January 2026

Part of the Patterns that keep you Stuck Series Introduction We often think that avoidance looks like procrastination, for example: Scrolling instead of working.Watching Netflix instead of starting the work.Putting things off. But in therapy, I see something much subtler, and far more common among high achievers. People aren’t avoiding work, rather they’re avoiding discomfort. […]

Most people think reassurance is helpful. And in one sense, it is – for a moment. You ask a colleague if the email sounds okay, or check whether the presentation landed well, and the anxiety drops. The tension eases., and you can breathe again. The problem is that the relief never lasts. Within hours, sometimes