When Someone Runs From Emotions: Emotional Avoidance

I’ve been thinking about something that hurt me deeply, but also taught me a lot.

Some people don’t know how to handle emotions. They don’t want to face them, talk about them, or deal with them.

And when you’re someone who does, it can make you feel like you’re “too much.” But you’re not.

Let’s talk about it.

What Is Emotional Avoidance?

Emotional avoidance is when someone avoids heavy or uncomfortable feelings - like sadness, fear, guilt, or even deep love. Instead of working through those emotions, they shut down or leave.

They might say:

    •    “This is too much.”

    •    “I need peace.”

    •    “I feel sick to my stomach when we argue.”

But what’s really happening? They’re scared.

Scared to feel. Scared to be vulnerable. Scared to grow.

What Is Emotional Immaturity?

Emotional immaturity is when someone hasn’t learned how to deal with feelings in a healthy way.

They avoid deep talks, walk away during conflict, and blame you for being “too emotional.”

It shows up like this:

    •    Shutting down during important conversations

    •    Saying “I don’t want to talk about this”

    •    Blaming you for everything

    •    Leaving instead of trying to fix things

They want the love, but not the effort.

They want peace, but not the process.

Why It Hurts

Emotional avoidance can slowly destroy a relationship because it stops real connection, healing, and growth.

When someone avoids emotions over and over again, emotional avoidance becomes their way of coping - even if it damages the relationship.

Being with someone who avoids emotions can leave you feeling confused, hurt, and rejected.

They may call you broken - just because you’re willing to talk, cry, feel, and grow.

But here’s the truth:

You are not broken.

You are brave.

Running away isn’t healing. Avoiding emotions isn’t peace.

Real peace comes from facing what hurts and learning from it.

If You’ve Been Through This…

You’re not too emotional.

You’re not too sensitive.

You’re not the problem.

You might also still feel the impact of emotional avoidance long after the person is gone.

You were just dealing with someone who wasn’t ready to grow with you.

And that’s not on you.

Closing Thoughts:

It takes courage to feel things deeply.

To say, “I’m hurting,” or “I want to work on this.”

Don’t ever let someone make you feel weak for being real.

The ones who run may not realize it yet, but avoiding emotions doesn’t protect you - it keeps you stuck.

Let them go if they need to. But never stop showing up for yourself.