Overcoming avoidance behaviors can reduce anxiety from "summary" of The Mindful Way through Anxiety by Susan M. Orsillo,Lizabeth Roemer
Avoidance behaviors are common among individuals struggling with anxiety. When faced with situations or experiences that trigger feelings of fear or discomfort, many people tend to avoid them altogether. This avoidance may provide temporary relief, but in the long run, it can actually exacerbate feelings of anxiety. By avoiding the things that make us anxious, we are essentially sending a message to our brain that these things are truly dangerous and must be avoided at all costs. However, the truth is that most of the things we fear are not actually as dangerous as they may seem. By consistently avoiding them, we are reinforcing the belief that they are indeed threats to our well-being. This perpetuates a cycle of avoidance and anxiety, where our fear continues to grow stronger as we continue to avoid the things that scare us. In order to break free from this cycle, it is important to confront our fears and gradually expose ourselves to the things that make us anxious. This process may be uncomfortable at first, but by gradually facing our fears and proving to ourselves that we can handle them, we are essentially retraining our brains to see these situations as less threatening. Over time, this can help to reduce feelings of anxiety and increase our sense of confidence in our ability to cope with difficult situations. By overcoming avoidance behaviors and gradually facing our fears, we are taking back control of our lives and teaching our brains that we are capable of handling whatever challenges come our way. This shift in mindset can be incredibly empowering and can help to reduce feelings of anxiety in the long term. It is important to remember that this process may take time and effort, but the rewards of facing our fears and overcoming avoidance behaviors can be truly transformative.
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