Avoidance for Dummies

Avoidance is a word that we use to describe the action of staying away from or trying to avoid something. It's like when you see a big spider crawling on the floor, and you quickly step back or walk in the other direction to stay away from it. That is an example of avoidance. We often use this word when we want to explain how we are intentionally keeping ourselves from coming into contact with something or someone.

Let me give you another example. Imagine you have a big test coming up, and you know that you haven't prepared enough. You might feel scared or worried that you won't do well on the test. This feeling might make you want to avoid studying or even avoid going to school on the day of the test. You might try to come up with different excuses, like pretending to be sick, just so you don't have to face the test. In this situation, avoidance means purposely trying to stay away from the test because it makes you feel anxious or uncomfortable.

Avoidance can also be about staying away from certain places or situations that make us feel scared or worried. For example, someone who has a fear of heights might avoid going on roller coasters or tall buildings because they don't want to feel afraid. Or imagine someone who is afraid of dogs. They might cross the street or go in the other direction when they see a dog coming towards them. That is another example of avoidance.

So, in simple terms, avoidance means trying to stay away from or avoid something because it makes us feel scared, worried, uncomfortable, or anxious. It's like putting up a shield or creating a barrier between us and the thing we want to avoid.