Many people might judge me for getting so wrapped up in fiction-be it video games, books, or movies. I don’t think they are fair to judge. Fiction can feel so real. In a way, I feel sorry for them, because they haven’t experienced new worlds, new friends, and new evils in the same way that I have.

It might be arguable that I get a bit too carried away and pulled into fiction. But, in my defense, I must say that fiction is a form of escape. Some people sleep to have a break from the real world; some people immerse themselves in fictional TV worlds; others read books or play video games. Whatever they choose, it gives them a mental break-a chance to forget their own problems and worry about other, not-quite-as-real problems.

For me, my top choices are sleep and video games, though I also read books or watch TV or movies at times. What is important to know is that one has to take fiction in moderation, and not abuse it. It can easily start to control your life. We all know those people who binge watch TV shows to the point where they are failing classes or losing friends. For me, the biggest problem is with sleep. I tend to sleep way, way too much. As a result, I have a hard time distinguishing what happened in real life and what happened in my dreams.

Anyway, the reason fiction can start to control your life is because you feel like you are forming a real connection with the members of a story, or in the case of a video game, you really are a part of the story. This may provide the sense of belonging that people need to have. If you can’t find it in life, you can find it in fiction. It becomes the life you wish you could have.

Additionally, fiction can be so much more interesting than our real lives. We don’t get to pilot spaceships or fight aliens. We can’t cast magic spells and we don’t have amazing abilities. Fiction can give those to us. Fiction lets us live a life so much more awesome than the one we have. And, naturally, that can become addicting.

Of course, aside from losing contact with reality, there are other disadvantages. When a character you love dies, you feel sad and you feel loss. For example, one day I was playing a game and one of my favorite characters committed suicide. She had been by my side for three games now, the first of which I began to play last May. It felt like losing someone I’d known for a year. Of course, not as strongly, because it isn’t real. Nevertheless, it is a pain of loss and sadness.

Though I advocate for losing yourself in fiction at times; it can be an important escape, I believe that like everything else, it should be used in moderation. Use this power wisely.