Escape Your Reality

[Ronald Frison]

This article was co-authored by Nancy Lin, PhD. Dr. Nancy Lin is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Owner of Go to Sleep San Diego, a private practice providing therapy for people suffering from insomnia, trauma, depression, and related problems. She is also trained in issues related to cultural diversity in mental health. Dr. Lin holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from The University of California, Berkeley and a Masters degree in Medical Anthropology from the University of London, SOAS. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The University of Massachusetts Boston and completed an APA-accredited internship and postdoctoral training at the VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS).

There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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We all need an escape from reality once in awhile. While we may not be able to jump on the next plane to an island-getaway, we all can escape from reality mentally. Because every mind is different, it may take some trial and error to find out how you best are able to mentally escape reality. Truly escaping reality using your mind takes practice, but can be a great way to feel reinvigorated and able to handle anything that life may throw at you.

In this particular case, they comment that vacations are fun and traveling is good. Both of which I do not disagree with. The point of the quote is not whether vacations are fun and traveling is good.

If you want to learn how to enjoy life and craft something you do not need to escape from, you can do so. It may require you to change your mindset, your pursuits, or where you focus your energy, but it is always worth it.

Hello Josh,
While all viewpoints are accurate and I enjoy your writing , please consider cross referencing ancient Vedanta teachings. Spiritual evolution and eternal principles of life were documented in Indian philosophy & translated from Sanskrit into English volumes. Eg. Vedanta Treatise
Minimalism has been a central theme in that philosophy.

I really admire the way you pen down your thoughts and beliefs regarding minimalist approach. I feel less burdened since I started implementation of principles related to minimalism in my life. Thank you.

Yes I agree, that is why i turn to the philosophers, the Epicureans are real interesting group, i believe being with people you are friends with is key and doing stuff. I dont think taking trips is a bad idea either.

MAYBE OFF TRACK BUT MY FATHER ONCE POINTED OUT TO ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND WEALTH, HE SHOWED ME A FAMILY THAT WAS POOR BUT ALWAYS SMILING AND CLOSE, THEN SHOWED ME THE WEALTHEIST FAMILY IN MY SMALL TOWN AND THEY NEVER SMILED WAS ALOOF AND ACTED LIKE THEY HATED EACHOTHER

This is such an important read. I think it is a part of mainstream US culture to wish our weeks away and live for the weekends, and that is such a shame to wish away so much of your life. Thanks for the reminder to live the lives we have and not wish them away.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have felt a powerful desire to run away from the chaos surrounding me. It feels like every day, there are new guidelines, new safety measures and new systems to learn and operate within. While they are vital for public health, the constant bombardment of COVID-19-related media can become overwhelming very quickly.

To combat this, I turn to idle hobbies and fun ways to waste time amid the turmoil of the world around me. Whether it is knitting a blanket, crocheting cup-holders or binge watching mindless television, I have become a master of passing time.

While Stardew Valley may outwardly seem like a straightforward farming simulator, it is actually a rich game packed with features that keeps the player engaged and constantly returning to complete any number of activities. You can farm, fish, forage, craft items, mine, form relationships with the townspeople and discover the secrets and mysteries of the town itself.

Perhaps it is a bit on-the-nose, but Stardew Valley came into my life at the exact right moment. I often dream of escaping the chaos of the world and this game literally features a character running away to start an idyllic, pastoral life. Perfect!

Stardew Valley capitalizes on escapism, a tantalizing and elusive concept that has a strong hold on many, now more than ever. Escapism is a tendency to turn to imagination or distractions in order to get away from reality. This can include daydreams, social media, television, games or pretty much anything that distracts someone.

I get exhausted and beaten down from what feels like a constant bombardment of negative news. When I power on my Nintendo Switch and open Stardew Valley, the only thing I need to worry about is what to do with my in-game day, which lasts approximately 14 real-world minutes. Will I mine? Talk to townspeople? Plant some seeds? So many choices and none has any bearing on my real life. What more can you want?

During winter break, my brother tested positive for COVID-19 on Christmas Day, leading my family to quarantine for the following week. Then, a few days after the new year, I got very sick with what I assumed to be the flu, due to two negative COVID-19 tests. Throughout this time, I was stuck at home, unable to go to work or see hometown friends. Being alone for that long was difficult and I wanted, or rather needed, a way to distract myself.

As the sun rises and sets in Pelican Town, I leave behind the real-world anxieties I carry. Is it a healthy coping mechanism? That remains uncertain. All I know is that Stardew Valley, and really any game of its kind, offers an unparalleled opportunity to take a break from your own life in favor of a fresh, fun escape.

"Never abandon imagination" is children's author and illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi's mission statement. The Amherst, Massachusetts-based artist believes in stories that create "escape hatches" from reality, "and disappear into a place where I felt a little safer."

"Verdant Force," a creature drawn for the "Magic: The Gathering" card game. Illustration by Tony DiTerlizzi
An "Owlbear" creature created for the "Dungeons and Dragons" role-playing game. Illustration by Tony DiTerlizzi

That feel-good moment comprises a sense of belonging and being part of a greater story, where we momentarily escape from the challenges and hardships of our own life. This promotes our mental being and hence given these benefits, I would say that this practice of reading fiction as a form of escapism is definitely healthy.

In my time as a book therapist, I have observed the following: the practice of reading fiction whilst is also educational, expanding our knowledge and experience of the world, connecting us with people that we would not otherwise connect with, extending our empathetic capabilities, and safely submerging us into an imaginative virtual reality that is better than that created by any technology.

A: Healthy escapism is simply a form of distraction to give us the headspace to get through a difficult phase or moment. Sometimes it is simply that space to have some time to take a break from overthinking so that you can have more clarity when you do come back to your issue in the present moment. Our imaginations are the perfect place to seek refuge from our mental health triggers.

The power of distraction, which is essentially escapism, was tested in a study where the pain levels of children were assessed during a blood test. Those children who were given distraction cards, experienced the lowest pain and anxiety, implying that distraction can reduce these. Accordingly, there is a place for escapism to offer beneficial benefits for difficult, fleeting emotions and painful mental states.

Fiction books, in particular, allow our imaginations to come alive and can be a wonderful tool for reducing stress. Whilst reading we are offered time and space to take a break and gain some relief from our daily issues. It is important to strike a balance and make sure escapism does become an addictive habit where we are constantly relying on it as a form of pain avoidance. At some point we do need to address our issues.

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Basically, you write down a detailed explanation of what you would like to dream about before you go to sleep, and then immediately after you wake up (because people tend to forget their dreams within the first minute of consciousness), write your actual dreams down.

This is a very interesting concept because just think of the people who struggle in reality. This can be their escape. At the same time, it may be too good to be true and they may come to doubt their reality.

The need to escape from your problems is understandable. WoW is just a medium for that. Many people distract themselves from their problems in many different ways, be it friends, work, hobbies or other activities.

You can escape your real life problems with WoW and possibly even with drugs and alcohol. But when you stop playing or using your problems will return indefinitely if you keep this up, and will never be solved until you actually face your problems.

Escapism is mental diversion from unpleasant aspects of daily life, typically through activities involving imagination or entertainment.[2][3][4] Escapism also may be used to occupy one's self away from persistent feelings of depression or general sadness.

However, many challenge the idea that escapism is fundamentally and exclusively negative. C. S. Lewis was fond of humorously remarking that the usual enemies of escape were jailers[9][10] and considered that, used in moderation, escapism could serve both to refresh and to expand the imaginative powers.[11] Similarly, J. R. R. Tolkien argued for escapism in fantasy literature as the creative expression of reality within a secondary (imaginative) world (but also emphasised that they required an element of horror in them, if they were not to be 'mere escapism').[12][13] Terry Pratchett considered that the twentieth century had seen the development over time of a more positive view of escapist literature.[14] Apart from literature, music and video games have been seen and valued as artistic media of escape, too.[15]

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