What is avoidant coping?

Avoidant coping refers to strategies individuals use to mitigate stress or anxiety by avoiding confronting the source of their discomfort. This can involve changing behavior to steer clear of difficult thoughts or feelings associated with certain situations.

Choosing to engage in avoidant coping means that a person might distract themselves, procrastinate, or seek to escape from stressful environments, effectively sidelining the underlying issues rather than addressing them directly. This avoidance can provide temporary relief but does not facilitate resolution of the challenges, which may ultimately lead to accumulating stress or anxiety.

The other strategies listed do not align with the definition of avoidant coping. Addressing challenges directly and engaging in confrontation involve proactive approaches to problem-solving and emotional management, rather than avoidance. Ignoring problems until they disappear illustrates a similar avoidance but is less about actively changing behaviors in response to emotions. Choosing to change behavior signifies a deliberate alteration of actions to escape from confronting uncomfortable emotions.