01/10/2026
Avoidance Makes Anxiety Louder, Not Safer.
Avoidance is intelligent. Your brain learns...that felt bad and hence stay away from anything that reminds you of it.
And for a moment, it works. Anxiety drops. Relief hits.
But here’s the problem: the brain never gets the update that you’re safe now.
So the list of things to avoid quietly grows...places, people, sensations, thoughts, even feelings.
That’s how PTSD, anxiety, and OCD tighten their grip.
Not because you’re weak, but because your nervous system is doing its job too well.
Healing isn’t forcing yourself into fear.
It’s helping the brain relearn safety so it no longer needs avoidance to protect you.