Communication: Games People Play 5 of 7 in series

Part 5: Avoidance: Silence, Distance, and the Cost of Not Engaging

Avoidance occurs when difficult conversations are delayed, ignored, or shut down. This may look like silence, distraction, emotional withdrawal, or repeated postponement.

While avoidance can feel protective, it often increases loneliness and unresolved tension. Over time, relationships may feel distant or fragile.

Therapy helps individuals understand the fears beneath avoidance and develop tools for staying present without becoming overwhelmed.

Coming next: Why these patterns feel so confusing—and why you’re not “too sensitive.”