Topic 1: Understanding Avoidance Behaviors

Welcome to Lesson 3: Avoidance and Burnout. In this lesson, we will examine avoidance behaviors, their effects on well-being, and their role in compassion fatigue. Avoidance behaviors are often unconscious coping mechanisms for emotional distress. However, when relied upon over time, they can prevent us from addressing the root causes of stress, ultimately increasing the risk of burnout.

Key Concepts:

Avoidance behaviors include:

• Avoiding difficult conversations with participants.

• Redirecting or minimizing challenging topics.

• Engaging in excessive work to avoid emotional connection.

• Experiencing emotional detachment from participants.