Avoidance Doesn't Work

[Dr. Shane]

Have you ever got so frustrated with something that you can't take it anymore?  Some situations are so stressing that we just want to run away and find some way to avoid them.  Unfortunately, avoidance typically causes anxiety.  When the person already has anxiety, it causes it to increase, especially when that which they are trying to avoid, cannot be completely avoided.

This is often the case with divorced parents.  It is estimated that about 50% of divorced parents avoid each other while 25% fight with each other and the remaining 25% actually act like mature adults, get along and co-parent their children together.  The largest group, by far, are those avoiding each other.  Not only do they continue to harm their children (which is what divorced parents avoiding each other does) but it also drives their anxiety levels higher.  The best thing to do, is the right thing to do.  That is to face the issue, and deal with it.