Escapism - Blog (March)

Escapism: a way of avoiding an unpleasant or boring life, especially by thinking, reading, etc. about more exciting but impossible activities (according to the Cambridge English dictionary).

In modern-day Western culture, avoiding crises by delving into escapism isn’t uncommon. Many will use alcohol, drugs, sex, partying, and similar forms to get away from the chaos, trying to pretend they aren’t flies caught in a web. Other types of escapism include fiction like books, movies, and board games; as well as digital outlets such as videogames and ‘doomscrolling’. I won’t be covering the latter in this post, although they are an incredibly relevant topic in today’s world. I also won’t be touching on religion as escapism.

Firstly, let’s take a look at why people take a stroll down Escapism Lane. There’s no one reason. It could be pressure at work, demands at home, stress from over-committing, the death of a loved one, an unexpected significant change. The list goes on. 

At some point or other, you’ve felt the walls of your life shift closer and the ceiling lower. Whether you caved in or not isn’t the point of this blog post. This is about the undeniable fact that human beings have always looked to an external source to distract them from looming tensions. However, not every person gives in to the short-lived ecstasies listed above. 

I myself have lent myself to a sort of distraction - that’s because I’m human. The feeling of regret when the morning comes around is familiar. I look in the mirror and sigh, grieving. I’ll leave it at that. It’s much easier to take the easily-accessible offer of artificial dopamine-producers - MDMA, booze, clubs, the pokies… You name it, it’s on the list.

That is explored as a theme in my debut contemporary romance novel, The Chasm Between Us. Med student Sam Cardiff has experienced terrible loss, grief, and shame. Drinking is his temporary escape button. I don’t think it’s right to say people choose their methods; they’re more or less a tempting consideration to begin with, then prove to be of convenience in a twisted way. Sam’s other form of escapism is really quite sad, erring on the side of my next point.

What isn’t on the above list is something easily overlooked. It’s the other side of the escapism coin called violence. A.K.A. self-destruction. That can look like many things: abuse, bullying, threats, self-harm, etcetera. I hate that I have to say etcetera, because there’s plenty more examples. The idea of violence is explored in my upcoming psychological thriller novel, ‘Justifier’. Set in 1992 South Island, New Zealand, seventeen-year-old Charlie Whittaker finds himself subconsciously justifying why he should be violent toward his school bully. He’s experienced traumatic events, he doesn’t have a mother or father, he’s misunderstood, and he doesn’t have friends. On a daily basis, Charlie is taunted and pushed around. His idea of revenge is much more sinister.

The idea of hurting those who have hurt him is a fantasy for Charlie. Unfortunately, this is the reality for many people around the world. I’m writing this one with them in mind, in the hopes of changing their hearts somehow. They need a character they can resonate with, and a secondary character or two to guide them away from that violent mindset, which doesn’t happen overnight. Penny and Abe are those two characters in ‘Justifier’.

Harming others is the main consequence of this escapism method, but one that is also very dangerous is the mental and emotional harm done to the person who attacks. Once they’ve committed their act, thinking it’ll make them feel better, they realise what they’ve done. Why is it that so many shooters end up shooting themselves after their spree? Why is it that many prisoners try to end their lives in their cells by tying sheets around their necks? Why, why, why? Because the guilt is more than the human soul can handle. 

The earliest example of this I’ve heard of is in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 27. Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus and sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders (so they could have Him arrested, tried, and crucified) realised his wrongdoing and was so wracked with guilt he went and hanged himself. That’s a horrible thing. It shows that the human heart can only take so much before it hungers for something dark and bitter, as if to undo what’s been done.  

Charlie has guilt. I feel guilt. Everyone has guilt. Charlie doesn’t feel remorse for his dark fantasies. I usually experience it the moment I give in. 

This is a timely novel and topic in light of what’s happened in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have attacked Iran, killing their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the act. Trump has self-justified his actions, but isn’t showing external signs of regret. Again, the point of this blog isn’t political; it’s to say that escapism is a human condition. 

In a world where there’s so much unpredictability across literally everything: relationships, the markets, the news, jobs, climate, and technology, we don’t have to look far to realise why so many people are finding themselves in smokey red rooms or drooling on the bar or endlessly feeding money into slot machines. Here’s a couple statistics. In 2025, Downtown Las Vegas casinos reported to have made more than $951.2 million. That’s up 2.1% from 2024. It’s a new annual high. Also last year, the global revenue of online gambling exceeded $121 million.

It sounds like the 1993 studio album from The Cranberries, Everyone Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? Good question. I’ve painted escapism to be a bad thing throughout this blog post. Here’s the twist: it isn’t always bad.

Think of other forms, like reading, listening to music, going on walks, cooking, gardening, and singing. These all boost our dopamine and can help soothe the worry and anxiety, rather than sneakily add to it. If you already do that, perfect! Remember, it’s healthy to do it in balance - too much of one thing can cause isolation. If you don’t take the time to do something you enjoy, that’s my challenge to you this month. Find something, or two, or three - get creative, get jazzy, get adventurous. It won't be a forever cure to stop the chaos, but it’ll be a healthier way to manage it. 

I don’t know what you’re going through. Maybe you’re having a wonderful year so far. I’m really pleased about that. If that’s not true, things can get better. Change has been a recurring theme in past blog posts. Don’t stop believing that good change is around the corner. Nobody should have to chase the next pill or party. There’s much, MUCH better ways to escape in the light than in the dark. 

Looking at all types of escapism, there is a psychological bottom-line they have in common: humans have found a need to rely on a source other than themselves when the unexpected happens and challenges arise. What those outlets are exactly depends on the person, their accessibility, and past experiences. Many will absorb themselves in traditional forms such as reading and movies, but then there’s another group who either stumble into addiction through abusing the likes of drugs and alcohol, or find a twisted solace in corruption. That is the case for Charlie Whittaker in my upcoming psychological thriller, ‘Justifier’. You can expect more on that very shortly!

Please note: Blogs will be quarterly from now on

Campbell Anderson