Avoidance of reality (8)
I believe the answer is:
escapism
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">avoidance of reality</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this before)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is the entire clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for escapism that I've seen before include "Avoiding reality by fantasising" , "Sim space (anag)" , "break from reality" , "Inclination to retreat from reality" , "Avoiding life's realities by indulging in fantasies" .)