Picture this: You open Instagram to just “check one reel” before sleeping. Suddenly, it’s 3 AM, you’ve watched 37 “life hacks” involving lemons, and you’re questioning your existence. Meanwhile, your dad is in the living room watching news debates at full volume to “relax.” Your nani? She’s sipping chai, staring out the window like it’s her personal Netflix.
Funny, right? But also telling. Because the way we escape stress — bingeing, scrolling, overworking, gossiping, or just zoning out — isn’t random. It’s often shaped by the habits of the generation we grew up watching. also read: 10 signs she is secretly starvingfor intimacy
Let’s be real. Stress is not new. Our parents had it, our grandparents had it, and we definitely have it (plus student loans and climate anxiety, yay us).
But here’s the thing: when life feels overwhelming, we don’t always pick the healthiest escape routes. Sometimes we doomscroll, sometimes we eat an entire family pack of chips alone, and sometimes we convince ourselves that “if I just finish this one more task, I’ll finally feel better.” Spoiler: we don’t.
We all crave an “exit door” from the mental chaos - but the exit we choose is often a mirror of what we saw growing up. also read: why illness leaves more than justphysical scars?
also read: how to spot hidden depression indaily fatigue?
Psychology calls these “coping mechanisms” - basically, the ways we deal with stress, discomfort, or emotional overload. Some are healthy (exercise, journaling, mindful breathing), and some… not so much (avoidance, overindulgence, numbing).
Generationally, these coping habits get modeled early. If you grew up watching a parent drown stress in overwork, chances are you picked up that pattern. If your family believed “feelings are weakness,” you might scroll instead of sharing.
In clinical terms, the DSM-5 doesn’t list “escapism” as a disorder, but avoidance is a common feature across anxiety, depression, and even substance use. The ICD-11 also recognizes “maladaptive coping” as a risk factor for long-term mental health challenges.
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A 2019 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that coping styles are often “transmitted intergenerationally” — meaning, we literally inherit the way our families handle stress.
Another survey by the American Psychological Association showed GenZ is more likely to use digital escapism (streaming, social media, gaming) compared to Boomers, who lean on news, routines, or family gatherings. Different generations, different escape routes — but all rooted in the same need: to feel safe. also read: when physical disease and depressioncollide?
Here’s a tiny exercise you can try today:
Next time you feel the urge to “escape,” pause and ask yourself:
“Is this helping me recharge, or just helping me avoid?”
If it’s recharging (like journaling, music, a walk, calling a friend), go ahead.
If it’s avoiding (doomscrolling, overeating, bingeing), give yourself just 5 minutes to do something grounding first — like deep breathing, stretching, or writing one line about how you feel.
Small swaps like this slowly rewire your coping style.
also read: why emotional distance slowlydestroys relationships?
Of course, breaking deep-rooted generational habits isn’t something one blog can solve. These patterns run decades deep. They need guided steps, compassionate self-awareness, and often a safe space to explore the “why” behind your escapes. also read: why long-term illness fuels silentdepression?
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Wow, this feels a little too close to home,” know that you don’t have to figure it out alone. Your coping style isn’t “wrong” - it’s just a habit that made sense once, but may not serve you now.
If you’d like to explore healthier ways to cope, feel supported, and rewrite some of those old scripts, I’d be honored to walk with you. Sometimes the bravest step is simply reaching out.
💙 If this feels familiar, you don’t have to carry it by yourself. [Book your consultation here].
👉 Begin Your Journey with a 1 on 1 Consultation
👉 Begin Your Journey with a 1 on 1 Consultation
Generational habits are coping styles or behaviors we inherit from our parents, grandparents, or culture to deal with stress, overthinking, or emotional discomfort.
Boomers may turn to news or routines, GenX leans on family gatherings, while GenZ and millennials often use digital escapes like scrolling, gaming, or binge-watching.
If your escape habits leave you feeling drained, guilty, or disconnected — like overthinking, overeating, or endless scrolling — they may be maladaptive. also read: how every age group gets hookeddifferently?
Yes, research shows intergenerational habits can increase vulnerability to mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and overthinking if they are maladaptive.
Psychology sees escapism as a coping mechanism. Some forms are healthy (journaling, walking, deep breathing), others are avoidance-based (doomscrolling, substance use).
Studies in Frontiers in Psychology confirm coping patterns often pass down across generations, influencing how we respond to stress today.
also read: how mental health shapes your immuneresponse?
Start small — pause before escaping, ask “recharge or avoid?”, and replace avoidance with healthier practices like mindfulness, journaling, or short walks.
If your escape methods feel uncontrollable, affect your relationships, or worsen anxiety and stress, professional guidance can help reshape coping patterns. also read: 5 ways chronic illness can hidedepression symptoms
