At one time or another, we've all probably experienced one type of avoidance behavior or another:
- Eating somewhere else to avoid the cafeteria
- Dropping a class to avoid giving a presentation
- Crossing the street to avoid talking to someone
- Not answering the telephone
- "Spacing out" when you are in a group
The reason we avoid is fear of a social situation. It can become dysfunctional when it becomes the only means to deal with a feared situation as an "escape" mechanism. The true root problem does not go away, but the social situation is simply temporarily avoided. Exposure to these feared situations is an effective treatment as part of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The main goal with CBT in dealing with avoidance is to identify the irrational belief and thought patterns that provoke the avoidance behavior and replace them with positive comforting beliefs, thus reducing the fear factor.
Most of us have been told during some point in our lives to "think positive". Many of us have also been told to "toughen up", or "face your fears." Those suffering from avoidance issues cannot undertake these commands as easily as others. The article discusses how the brain of an individual with avoidance issues becomes hardwired over time to think negatively and has to be trained to think in a positive manner. Once that occurs, the avoidance issues tend to subside because the fears have been alleviated. However, this process is not a quick one and takes a lengthy period of time.
As stated, we've all had those days where we'd rather hide under the pillow and go back to sleep rather than face a tough day. When those days become persistent and it develops into symptoms of anxiety,it appears CBT is the necessary treatment to revert to positive thinking and reduce the fear factor to be able to face the fears and not allow them to interfere with daily life.
http://socialanxietydisorder.about.com/od/copingwithsad/a/avoidance.htm
http://socialanxietydisorder.about.com/od/treatmentoptions/a/cbt.htm
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