Have you ever wanted to just disappear for a moment? To not deal with anything? To just forget and live a different life?
I have wanted that so many times that I cannot count.
I ran away from all of my real-world problems and hard feelings in books, stories, and YouTube.
How was escapism for me?
Books had been my escape from reality, a place where I could be anyone and do anything. I had friends, went on adventures, belonged, and achieved alongside the characters. I had forgotten that books aren’t real life. To create the life I wanted, I needed to take action. I needed to solve the problems in my life.
Escapism is hard to live with.
Escapism means you’re constantly avoiding your problems, no matter how small they seem. Ignoring even minor issues can lead to significant consequences over time. Let me give you an example from my life:
Imagine a text from a friend that you don’t know how to respond to, so you ignore it. A day passes, and you don’t think much of it. Two days later, your friend follows up, concerned about your well-being. You still don’t reply, feeling guilty. As time passes, the burden of not responding grows.
After four days, that text haunts you. You know you should reply, but the guilt, shame, and fear of explaining your silence have grown too big. You worry that your friend might be angry with you for not responding.
Deep down, you realise that these emotions are a bit much for the situation. A simple three-minute reply could resolve it all. You don’t even need to provide a long explanation — just a sincere apology and an answer. But it feels like a big obstacle, and you lack the courage to face it.
Eventually, frustration and self-blame reach a breaking point, forcing you to reply and release the pent-up emotions. It’s a huge relief.
However, this pattern can damage your relationships. People start questioning whether they can rely on you when you disappear without explanation.
Many problems could be solved if you didn’t ignore them.
What helped me was recognising that I was running away from something. I began asking myself daily: What am I avoiding? What am I procrastinating on? Then I made an effort to confront these challenges. Often, they were small tasks like responding to a text or scheduling a doctor’s appointment, but they mattered.
In conclusion, while escapism can be tempting, it’s important to recognise when you’re using it to avoid responsibility. By facing your challenges head-on, you can maintain better relationships and work towards the life you truly desire.