Life can get really overwhelming sometimes. A lot of the time, actually, especially in college. When I get really overwhelmed and stressed out, and realize that I won't accomplish anything until I calm down, I decide to do what I can to get away from reality before I go absolutely insane.

One of my favorite ways to escape is through books. It's so easy for me to pick up a book, and almost instantly get sucked into that world that I'm reading about.

For a small amount of time, while I'm reading, I can be in that world instead of my own. I can go on the adventures with the characters, go to the fantastical places and experience the emotions that they experience.

When I'm reading, all I'm thinking about is the words on the page and everything they contain within them.

I get attached to the places and the characters I read about. And eventually, I have to come back to reality, but for that short amount of time where all I'm doing is reading, I'm away from my world and all of the stress that it contains. Then, when I go back, I'm a little less overwhelmed.

Another way that I escape is by watching a lot of TV shows and movies. Just like with books, it's so easy to get sucked into these worlds created, especially when you can visually experience the events alongside the characters.

With a movie, you can take a two-hour break and just be completely invested in a storyline. With TV, you get 40 minutes once every week (or multiple every night, if you're like me who watches too many shows) where you can just sit on your couch in your comfiest blanket and relax.

Or, if you're feeling really stressed (or bored), you can binge watch an entire series within a few weeks. Sometimes these worlds are too entrancing for me to even want to go back to reality.

Music is one of the other major ways that I escape. It's one of the best feelings when I put on my headphones and put on a song, album, or artist that I know will always put me in a good mood or want to dance along to. Nothing like a random dance party to relieve college and life stress.

People may judge me or not understand why I'm so invested in these fantasy worlds. It's because these things are what make me happy, and they are what I can rely on to always be there when I need a pick me up or just a way out of my head before my mental health gets too out of whack.

Everyone has their own way of dealing with stress, and this is mine. And it's worked pretty well for me so far.