Escapism, which is the act of avoiding unpleasant aspects of everyday life, often by escaping into a fantasy world, is something we’re all guilty of from time to time. It can be a coping method for dealing with stress and anxiety, but is it good for our mental health?
Reading is often enjoyed as a form of escapism.
The most commonly known forms of escapism are reading, watching TV shows and movies, or immersing ourselves in the world of video or role playing games. However other activities such as exercising, listening to music and gardening can all be forms of escapism.
Reliance on drugs or alcohol can also be seen as a negative form of escapism, as they can be used to escape reality and ignore responsibilities but will often lead to addiction, causing more problems in the long run.
Even mild forms of escapism can be addictive, so it’s important not to rely on them solely, and not to spend too much time escaping reality. Excessive escapism can alienate us from friends and family and numb our feelings, as we become more invested in the lives of fictional characters over our own. There’s also the issue of the problems we’re trying to escape from, which are unlikely to disappear on their own.
It can be beneficial to put our problems aside temporarily if we are struggling, by using escapism to give ourselves a break and take our mind off those things that are worrying us. Escaping from reality for a short while, for example by reading a book or watching a film, allows our minds to “restart” and come back refreshed and ready to deal with our problems. This is because while we are “escaping” from reality, we are not worrying about our problems, allowing our mind time to rest and maybe even subconsciously work on a way to solve the problem.
The bottom line is that escapism can be a helpful coping method, but shouldn’t be used to ignore reality completely. Any problems we try to escape from will still be there when we return, so it’s best to solve these problems as soon as possible. So grab a book, start a new series or get in the garden, just remember life will still be there when you’re done.
Thank you for reading.
