Escapism can be a healthy way to take a break from reality, but excessive escapism can lead to addiction and an inability to function in the real world. Healthy escapism includes activities like reading, watching TV, or playing games, while excessive escapism can include internet addiction or becoming overly involved in fandoms.
Escapism is a way of bringing attention back to pleasant or pleasant things, as opposed to the harsh realities of the everyday world. It can be a healthy means of not being completely depressed by reality, or in extreme forms, it can lead to obsessive behavior that causes people to completely ignore reality to their detriment.
Healthy escapism is probably one of the earliest practices of the developing human species. Who can evaluate things like cave paintings or the early works of craftsmen without suggesting that people sometimes needed to focus on things that weren’t trivial or entirely worthwhile? Little use could come from painting a cave painting or looking at one. There may have been some practical impulse behind the artistic intent, such as teaching people how to kill a mammoth. In reality, however, focusing on something other than the mundane was probably a relief.
Modern escapism in a healthy sense might include reading a favorite book, watching a sports program, watching “mindless” television, or playing a few hours of Tetris. There is very little harm in the occasional escapism in such forms.
Some argue, however, that this mentality could ultimately be addictive. For example, current studies are focusing on the emerging condition of Internet addiction. In Internet addiction, people may spend most hours of the day and night surfing the Internet. They may do this by preferring to work in the world or by preferring to have “real life” relationships with other people. What begins as simple research on a topic can end in a lifetime spent in front of a computer monitor when the problem becomes extreme.
Some people argue that those who become overly involved as fans of a certain television show or book series are pursuing an unhealthy level of escapism. For example, people look at Trekkies, or comic book fans who dress up or try to live as their favorite characters, as if they are lost in their respective “universes”. In their defense, many devoted fans live very normal lives and have regular kids, relationships, and jobs. However, they can spend their weekends attending conferences to escape into an idealized world that seems like a better substitute than exploring the harsh truths of this world.
Even activities perceived as normal, such as eating, sleeping, or sexual activity, can be viewed as escapism when performed to excess. For example, sleeping more than half a day to the point where one cannot pursue a normal life is termed escapism. Such sleep can be caused by illnesses that create exhaustion or it can actually be symptomatic of mental illnesses such as depression. Often the person uses sleep as an escape from a life filled with emotional or physical pain.
It’s not too hard to guess why we all need to practice escapism on occasion. A glance at a morning newspaper tends to reveal literally hundreds of deaths, as well as stories about abductions, child abuse and major disasters. Also, working inside or outside the home can be stressful and this activity is one way to avoid feeling constantly under stress.
However, when activity runs rampant, it prevents us from living in the world as truly engaged. It can lead to addiction, broken relationships, and an inability to actually survive in the real world. Moderate escapism, on the other hand, can actually make us more effective participants in the world, as we allow ourselves to take mental breaks that reduce our stress.
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