So what’s the problem when adolescents have low tolerance for distress or discomfort?

Certainly, none of us likes or want to feel distressed. It’s automatic that we avoid painful and seek pleasurable experiences. It’s so second nature, we just take it for granted.

But it comes with a price if the painful or stressful feelings are not something that go away. And every one of us experiences distress. We can try as hard as we can to avoid uncomfortable feelings, but we carry them inside no matter how hard we try.

Often, avoiding becomes a habit that also becomes automatic and can lead to mental health and behavioral problems. Strategies of avoidant coping in adolescence can set the stage for dysfunctional coping in adulthood.