Is it okay to avoid situations that make me anxious, or is that giving up to it?

Its alright to give in every now and then and allow yourself time to rest and reflect positively on the commitments that you did uphold. But avoidance at the end of the day is the main reinforcer of anxiety, as it is through avoiding the situation that we reinforce our negative projections and ruminations about what would've happened if we went, or about our ability/lack of ability to go, because then we cannot disprove it. Therefore, I encourage you to go and do the thing, even if just for a little while; to be mindful, reflective and kind to yourself when you do occasionally give into avoidance, so that it can be an opportunity to bounce back after.

Whilst avoiding situations provides short term relief, it will make you more anxious in the long run. If you go - to school, for example - then the next day, or the night before, when you're worried about going you can think 'I did it yesterday, so I can do it today too'. Sadly the opposite is also true: 'I couldn't do it yesterday so I can't do it today'. The more you build something up in your head like this the harder finally facing your fears will be. I have anxiety about germs. Recently I've started drinking out of cups at restaurants again (I used to bring my own waterbottle or just not drink). After a long time of 'I can't do it', finally doing it was very hard. But every time it gets easier. Exposure is a kind of therapy. Best of luck :)

I think it is OK to avoid certain situations when your anxiety is particularly high. But don't get into a habit of it or these situations will make your anxiety worse should they arise again. I know it can be hard facing some situations when you are feeling like this but once the situation you felt anxious about is over, you realise it wasn't actually that bad. Focus on that feeling as much as possible and hopefully soon you could start to feel that way before the anxiety hits and feel more relaxed about things. I find meditation helps a lot when it comes to anxiety, I try to do at least 30 mins once a day

I think that you really need to analyze the situation your in because there's both unhealthy and healthy anxiety. I think that your anxiety is triggered by things such as answering the phone or talking to new people that your missing out on a whole other side of life because your anxiety is restricting you. On the other hand if your anxiety is triggered by something such as seeing/talking to the person who has assaulted you in the past or visiting a place that has traumatic memories attatched, I'd say it would be acceptable to avoid the situation. In the end, amxiety is a naturally occuring human emotion, and i think it's up to the individually to decide whether we this anxiety is a hindrance to our quality of life

At some times, it is perfectly okay to avoid situations that make you anxious. Some days, you really can’t handle the stress of them. Other days, however, you can overpower the anxiety and pull through it, and do the thing that would normally give you anxiety. You may realize that it isn’t so bad, and you may be able to help yourself with your anxiety better, because doing that gives you an opportunity to overpower your anxiety, and learn who really has the power in the relationship between you and your anxiety. The answer? The person who has the power can always be you.

As someone who has struggled with anxiety disorder since middle school, I work hard every day to not let the illness control my life or rob me of amazing experiences. This is the case for many people with anxiety — medication, therapy, and the support of loved ones can help, but the disorder will often be part of our lives for good. As a result, worry and irrational fears are constant companions to us. It's extremely important to not avoid every situation that makes us anxious — doing so can actually make the illness worse, and it means we'll miss out on great opportunities. However, it's important to not push ourselves to the breaking point — and there are certain situations people with anxiety should consider avoiding if possible. It's self-care to remove yourself from toxic situations that cause you unnecessary anxiety. So, while you shouldn't shy away from an exciting job opportunity, move, or relationship because you're absolutely convinced you'll fail, it's 100 percent OK to recognize that a specific unhealthy situation is activating your anxiety and doing absolutely nothing to enrich your life.

Well I would tell you to not avoid those kind of situations. It is hard very hard in fact when you’re anxious but facing it is the only way you can get rid of the fear. You can do this. Next time talk yourself to go through that situation and once it’s over you’ll realize it wasn’t all that hard. You can start small. You can try ordering food or asking a stranger for directions or making a new friend. It may seem awkward and embarrassing but don’t worry, people will only be happy to help you out if you ask them politely enough. Take care. You can do this❤️

No, I believe you should learn to overcome your fears and to not let anxiety control who you want to be, never let a feeling get in the way of you want to be. If you need the extra help, get some! We all need help sometimes. No one should have to stop being themselves! It’s not right to keep yourself hidden away from the world all because of anxiety but I will tell you that it always okay to stay away from things that make you feel uncomfortable or trigger your anxiety if it makes you feel unsafe don’t do it but if it’s scary and your afraid to go rock climbing, go ahead and do it it’ll be a great experience.

There has to be a balance between doing things that are outside of your comfort zone and things that are going to make you anxious. It can be a good thing and a good coping mechanism to put yourself in situations that might make you a little anxious but take it slowly. You can work up to bigger situations when you feel more comfortable with it. Trying to do too much too quickly can hurt more than it helps. You don't have to let your anxiety control your life and actions but forcing yourself to do more than you're ready for isn't what's going to help you work through your anxiety.

I think it's alright to avoid situations due to anxiety to a fault. If you know that this situation is going to stress you out completely, I would personally wait until I had a plan or someone to be there with to make sure I don't have a melt-down in public. If it gets too bad, I excuse myself and go back home. That's the worst that can happen. The people around you will be understanding and if not, then you should maybe reevaluate where you put your energy towards. Some people aren't worth your time and effort and others will be there to guide you to a better way of life.