Hobbies are often seen as a positive outlet—a way to channel creativity, manage stress, or bring joy into our lives. But what happens when a hobby stops being a source of pleasure and turns into an unhealthy escape?

Recently, I realized that even something as fulfilling as cooking can cross the line into obsession when it becomes a way to avoid sitting with painful emotions. At first, I found joy in discovering new recipes and nourishing my body, but over time, I noticed a troubling pattern. I wasn’t cooking to enjoy the process—I was using it as a distraction to numb myself from the loneliness and raw emotions I didn’t want to face.

What began as a soothing activity spiraled into overindulgence. I pushed myself to the point of physical exhaustion, feeling so drained by the end of the day that I couldn’t manage anything else. The joy was gone, replaced by a punishing cycle of avoidance and burnout. I realized I was not only carrying emotional pain but compounding it with physical pain from overextending myself.

This experience has taught me an important lesson: even seemingly healthy hobbies can become harmful when they are used as an escape. Addiction doesn’t always look like substances or destructive behaviors—it can take the form of anything we use excessively to avoid confronting our feelings. Whether it’s cooking, exercise, social media, or even reading, when the purpose shifts from enjoyment to avoidance, it’s time to reevaluate.

A true hobby should leave you feeling refreshed, not depleted. It should add to your life, not take away from it. When hobbies become obsessive, they stop being about pleasure and start becoming a crutch. They provide a temporary distraction but ultimately delay the healing process, leaving the underlying emotions unresolved.

So how do we break the cycle? First, it’s essential to recognize when a hobby has crossed into unhealthy territory. Ask yourself: Am I using this to avoid something deeper? Am I left feeling worse instead of better? Once you acknowledge the issue, create healthier boundaries with your hobbies. Rediscover them as a source of joy, not as a means of escape.

Most importantly, allow yourself to sit with your emotions. It’s uncomfortable, but healing requires confronting the pain, not running from it. Practice self-compassion and turn to gentle, restorative activities that honor both your body and mind. And if it feels overwhelming, invite God into your process. Lean into prayer, journaling, or stillness, trusting that He will guide you through the storm.

Hobbies can bring immense value to our lives when used in balance, but they are not a substitute for inner work. Real healing begins when we stop running and face ourselves with courage and grace.