What to do when you feel like running away and leaving everything

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There are days when you want to escape far away and escape from all the problems. However, is that the best solution? What should we really do when the weight of life sometimes becomes unbearable?

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry rightly said that flight has not taken anyone anywhere. However, this possibility is tempting many times. Above all, when life is tight, problems are many and certain people overwhelm us or threaten our well-being. There is something cathartic in the image of ourselves distancing ourselves from everyone and everything…

However, Behind the desire to escape there are underlying realities that should be addressed before buying a random ticket somewhere. Because no matter how many kilometers we leave behind on our getaway, the problems would continue to weigh on the backpack. Desperate escapes rarely solve anything, rather they add a certain amount of complication to things.

However, this does not mean that at certain times in our lives we can choose to temporarily distance ourselves from what surrounds us. Taking one, two days or an entire week to reflect is beneficial and restorative. However, Deciding to definitively abandon everything that makes up our life is a risky act that must be meditated upon..

There are strategies that can help us when this feeling grips us. Let’s delve into it.

Behind our desire to flee is usually boredom and a lack of stimulation.

Things to think about when you feel like running away

When you feel like running away, there are always one or more reasons that push you towards that desire. The idea of opening the door at home and putting one foot in front of the other to leave everything behind seems tempting. However, be clear, because distance does not always dissipate internal discomfort, the unhappiness that eats away, the anguish that extinguishes desire and hope.

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The truth is The brain uses this image as a cathartic resource to reduce stress. It is a common mental mechanism: fantasizing about certain ideas that generate relief and even well-being. We release endorphins and serotonin just by imagining ourselves in a different, placid and safe scenario in which the challenges and problems that plague us here and now are not present.

In these circumstances (more common than we think) it is preferable to carry out a series of steps. Being able to give ourselves some time to reflect before making a hasty decision can save us more than one regret.

Sometimes, running away just puts a pause on the problem that is gripping us. What’s more, leaving everything can put our relationships in check and lead to later regrets.

1. Find out what motivates that desire

There are those who feel the indescribable desire to leave everything and go away. However, when we ask him about the reason that motivates this idea, he cannot always clarify in detail what orchestrates this need. Sometimes we accumulate a whole chain of problems, disappointments, fears, anxieties and uncertainties that are difficult to explain.. However, it is advisable to explain in detail what is behind that knot of discomfort that makes us want to leave everything behind.

Let’s reflect on it, take paper and pencil and make a small outline of everything that clutters up our heads and takes away our calm.

It is interesting to know that the desire to flee is still a form of experiential avoidance. That is, instead of facing what bothers us, we choose to leave everything behind. A study by Leiden University highlights that Behind these situations are anxiety disorders.

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2. Take time for yourself (without having to leave everything)

You need a break, to put distance, to give yourself a break, to separate yourself a little from your daily life… All of this is respectable and completely understandable. You can always give yourself a few days in solitude if you need it. Whether it’s a vacation or spending time at home alone can be beneficial.

During this period of distancing (not escape) it is best to practice self-care. Rest, relax, practice your hobbies, connect with yourself.

Next, you must give way to finding solutions to what worries you and urges you to want to leave everything. Think about what you can do, clarify coping strategy and not escape.

3. If you feel like running away, take pressure off your life and start new projects

If the desire to flee burns your feet and makes you fantasize about leaving everything and running, give yourself some time before making that decision. It will always be better to try new strategies before making a mistake, rather than regretting a bad decision. The door will always be open for you, but try to give yourself another chance first.

A strategy that you can carry out is the following. Make changes in your life that allow you to reduce pressure. What tasks, habits or activities stress you out and can you leave behind? Clarify it and do it. Now, ask yourself the following: What relationships bring you well-being and which bring you unhappiness and stress? Maybe it’s time to make drastic changes.

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On the other hand, it is also beneficial to set new goals on the horizon and start new activities. Sometimes, small changes bring with them large windows of opportunity and excitement. Try it.

Sometimes, we feel like running away because nothing motivates us and because the people around us bring us more stress than excitement.

Instead of running away and leaving everything, it will always be advisable to make some changes in our lives and see what happens after that.

Under what circumstances is it advisable to walk away and leave everything?

As we have pointed out, on average, escaping from what surrounds us does not always solve our problems. The ideal is to develop coping strategies to face what takes away our spirit, desire and enthusiasm. By doing so, we will feel more competent and perceive greater control over our lives.

Therefore, instead of escaping, it will always be better to face. Now, is there any circumstance in which it is wise to close a door behind us and put distance? The obvious answer is yes. If we see that our physical and psychological integrity is at risk, it will always be advisable to move away from that threatening focus.

Last but not least, Let’s not hesitate to ask for expert help in case we feel too overwhelmed. There are times in our existence when, almost without knowing why, the mind just longs to leave everything behind. If that feeling is a constant, let’s contact a specialized professional.

Whoever flees, at the end of the day, takes his usual sufferings as a traveling companion. Let’s find a solution to it.