Symptom 13. Avoidance Behavior: Dodging the Unpleasant
Avoidance behavior is a significant symptom of dissociative fugue. Individuals experiencing this disorder may tend to avoid situations, places, or people that remind them of their fugue state or provoke anxiety. This avoidance is often a coping mechanism to escape from distressing memories or emotions associated with their experiences during the fugue state.
Avoidance behavior can manifest in several ways. Individuals may avoid places they had visited during their fugue state or people they had interacted with. They may also steer clear of situations that they fear might trigger another fugue episode. This behavior is often driven by a deep-seated fear and anxiety associated with their fugue experiences.
While avoidance may seem like an effective strategy to evade distressing emotions in the short term, it can have long-term consequences. This behavior can lead to social isolation, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and a decline in the person’s overall quality of life. It can also prevent the person from confronting their experiences and emotions, hindering their recovery process. (13)
