Breaking the Cycle of Avoidance: The Negative Impact of Safety Behaviors on Anxiety

Safety behaviors are actions that we take in order to reduce our anxiety and feel more secure.

These behaviors can be helpful in the short term, as they can provide a sense of relief and control in stressful situations. However, in the long term, safety behaviors can have a negative impact on our anxiety and overall well-being.

One useful metaphor for understanding the way safety behaviors can impact anxiety is the story of the long-suffering builder's apprentice. In this story, builders are playing a trick on a new apprentice. The apprentice is asked to hold a wall in place to prevent it from falling over. The apprentice does so, and the wall stays up during the other workers' lunch break. However, the apprentice is not sure if the wall will remain stable once they let go, and so they continue to hold it in place.

This metaphor can be helpful in understanding the way safety behaviors work in relation to anxiety. Just as the apprentice holds the wall in place to prevent it from falling, we may engage in safety behaviors in order to reduce our anxiety and feel more secure. However, like the apprentice, we may not be sure if our safety behaviors are actually helping us or if they are simply providing a false sense of security.

The negative impact of safety behaviors on anxiety can be seen in the consequences of continuing to engage in these behaviors. Just as the apprentice is unable to discover the true stability of the wall as long as they continue to hold it in place, we may be unable to test the limits of our fears and learn to cope with uncertainty if we rely on safety behaviors. This can lead to a cycle of avoidance and increased anxiety in the long term.

To combat the negative impact of safety behaviors on anxiety, it can be helpful to consider how we can "push the wall," or in other words, how we can test the limits of our fears in a safe and controlled way. This may involve gradually exposing ourselves to the things that we are afraid of, learning healthy coping strategies, and seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional. By taking these steps, we can learn to manage our anxiety and build resilience in the face of challenges.

If you are struggling with anxiety, Real Solutions Therapeutic Services offers counseling services that can help. We are located in Wilmington, NC. We can conduct services all over North Carolina via Telehealth. Please feel free to reach out to us for an appointment by clicking here. We would be happy to assist you.