Discomfort is inevitable; no matter how much we try to avoid feeling uncomfortable, stressed, or anxious, life will inevitably throw us situations and stimulus that cause us discomfort and unease. Just as common as discomfort is, so too is escapism from that discomfort. Which brings up an important distinction: escaping uncomfortable feelings can take two forms: soothing or numbing. While both can achieve the desired effect of escaping uncomfortable feelings, numbing tends to be impulsive, unhealthy, and distracting, whereas soothing is typically more measured, healthier, and more focused. Think of it this way: Numbing is akin to covering ourselves with a blanket in order to get away from a certain feeling, while soothing is closer to using a blanket to offer ourselves comfort, warmth, and calm. One is a complete and total escape; the other is an integration of a soothing element.

When we numb, we attempt to completely remove ourselves from our discomfort, which, in and of itself, is unreasonable and unrealistic. While reducing suffering is a worthy goal, completely........

© Psychology Today