Hi Inky,

No, I wouldn’t see a shrink or get Xanax. Yes, I think it’s a normal reaction, and yes, I do the same with certain people. I say honor your spirit/emotions on this one. You shouldn’t tolerate being anywhere you don’t want to be.

There are different reasons why I do this kind of thing. One person I avoid because she has gossiped about me (and a lot of other people too), so I refuse to give her a reason to do that again. If we’re never around each other, what can she possibly say?? Also, being around her makes me remember the whole situation and I get angry all over again. Another person I avoid because he constantly stares in a flirty, checking-me-out way — from across a room, from up close, from everywhere. Too creepy and weird b/c I’m married and he’s friends with my husband. A third person I avoid because she’s like “Eeyore” from Winnie the Pooh — everything is negative, everyone has an ulterior motive, no one treats her the way she wants to be treated. Listening to it is exhausting and brings me down. These are the three people in my life that cause my whole body to say “NOPE!”, and I leave the scene. You’re fine, Inky.

Brandy