#1 is a method I would prefer to use sparingly, if at all; it seems that it would seriously limit my future prospects, and running away from the things that scare me doesn’t really fit with the mindset of wanting to be stronger.

Even if you want to become stronger, it makes sense to temporarily turn off (by method #1) some of your troubles, so you can focus and fix the remaining ones one by one. For example if you have problems both at your work and personal life, it makes sense to take a short vacation, if you believe that during the vacation you can fix your personal life, and then with full concentration you can fix your work life. The goal is to become stronger, not just to signal strength (including signalling to yourself).