliminating it as the main problem, whereas the real problem may lie elsewhere, with psychological avoidance. Psychological avoidance is a quick fix to anxiety. It offers immediate emotional relief, but it’s fleeting and comes at a heavy cost. When we avoid certain situations, decisions, or actions, it can ultimately lead to even greater anxiety and additional problems.
For this topic, we’ll examine the role of anxiety, our mistaken belief that we should always be “feeling good,” and the psychological effects of avoidance. We’ll explore specific cognitive-behavioral strategies for managing avoidance and dealing with anxiety. This is a companion course to the topic, “Managing Worry and Anxiety.”

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