Anxiety has a sneaky way of making us want to retreat, to shut down, and to avoid whatever makes us feel uneasy. Whether it’s putting off a difficult conversation, procrastinating on a project, or avoiding social situations, these actions seem to offer temporary relief from discomfort. That relief from discomfort gives us the false notion of protection from discomfort. However, it actually maintains the cycle of anxiety and reinforces anxiety’s grip on you over time.

How approaching anxiety head on can be a game changer. Anxiety is rooted in avoidance. When anxiety get's the message of danger it’s initial reaction is to get out of that situation, and get out fast. Typically you may be then met with some level of relief. Phew, you escaped that danger, you won the battle. However, when you avoid your worry you do the opposite of winning.

Avoidance gives anxiety strength and power. It allows fear to gain momentum. Avoidance reinforces the message in your brain that whatever made you anxious was worth being anxious about. After that momentary relief dwindles away the worry always returns, and it returns stronger. Over time, repeated avoidance can lead to increased anxiety and immense difficulty in facing even the mildest of stressors.

So what can you do? How can you change this course? The answer is in feeling that anxiety and moving towards what makes you anxious anyway.