--- publish: true permalink: experiential-avoidance alias: - avoid - avoidance --- 1. Experiential Avoidance is a phenomenon where individuals attempt or desire to suppress unwanted internal experiences such as emotions, thoughts, memories, physical sensations, and other internal experiences, even when doing so creates harm in the long run [1](https://www.verywellmind.com/experiential-avoidance-2797358) 2. The opposite response to experiential avoidance is Acceptance-Activation and committed action in pursuit of values. [[Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)]] 3. Here are some key features of experiential avoidance: - **[[Negative reinforcement]]**: The process of experiential avoidance is thought to be maintained through negative reinforcement, which means that short-term relief of discomfort is achieved through avoidance, thereby increasing the likelihood that the avoidance behaviour will persist in the future [2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experiential_avoidance). - **Effort and energy**: Sustaining avoidance often requires effort and energy [2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experiential_avoidance). - **Limitation of focus**: Avoidance limits one's focus at the expense of fully experiencing what is going on in the present [2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experiential_avoidance). - **Obstruction of valued aspects of life**: Avoidance may get in the way of other important, valued aspects of life [2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experiential_avoidance). Experiential avoidance has been hypothesized to play an important role in the analysis, maintenance, and modification of various forms of psychopathology and has been suggested as a core vulnerability factor for emotional distress [3](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01618/full).  While experiential avoidance is not negative thoughts, emotions, and sensations that are problematic, how one responds to those sensations and emotions is [2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experiential_avoidance).  In [[Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)]], clinicians look for clients' repertoire of experiential avoidance [4](https://psychotherapyacademy.org/acceptance-and-commitment-therapy-the-essentials/the-inflexahex-model-in-act-acceptance-vs-experiential-avoidance/).