Other ways that you might try to avoid an emotion include:
- Distraction – trying to focus on something else so you won’t have to feel or think about something (e.g. reading, watching tv)
- Tuning out – not being fully in the situation
- Rationalization – coming up with all sorts of reasons why you shouldn’t be feeling a certain way, like reassuring yourself that everything will be fine or trying to make yourself “think positive.”
- Telling yourself not to think about it.
Now, you might say, “Wait a second, I thought looking for alternative explanations was something I was supposed to be doing! Now you’re saying this is a form of avoidance?”
It is, if you’re using it to avoid what you’re feeling. For example, telling yourself to “be positive” when you feel anything but, is like telling yourself you love Brussells sprouts when you can’t stand them.