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The Non-Anxious Leader Podcast

Episode 264: 3 Ways Avoidance Increases Anxiety and 3 Things You Can Do About It

Feb 5, 2024
12:00
Snipd AI
This podcast explores the concept of psychological avoidance and how it increases anxiety. It provides real-life examples and strategies for overcoming avoidance to reduce anxiety in relationships. The importance of taking responsibility and addressing difficult conversations is emphasized, with tips on preparation and expressing boundaries in a non-anxious way.
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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Psychological avoidance, not anxiety itself, is the main issue when it comes to managing discomfort and anxiety.
  • To overcome psychological avoidance, individuals can employ strategies like challenging distorted thoughts, taking small steps towards fears, and aligning actions with personal values.

Deep dives

Psychological Avoidance and its Consequences

Psychological avoidance is a harmful way to cope with discomfort, according to Luana Marquez, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry. It provides brief relief but comes with significant costs. Marquez cites examples of clients who resorted to avoidance methods to deal with anxiety, such as one who took a lower-paying job to avoid public speaking. She emphasizes that avoidance, not anxiety itself, is the problem. Marquez identifies three patterns of psychological avoidance: reacting, retreating, and remaining. Recognizing these patterns can help individuals determine if they are avoiding confronting their anxiety.

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