Stop avoiding what you need to deal with (Episode 359)

Avoiding problems feels good in the moment, but it quietly makes them worse. If you keep putting off the things you know you need to deal with, whether it's an email, a bill, a conversation, or a worry you won't look at properly, this episode is for you.

So, why do you avoid things even when you know they won't go away on their own? And why do the same problems keep turning up, no matter how much time passes? In this episode, I explore what avoidance really looks like (it's sneakier than you might think), why it's so tempting, and what it's costing you… even when nothing feels urgent. Then I share realistic and practical ways to start facing what you've been avoiding, without having to overhaul your entire life to do it.

👉 Ready to learn how to stop avoiding what you need to deal with, without overwhelming yourself? Then let's talk!

💡 TL;DR: Avoidance feels like relief, but it's really a loan with high interest… and facing what you've been avoiding is a far smaller job than you think. 

ℹ️ Let's Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I help you understand and improve your mental wellbeing with simple mental health tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor and my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome, and let's talk!

⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps:

0:00 Avoidance and mental health

0:48 Stop avoiding what you need to address

2:30 What avoiding problems looks like

7:04 Why avoidance is hard to give up

12:31 How to stop avoiding problems

23:46 What I want you to take away

📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=21984  

😌 Protecting Your Peace coaching program: https://ltamh.com/programs 

📖 Buy my book 'Life Advice That Doesn't Suck': https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/

📍 Support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin

➕ Related episodes:

Breaking repeated patterns (Episode 303): https://ltamh.com/?p=18325 

Being kinder to yourself (Episode 326): https://ltamh.com/?p=19801   

👋 New here?

Hi! I'm Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let's Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and improve your mental health, with new episodes every Sunday.

🔗 Links:

Let's Talk About Mental Health website: https://ltamh.com

Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/

My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/

Daily Reflection Tool: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/

Daily Affirmations Tool: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh

Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/

Mental health resources: https://ltamh.com/resources/

📚 Research mentioned in this episode: 

Hofmann & Hay, 2018): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5879019 

Berns et al., 2006): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16675703/ 

Persoskie et al., 2014): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24072430/ 

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