12/12/2025
Many people believe they’re practicing self-care, but what they’re actually doing is avoidance.
In psychology, we call this experiential avoidance—avoiding emotions, people, or situations that trigger discomfort. Over time, this doesn’t calm the nervous system; it reinforces fear, reduces resilience, and makes everyday interactions feel more threatening than they actually are.
Labeling everything as “toxic” or “overstimulating” becomes a way to protect the ego, not the mind.
It prevents genuine self-reflection—because growth requires us to tolerate discomfort, repair ruptures in relationships, and face the patterns we’d rather not see.
True healing isn’t about eliminating all triggers. It’s about expanding your capacity to stay present—without shutting down, withdrawing, or attacking.
If comfort is the only state in which you can function, that’s not emotional wellness.
That’s avoidance masquerading as self-care.
Many people believe they’re practicing self-care, but what they’re actually doing is avoidance.
In psychology, we call this experiential avoidance—avoiding emotions, people, or situations that trigger discomfort. Over time, this doesn’t calm the nervous system; it reinforces fear, reduces resilience, and makes everyday interactions feel more threatening than they actually are.
Labeling everything as “toxic” or “overstimulating” becomes a way to protect the ego, not the mind.
It prevents genuine self-reflection—because growth requires us to tolerate discomfort, repair ruptures in relationships, and face the patterns we’d rather not see.
True healing isn’t about eliminating all triggers. It’s about expanding your capacity to stay present—without shutting down, withdrawing, or attacking.
If comfort is the only state in which you can function, that’s not emotional wellness.
That’s avoidance masquerading as self-care.