The custom of avoiding expressions or figures reveals certain fears, memories and even beliefs that impact everyday life.
There are those who change their subjects, seek synonyms or directly make silence so as not to pronounce a awkward word. But what really is curious is that, although it may seem a rarity, this habit is much deeper of what we think.
Psychology studies this phenomenon and relates it so much to Personal experiences as with cultural factors. In some cases, these are simple superstitions, but in others it can be linked to anxiety or memories that continue to generate discomfort.
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Why are there people who avoid saying certain words?
The specialists explain that, in many cases, the reason behind this behavior is in The emotional. When a term or number remembers a painful fact, the person can try to avoid it as a way to reduce the impact of that memory. For example, someone who crossed a loss on a specific date could avoid that number when feeling it loaded with sadness.
Psychologist Donald Saucier, from Kansas State University, explains that Superstitions They function as a kind of strategy to face uncertainty. It is what happens with those who dodge number 13, 666 or certain expressions that perceive as “bad signs.”
From another perspective, Mexican psychologist Mariana Salinas has the theory that these actions are linked to the anxiety. This reaction is known as Emotional avoidancea way of fleeing stimuli that generate discomfort or anguish. In mild situations, this habit does not go from being a curious custom.
But when avoidance seriously affects daily life, it can be a sign of something more complex, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (TOC). In these cases, fear towards certain words or figures has no logical supportbut it is intense enough to condition routines and relationships.
Experts agree that therapy cognitive-behavioral It is the most effective tool to work these difficulties. This technique helps question irrational beliefs and expand, gradually and controlled, to which it generates anxiety, reducing its impact over time.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
