Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Avoid people in general
• Method 2 of 2: Avoid a specific person

It can be difficult to avoid people, especially when those people want your company. However, there are steps you can take to be unreachable, whether you want to avoid a particular person or just take a break from people in general for a while. Understand the reasons for which you want to avoid people, and remember that you may not be able to avoid people forever.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Avoid people in general

1. Think about why you want to avoid people. Many people are introverted by nature and just need time to recharge their batteries after social contact. However, if you are depressed or have social anxiety, you may want to consider asking for help.
   • Introversion is completely normal. Introverted people get mental energy from being alone, while extroverted people get energy from spending time with other people. Give yourself time and space. Do whatever you need to do to feel balanced.
   • If you're not sure if you're an introvert or want to learn more about your personality, consider taking a personality test like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Know that personality tests can give you insight into yourself, but may not give you a complete picture of your personality.
   • Social anxiety disorder or social phobia can cause you to suffer from extreme shyness and fear social interactions, such as meeting new people, talking to others, and socializing. At the heart of this fear is that you are afraid of being looked at by others and judged by your appearance, what you say or what you think people say about you. If you think you may have an anxiety disorder, see your doctor. Your doctor can refer you to a psychologist or therapist.
   • Depression is characterized by a gloomy, hopeless feeling, as well as a loss of interest and pleasure in things that usually interest you. Many people with depression withdraw from social life and avoid contact with friends, family, and loved ones. However, the support of these loved ones can be one of the best ways to overcome depression. If you think you are depressed, tell someone — a friend, a family member, or someone close to you. Consider seeing your doctor so he or she can refer you to a psychologist or therapist.
2. Stay at home. The best way to avoid people is to stay at home. There are people outside so don't go out.
   • Read a book or watch a movie. Investigate the internet. Play a game. Do whatever you like.
   • Consider turning off your phone or turning off the sound. Turn off chat apps such as Facebook Chat, Skype and Google Messenger.
   • Keep in mind that this may not be a long-term solution. Staying at home for a day is different from staying home for a week or a month.
3. Make sure you are not approachable. If you do have to go somewhere, you can adopt a certain attitude and give social hints that will prevent people from reaching out to you.
   • Do not make eye contact. It is also said that the eyes offer a glimpse into someone's soul. Eye contact can be a social clue that you want to talk to someone: you indicate that you want to make a connection and that you and the other person are aware of each other. Look at your phone, in a book, at the world around you, or at your feet - as long as you don't look into someone else's eyes.
   • Wear headphones or earplugs. Listen to music or a podcast, or just wear headphones to fend off people. Whether you're on a train, walking down a street, or in a park, people are less likely to speak to you if you're wearing headphones.
   • Read. Lean deeply over a book, a newspaper, an e-reader or an iPad. Really focus on what you read, and people will be less likely to disturb you.
4. Go to a remote place. If you want to avoid people, go where there are no other people.
   • Consider camping for the weekend. Escape the busy life of a place where many people live together. Make sure you look up information in advance and prepare your weekend getaway well.
   • Go to a forest, a park or a national park. See if there are nature reserves, forests and nature reserves near you. Take a long walk, or sit down and enjoy the silence. Make sure to adhere to the rules of the park.
   • Know that you can even meet people in nature reserves. There are billions of people on this planet and it will be very difficult to avoid them all. If you do meet someone in nature, be polite, greet the other person and then walk on again.

Method 2 of 2: Avoid a specific person

1. Know what the person's schedule looks like and what his or her habits are. Knowing where someone is at a certain time will make it a lot easier to avoid them.
   • Find out where the person works if you don't already know. Avoid the company where the person works. If the person is a colleague of yours, ask your supervisor if you can work at a different time than the person in question.
   • Don't go to parties and other gatherings if you know the person will be there too. You can also try to come at a different time so that you are not there at the same time. If a meeting is being organized over the internet, check the guest list before you go.
2. Change your routine. See where and when you meet the person and avoid those situations. If you find yourself running into someone, you can avoid them by changing your habits.
   • If you can't avoid the situations in which you normally encounter the person, such as because you are in class together or are colleagues, consider taking more drastic steps: drop the class or find another job. Try to spend time with other people so that you are not alone with the person in question.
   • Take a different route to school or work every day. Also take a different route home. If you usually go to a certain place after school, consider going home right away.
   • If you're concerned that someone is following or watching you, change your routine more often. Never go home the same way. Tell a parent, teacher, or friend you trust.
3. Avoid the person on social media. Ignore his or her messages and be careful with the personal information you put on your profile. What you do on the internet can be seen by more people than you might think.
   • Consider blocking the person on Facebook. Consider unfriending the person and setting up your account so that the other person cannot see your messages. You may need to take this step if the other person continues to bother you.
   • Remove the person from all your social media accounts: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. The fewer options there are for the other to contact you, the easier it will be to avoid them.
   • Know that if you block or delete them on social media, they will likely notice. This can be a clear message to the other person that you no longer want to have contact with him or her, but it can also make the situation worse or escalate.
4. Do not answer your phone if you are called by an unknown or anonymous number. Let the phone ring until it switches to your voicemail. If you are trying to avoid someone and they are trying to contact you, he or she can make an anonymous call or use someone else's phone.
   • Do not answer the phone if you are called by an anonymous or private number. If it is an important call, the caller will leave a voicemail message or find another way to contact you.
   • If you are being hassled by an anonymous caller, you can contact your carrier to find out who the anonymous caller is. The method differs per provider. You will often have to fill out a form and keep a short log of the dates and times of the calls. Check your provider's website to see what to do.
   • Consider blocking the phone number so that the person cannot call you from their own phone.
5. Do not make eye contact with the person. Eye contact is an indication that you want social contact, and the other person can see this as an invitation to speak to you.
   • If you do accidentally make eye contact, don't keep looking at the other person. Quickly look away and find someone else to talk to.
   • If you want to walk somewhere and the person is in the way, walk wide arc around him or her. Wait until he or she leaves. Make sure the other person has no reason to speak to you.
6. Never be alone with the person. The more people there are, the safer you are. Spend your time in groups and talk to others so you don't have to have a conversation with the person you are trying to avoid.
   • If you are in a group, the person you are trying to avoid may be scared to speak to you. Have at least one person around you at all times, whether you're going to class, eating in the cafeteria, or going to the bathroom.
   • If you do need to talk to the other person, try to end the conversation as soon as possible. Don't let the other person fool you to keep the conversation going. Make an excuse ("I have to go to class" or "I'm late for an appointment.") And walk away.
7. Request a restraining order or restraining order if you feel you are in danger. If you are trying to avoid someone and the other person continues to bother you, it is a good idea to contact the authorities to fix the problem.
   • You can request a restraining order or a restraining order. With a restraining order, the other is not allowed to enter a certain area. With a contact ban, the other person is not allowed to contact you in any way, not even via social media. In addition, you can also apply for a temporary restraining order if the person who is harassing you lives in your house. With this prohibition, he or she is no longer allowed to enter the house.
   • Call someone if someone makes you uncomfortable. Tell a friend, family member, teacher, or other adult you can trust. Make sure someone you know well knows where you are.
   • Call 112 if you are in immediate danger. Tell the employee where you are, who you are, and who the person you are following is. Go to a safe place like a classroom, a store, a friend's house, or a public place with a lot of people. Lock yourself in the toilet if you have no other choice and call 112.
8. Consider confronting the person. It can be stressful to keep walking on eggshells trying to avoid someone. If you talk to the person, you may be able to solve the problem.
   • Think about what the problem is and what exactly you want to say. Are you the cause of the problem or is the other person? Try to control your emotions. Stay calm, rational, and patient.
   • Be careful. Think about how the person will respond. If you are concerned that he or she might become violent, consider getting a mediator. Bring a mutual friend or family member or enlist the help of a professional mediator.