What is the term for avoiding, distancing, or ignoring stressful situations?

The term for avoiding, distancing, or ignoring stressful situations is avoidance. This concept refers to a coping mechanism where individuals steer clear of stressors rather than confronting them directly. The intention behind avoidance can be to reduce immediate feelings of anxiety or discomfort associated with the stressor. This behavior can manifest in various ways, such as procrastination, distraction, or simply refusing to acknowledge a problem.

In the context of the other options, coping refers more broadly to the strategies that individuals utilize to manage stress. Reappraisal involves changing the way one perceives a stressful situation, often aiming to view it in a more positive or manageable light. Denial is a specific psychological defense mechanism where a person refuses to accept reality or facts, thereby leading to a distortion in their perception of situations. While denial can be related to avoidance, the correct term to describe the more general action of steering clear of stressors is avoidance.