It was the defining moment. If genetics and learning had loaded the gun, Jim’s friend had inadvertently pulled the trigger. Now, we’ve all had that stomach-dropping, cheeks-are-burning, surge-of-adrenaline moment of social mortification. But what turns that onetime jolt into social anxiety that burns on and on? Avoidance. Simply put, avoidance is turning away from what makes you anxious in an effort to feel better. And herein lies the rub: avoiding does make you feel better, at least in the short term.
