Headstuck! What is Experiential Avoidance?

This short video explores the concept of experiential avoidance, and how it relates to the idea of career paralysis.

[@eline7207]

"If we do move away the first emotion that shows up is" Me: guilt "Relief" oh...

[@mrsoctopussi]

if you are mindful, you will notice that guilt comes after the relief, you feel guilty for feeling relieved

[@kaleighpatterson9275]

Same same same!

[@lvlik0n]

My first thought was regret. Sometimes I wonder my feelings/thoughts are broken. Like I don't think or process emotions normally. My therapist put it in the context of applying the question to something you're personally experiencing, which helps to see where relief comes from (at least in the immediate short-term).

[@Twisted_Code]

My psychologist sent this to me, I've been struggling with this motivational problem for... a while. I think it's why I so often ended up cramming for exams in college, because I avoided some of the "harder" studying until the last minute, until the "failure to meet deadline" thought started to scare me more than the work. Now I've graduated, so I've got the one thing I value, but now I'm struggling to figure out where to go from here[*], and since there is no tangible destination right now, it's more general, so that in the meantime all the uncertainty of NOT KNOWING what to do is paralyzing. [*]I feel called out by that one Progressive commercial when they say "recent graduates who can't move on with their lives", although also somewhat relieved since the joke of the advertisement is that it's a common occurrence.

[@thinkpsychology4862]

This video features in pretty much every teaching session I ever do on ACT. Such a fantastic and elegant way to get the concept across. Thanks Rob

[@Dr_Rob_Archer]

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments. I hope it's useful to you / your clients. cheers, Rob

[@sashablack7784]

I love this- will use it with clients

[@blakedanielle2000]

Who's here from that Reddit comment

[@sppickeringaz]

I almost didn't click on this video

[@miguelstaronwurah2538]

Positive approach is motivating and running away from challenges worsen the situation 👍

[@leaderfulaction7796]

Great video - simple but effective in every way. Thanks Rob!

[@bronwynhartnett3424]

I love it and my clients love it. It captures their experience very succinctly. Well done and thanks.

[@MrJimmybee8]

Hi Rob, really enjoyed this brief video explanation of exp avoidance & psych flexibility. I plan on sharing it about in my client work and training. Thanks, Jim (ACT Therapist/Trainer, Birmingham)

[@Camilla0407]

Spot on ! Great and simple and elegant

[@pablosabucedo]

Fantastic video! Thank you very much.

[@ErnestoPC]

Great video! Very insightful!

[@lalaithan]

This is great. It has definitely inspired some good thoughts in my head that I want to cultivate.

[@rachaeloconnor6200]

I love it! Thank you, I'll definitely be using it with my clients

[@maxinevictoria3834]

Great video! Thanks for sharing it!

[@sujal.paudel]

Amazing Amazing !!

[@libasheeran9252]

great video - please make some more!

[@melissachepuru6705]

Love this.

[@noobule]

I almost didn't finish this because I starting feeling uncomfortable lol

[@fjudragon]

excellent..

[@happymimi16]

Beautiful video :)

[@augustogt6281]

Is it really a matter of language though? I feel like most of our experiential avoidance would come from attachment issues, or even from self-states that originally served to protect us (but don't realize the traumatic event is in the past and it is now safe, however unpleasant, to experience the present). Thanks for the video, I am just learning about this concept and still got a lot of research to do!

[@HerrWeberMFT]

How often do you use positive language when avoiding experiences you perceive as being negative, or potentially negative without really knowing? Could you even go 20 minutes, when awake, without having a thought that doesn't use language? Even symbolism could be argued as a kind of language. My point is that we cannot escape the use of language and negative language is in our thoughts, written words, and speech often enough without us actually realizing it. For example, when most people complain, which is often, much of the core language will focus on negativity more than positivity. I appreciate your spirit of curiosity; keep learning and when you think you have it figured out, keep going!

[@aureliadiemer6334]

Absolutely wonderful video - very instructive, lovely simple animation - but the sound was slightly annoying, as I could not turn it up to the volume I wanted because of the really sharp 's'. Perhaps a better microphone would be useful for your next recording?

[@jasonsands5881]

Good video. My therapist sent me here.

[@Rmry_Gryffin]

Same

[@retired674]

I have this. I found out today. I think anyways. I hate doing almost everything.

[@acetaminophetus]

I think this concept hits on the core of religion.

[@yogasadana402]

an ability to go thru difficulties

[@csolisr]

I don't really mind much about my life, except perhaps to avoid discomfort and pain. If anything, the only reason I do any effort is because the figures of authority on my life force me to, much to my disdain, on pain of making my life worse than if I heed what they order me to do. What point is there in psychological flexibility, I ponder, if all it will do will be to benefit others in my detriment?

[@lawrencekongwa4832]

Hi dude. I think you missed the point about the meaning of psychological flexibility. If people are telling you what to do then that isn't really your values. Psychological flexibility is the ability to sit with pain or discomfort but move towards your values.

[@Zahlenteufel1]

The solution is to define the things you want? Enter Apathy, where you want *nothing* .

[@lukedesmond1978]

Hi I am currently in my 4th year of psychology and am going to research if brief act tasks can reduce experiential avoidance. I would like to use this video as an introduction if that is OK ?

[@Dr_Rob_Archer]

luke desmond Of course Luke. That's just the sort of thing it was designed for. One request, will you share the results with us? My email is [e-mail]

[@lukedesmond1978]

Yes, I will definitely share the results . thanks again' cheers

[@zakcon12]

Curious the results if any, great video and concept thanks.

[@TheCrusaderRabbits]

Based on RFT and ACT. You should give credit. This is not your idea.

[@lawrencekongwa4832]

By using the term Experiential Avoidance ACT is implied. The explanation of it was quite eloquent