Does avoidance lead to anxiety or anxiety is the effect of avoidance?

Many people deal with anxiety by avoiding situations that frightens them. Public speaking is identified as one of the situations that people avoid the most. Many of us will remember the first time we had to give a speech or make a presentation in front of other people. Can you think of a time like that in your life? Do you recall the sweaty palms, the fidgeting, the flushed cheeks or the worrying that you might forget your words? Do you remember wanting to just run away?

Although procrastination may seem a good option in the short term and may relieve our anxiety temporarily, the truth is that the more we avoid a situation, the more anxious we become about facing it in the future. So, the sooner we confront it, the sooner we get over our worries.

People are faced with stressful circumstances all the time and some individuals are better then others at overcoming their anxiety.

When we learn how to approach and manage situations or people that we are anxious about, we will gain more effective control over our lives.

Look at past experiences and gather evidence. The more aware you are of what provokes anxiety in you, the better you will cope with it.

Learn to approach the situations you fear constantly and gradually, in the order you fear them least. You will gain confidence in your ability to cope in particular circumstances and you will fear them less.