Maybe not everything has to be confronted, but some things do. The fear of confrontation can keep you stuck in unhealthy situations and stunt your emotional and mental growth.
From time to time, we all feel hesitant to talk to others about things that make us feel uncomfortable or downright angry. This hesitation can come from fear of ourselves or fear of the person in question. Rather, we may be unsure of the situation and its need for confrontation.
Do you have a fear of confrontation?
Confronting people, groups or situations is sometimes difficult. But usually it’s because of the pure fear we feel when some semblance of peace is disturbed. However, unless the situation is addressed, things cannot change for the better.
So, yes, confrontations are necessary, and we must learn to recognize if we are one of those people who are afraid to step forward. Here are some ways we can find out.
- Avoidance
Do you avoid things? I mean, do you often leave things unchecked which later affects you or others in a negative way?
You see, avoidance is a huge red flag declaring that you have a fear of confrontation. You may allow people to disrespect you because they intimidate you. This is how fear plays out in this situation. When you have a fear of confrontation, you will not only avoid certain situations, but you will start avoiding being around certain people all the time. Do you do this?
- Anxiety
While those who have a fear of confrontation may not have a diagnosed anxiety disorder, they may be on their way to doing so. And I say that in the most unfortunate way.
People who refuse to face situations in their lives that should be addressed begin to develop feelings of anxiety. In fact, their virtual feelings are laced with anxiety. If you feel anxious most of the time, it may be because of all those things you have failed to address.
- Unusual preoccupation with household chores
While it is completely normal to be tidy, and many people do it to the extreme due to an OCD, some individuals obsessively clean and organize because they do not want to face a problem. it’s the truth. When a standoff lurks in the back of your head and you know it really needs to be addressed, you might organize something instead.
You see, staying obsessively busy or preoccupied eats up time to confront someone. Maybe your friend is being inappropriate, or your girlfriend is crossing boundaries, but you can’t talk to them about it. You stay busy hoping the situation will resolve itself. Is this you?
- Emotional and physical health problems
Here’s one thing you might find strange. Did you know that locking yourself in too much, not addressing toxic behaviors, or failing to confront important issues can affect your health?
If you start to notice strange health problems, pain for no reason, and even fatigue, it may be due to not properly handling disrespectful words or actions. Not examining unhealthy situations can cause long-term illness or emotional damage. If you’re really struggling with this, is it possible that you’ve been avoiding confrontation for years?
So how can we change this?
Well, we’ve identified some signs that you might be afraid of confrontation. So, if you are dealing with these signs, here are some things you should try.
- Identify the “easy” traits.
Nothing can be changed until you recognize what it is. If you see that you are allowing others to take advantage of you, you can begin a more detailed process to put an end to this treatment.
Although it is okay to remain silent in some circumstances, this is not always the best course of action. If you are physically and emotionally affected by gripping, you are a pushover and are suffering greatly because of it. Admit the truth so you can move on.
- Put some of your assumptions aside
One reason people fear confrontation is because they assume the move will alienate them from the person in question. You see, we often walk on eggshells around certain people, and that’s not healthy at all. This is all based on the assumption that our confrontation will cause more problems than before.
In fact, confrontations are good things, done in a gentle but firm manner.
- Be assertive with “I” statements.
Instead of confronting someone by starting with “You do this, or you do that,” instead, start with statements about yourself. For example, if a coworker is making you feel uncomfortable, try saying:
“I don’t feel comfortable when you say or do certain things.”
Now, depending on the person, this may not change. However, if you never speak up, things will definitely not change. In fact, if someone is behaving inappropriately and you don’t confront them, they may think you like what they have to say. Let them know how you really feel, despite the fear.
- Keep some ideas in your diary
If you are afraid to confront someone, keep a journal with thoughts about how life could be better if you confronted them.
Will you become better friends with honesty? Would your intimate relationship improve if you felt more comfortable? Does your work situation make you want to stay in your job instead of looking for another? Make a list of all the benefits that can come from facing your problems head on.
- And practice this courage often
Not every form of confrontation works for all people. In fact, one method may seem too weak while another method may be too firm and appear harsh. It may take some time to hone your confrontation skills, and it will be worth it.
