EXPERIENTIAL AVOIDANCE

The problem of trying to eliminate uncomfortable thoughts or sensations.

One of the central concepts in psychological pathology according to ACT is experiential avoidance.

It refers to the human tendency to attempt to alter, suppress or avoid unwanted private events (thoughts, feelings, memories), even when doing so causes long-term behavioral harm.

In sport, this manifests itself when an athlete stops performing valuable activities in order not to feel discomfort.

An illustrative case would be that of a gymnast who suffered a fall on the balance beam. The fear of falling again is intense and unpleasant.

If her solution to not feeling that fear is to avoid practicing on the beam or to perform simplified routines, she has fallen into experiential avoidance.

Although in the short term you feel relief (anxiety goes down), in the long term your career stagnates and your sporting life is impoverished.

Avoidance becomes a paralysis that dictates her agenda, keeping her from her potential.

The alternative of functional acceptance

The healthy alternative proposed by ACT is acceptance. This does not mean resignation or passive tolerance, but the active willingness to experience difficult sensations in order to pursue what is valuable. It involves learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

The athlete must understand that psychological pain and anxiety are normal parts of the human condition and of high-level sport, and that trying to eliminate them is a losing battle that consumes vital energy.

Continuing with the above example, the solution for the gymnast is not to wait for the fear to go away before returning to the bar. The solution is to go up to the bar carrying the fear with her.

She must accept that her legs will tremble and her mind will tell her "danger", but she will still execute the movement.

By ceasing to fight the anxiety ("anxiety monster") and focusing on the task, you break the cycle of avoidance and regain the freedom to perform according to your sporting values.

Summary

Experiential avoidance is the tendency to suppress unwanted private events, even if it causes long-term harm. In sport, this occurs when an athlete stops valuable activities in order to avoid discomfort or fear.

Although avoidance offers immediate relief by reducing anxiety, it stalls the athletic career. It becomes a paralysis that dictates the athlete's agenda, keeping them from their true potential and impoverishing their life by limiting their exposure to necessary challenges.

The healthy alternative is functional acceptance: the active willingness to experience difficulty in pursuing values. It involves learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable, ceasing to struggle with anxiety in order to regain the freedom to act according to one's principles.