Self-Made Suffering
Experiential avoidance is when we are unwilling to come into contact with pain, difficulties, thoughts, feelings, memories, physical sensations, and urges. But we add a lot more suffering, pain, and struggle to our lives thereby.
Procrastination is the perfect example. Let’s say there’s an email reply you know is going to be labor-intensive or painful, so you avoid it. While you escape short-term discomfort, it’s hard to focus because your mind nags you to do it. And the delay may create stressors you could have avoided if you’d replied when it was most appropriate.
