ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Experiential avoidance

Experiential avoidance is when you try to avoid thinking about or experiencing something that makes you feel uncomfortable or unhappy. It can be things like not talking about difficult conversations or situations, not thinking about feelings or emotions that make you feel bad, or avoiding activities that make you anxious. Experiential avoidance can make it harder to cope with difficult things in life, and can even lead to feeling more stressed or anxious.