Illusory Exodus: The Mind's Retreat from Reality

In today's world, where objective facts can feel like an unbearable burden, many people find solace in their own imaginary space. This phenomenon is not merely a creative fantasy but a profound emotional state in which the real world is replaced by illusory images that mask feelings of inadequacy.

Firstly, it is important to understand that when imagination transforms from a source of creative inspiration into a refuge from life's challenges, it begins to function as both a protective mechanism and a dangerous one. It creates a realm where inner illusions become so dominant that objective reality loses its power and significance.

Secondly, such behavior can be seen not only as a temporary reaction to stress but also as a persistent condition that threatens normal psychological development. In conclusion, while the allure of escaping into a realm of fantasies is undeniable, true strength lies in the ability to maintain a balance between creativity and reality. Recognizing this dilemma allows us not only to resist the temptation of an illusory refuge but also to find ways to integrate our inner world with the objective facts of our lives.

How is the psychological phenomenon called, when a person lives in his own imaginary world, oblivious to obvious facts?

The question concerns a phenomenon wherein a person distances himself from objective facts by immersing in his own imaginary space, where reality is replaced by illusory images. This phenomenon can be described as an escape from objective reality in favor of an illusory, fictional world.

As noted in one of the sources, when imagination stops serving its creative function and transforms into an "illusory refuge," it "pseudo-compensates for our real inferiority," forcing the person to become "a slave of exalted deceptions" ( link txt, Page 2). This characterization underscores that the transition into an inner illusory world is not merely creative fantasy, but a painful state in which a person loses connection with objective reality.

Furthermore, another author suggests that life in "imaginary, illusory worlds" is an integral part of human existence, where real external events yield to personal images and fantasies ( link txt). Although this argument takes on a more philosophical tone, it also indicates that such an inner "escape" from the world may become a defining aspect of some people's behavior.

Thus, the psychological phenomenon described can be termed an escape from reality—a state in which dominant imaginary images so overshadow obvious facts that a person becomes incapable of adequately perceiving and reacting to what is happening in the objective world.

Supporting citation(s):
"But the regal gift of imagination only bears good fruit when it performs its primary creative function. If, as is often the case, imagination becomes the illusory refuge of failures, if it merely pseudo-compensates for our real inferiority—then the illusions created by imagination render us slaves to our exalted deceptions." (source: link txt, Page 2)

"Piranello loves to show in his dramas that we all live in imaginary, illusory worlds, so perhaps the real, scientific world is not truly real to us in life." (source: link txt)

Illusory Exodus: The Mind's Retreat from Reality

How is the psychological phenomenon called, when a person lives in his own imaginary world, oblivious to obvious facts?