Maybe I like my life more than most people, but I think escapism is a sad way to live. I do things for fun and leisure, but they're not escapes; they're just my life. For example, I am fortunate to have two life passions, science and hockey. One is my livelihood, and the other is my favorite pastime. Both are part of my being, and I wouldn't be the same person without them. Yes, I drink beer and whiskey and watch TV and movies, too. These are things I do for fun, and they make life interesting. They aren't there to escape from reality; they are there to add to it. When I was young, I did a ton of drugs. That is escapism. It's escapism not specifically because it was drugs and not some other substitute. It was escapism, because I did it because I hated myself and saw no great and viable alternative. Wanting to unwind is normal. Wanting to escape (at least, wanting to do it often; obviously, we all have bad days from time to time) is a sign that something is wrong, IMHO. Life can be good if you let it.