What does healthy escapism look like?

[WhyCzar]

“The direction of escape is toward freedom.
So what is ‘escapism’ an accusation of ?”
- Ursula K. Le Guin
​

I find the best hours for a sabbatical from reality are between 11pm and 2am

There is no other time like it for diving into an epic book or video series - at least until I’m obligated to emerge and deal with realities I can no longer put off.

What does healthy escapism look like, then?

What value is there in reading a cozy fantasy book while the world burns around us?

Doom scrolling events, be they political, social, or financially disruptive - all lead to a degree of psychological damage.

It’s not the kind of damage you can slap a bandage onto.

Speaking from my own experience - antidepressants have never been able to boost my mood past neutral.

So where do we rest and recover from psychic injury?

Obvious options are the love of a pet, child, partner, music, long walks in nature, or "all inclusive" vacations.

But what if you don’t have access to those?

What if your loved ones are just as bummed out and more likely to drag you down?

What if you can’t afford that trip to Greece or a day at the spa?

Good fiction can be an escape when escape is what you need and it is always there when you need it.

 

[Mendalla]

Good fiction can be an escape when escape is what you need and it is always there when you need it.

Nicely said. As a reader, writer, and librarian (albeit not currently working in the field), I could not have put it better. Reading fiction got me through a lot of the most difficult periods in my life, even if I seem to have trouble engaging with it these days (not sure why yet). And it netted me my main hobby: Writing fiction.

 

[Luce NDs]

Yet ... if one has an expansive and encompassing psyche ... no doubt someone will take a poke at it. Why?

Is that an question worth encompassing as poly Andre? Takes some abstract to out figure that! Dark or what? Entertains the spot ... sometimes just a dot in a large Matrix ... Pixel?

 

[Luce NDs]

Strange literature ... does it disturb a piece of existence?

The test: "just say something alien" and watch the reactions ...

I've set some solid theologians on fire ... especially about the Stranger of Galilee! Him & all else as only a few say El Loe, or Low! Elum? Base ...

 

[WhyCzar]

even if I seem to have trouble engaging with it these days (not sure why yet).

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Sometimes this works, for a laugh and to warm the heart and get some relief from depression. Lightness is good medicine for some of us, sometimes.