Sometimes avoidance feels so natural, a person may not notice themselves engaging in it. Common signs that you are avoiding something are making excuses or telling little white lies. For example, the person who is avoiding integrating MS into their lives may tell friends that a limp is due to a skiing accident. Other signs of avoidance may include anxiety, nightmares, or restless sleep. People who use avoidance also tend to experience more depression than people who approach and deal with uncomfortable feelings or situations.
Most people feel uncomfortable asking for help from psychologists, social workers, or counselors.
Some people believe only people with major problems see a psychologist, while others imagine psychologists will insist on endless therapy examining their relationships to their mothers. Counseling for chronic illnesses starts with the premise that most people who seek counseling are ordinary people under extraordinary circumstances . Problems are seen as stemming from the illness rather than from some psychological deficit. Counseling can be brief. Some people like to agree on a specified number of sessions at the beginning of counseling.