11 Signs You're an Anxious-Avoider

Anxious people come in different types. Some anxious people respond to anxiety with a fight instinct. Other anxious people have a freeze instinct when they're anxious. When they're anxious, they get stuck on pause. That's who we'll talk about here.

Hallmarks of an Anxious-Avoider

1. You put things off until the last minute.
2. You don't do step 1 of a task, even though you could, because you're worried about step 5.
3. Other people get frustrated by your inaction.
4. You act contrary to your values, e.g., you don't get an item in your home inspected for safety because you avoid talking to tradespeople.
5. You avoid buying needed items because you avoid talking to salespeople or making decisions.
6. You avoid things you would enjoy (like vacations, parties, or hosting people for dinner) because you don't want any stress.
7. "Adulting" (like retirement planning or discussing money) stresses you out.
8. You rely on a small number of people to help you accomplish tasks.
9. You gravitate to people who will make decisions or plan for you.
10. Sequencing many steps in large projects (like planning the steps to clean out a very messy room) stresses you out.
11. You rely on others for recommendations rather than being prepared to try new things for yourself (like TV shows or restaurants).