Video games as therapy, not just escapism

[Malcolm Tucker]

Due to a somewhat overactive brain pan I need focusing points, however there are very few things that Mr Brain doesn't come up with 15 million other things it thinks it wants to do instead.

Really ramped up upon leaving the Army due to medical concerns and further worsened after two serious concussions.

A large portion of videogames have things my relentless enemy hasn't seen before, hence they can keep the attention for a bit.

I live fairly comfortably so no need to escape as such but keeping the brain noise quiet for a while is definitely a factor.

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

No.
It IS a way to relax, an escape, a welcome distraction and a hobby I actively make time for.
There is no void nor lack of power or wealth.
Therapy would imply an underlying "injury" that needs redressing rather than an additional benefit.
IMHO an engaging hobby "virtual" or "real world" only enriches one's life experience.
Of course obsession lurks, balance in all things, and rather than therapy - well, I suspect we are all addicts here..

Would you care to elaborate on the percieved addictive nature of this game, or do you mean that gaming, in itself, is addictive?
I have always just found it a happy place, mostly...

 

[Amanojaku]

Yes. Games are my outlet. I'm an anti-social person irl, with a bit of ptsd. The real world is sometimes overwhelming to a person like me, but video games are my escape. I think it's very healthy to play games, but not to the point where it interferes too much with life. Too much of anything is a bad thing, even a hobby. Most people don't play video games for hours upon hours every single day, however, and imo they can be very therapeutic.

I feel many emotions when I escape into video games, from happiness to anger, and sadness to erotic stimulation (Let me explain that one. It's not that I "click my mouse" to video game nudity, but I can be sexually stimulated when certain things happen in games, such as pulling off an epic win, being soundly defeated, or role-playing with other players in a fantasy/sci-fi environment from a position of either dominance or submission. I fully admit I have a bit of a power kink but I see nothing wrong with that). I think it's very healthy and helps many people cope with the world we live in, roleplay, face their fears, indulge in their wants, and deal with their problems. Usually with very little consequence attached unless you are a bully or take things too far.

 

[Borko]

I don’t agree with the addiction tag either.

I can only speak for myself, mind. Addiction is defined not by what an individual does, but rather what they stop doing. True addiction consumes one area of a person’s life after another; work, family, self-care, personal relationships. The only one of those that might have suffered in my case is self-care, but I don’t think it’s because of Elite, but rather because I’m a pig; I’d prefer to do just about anything than cook, clean, and bathe. Elite fills a hole my sloven laziness creates.

Oink.

 

[Mr T]

In general, yes computer games can be therapeutic. Activities like exploring in ED or if I play a train simulator / truck simulator game. However, there are more stressful games or aspects of games that don't feel so therapeutic especially when there's a timed activity. For example, my 15 year old son would like me to play Rocket League with him now that it's free but I have no interest in it and I'd rather not stress out having to win matches all the time. For a while we were playing Apex Legends together but it was far from therapeutic for me, especially seeing as I was so terrible at it and had no interest in getting better. It's Ok though, we have sports games on the Xbox we can play together from time to time instead.

 

[space voyager]

It’s as therapeutic as drinking.

You may feel better while doing it but problems (old ones and maybe new ones) will still be there once you’re done.

I don't agree. Elite (well, games) take your mind away from the problem, allowing you to actually get some rest from worries without harm. I felt the positive effects on my own. Drinking will (maybe) take your mind off a problem, but will fatigue your mind and body, making you worse off the next day - let alone long term harm.

 

[Zed]

I game because I enjoy it and I have free time I like to fill with things I enjoy. I choose how I measure my success and one of those measures is having free time to do things I enjoy.

 

[PRORABBIT67]

This maybe a bit off topic but in 1993 I had a bad car accident and suffered nerve damage to my right side especially my right arm.
After going through several surgeries which some involved grafting nerves from my legs to my arm, part of my therapy to retrain my brain to use them was to
hook me to a machine and look at a monitor with one large dot on it, every time I got the brain to nerve transference right I was able to move the dot and slowly get
some use back in my arm.
So yes not quite a game but it helped me.

 

[Michael Whatever]

Would you care to elaborate on the percieved addictive nature of this game, or do you mean that gaming, in itself, is addictive?
I have always just found it a happy place, mostly...

The OP was (I believe) distinguishing between a therapeutic psychological effect (compensation) and the distraction that an immersive game can provide; rather than a benefit that arises due to that distraction.

My reply was to applaud the role of hobbies, whilst my last sentence (perhaps not accurate or directly on topic) was observing that gaming (or any activity) that does disproportionally distract could be (and indeed is) classified as a sign of addiction. That the person engaged in the activity is happy whilst carrying it out is perfectly understandable.

That we participate in an ongoing discussion of the finer points of this game (outside the game) perhaps demonstrates the potential for distraction, and I have certainly seen threads that seem (to me) somewhat obsessive.

I do not imply any fault of this game or community, nor really wish to defend what was really just intended as a throwaway remark. That would be an entirely new thread!
Balance in all things.
Perhaps we are just enthusiasts.

 

[Gunther_Bladderburst]

I don't agree. Elite (well, games) take your mind away from the problem, allowing you to actually get some rest from worries without harm. I felt the positive effects on my own. Drinking will (maybe) take your mind off a problem, but will fatigue your mind and body, making you worse off the next day - let alone long term harm.

They are both escapism. You leave your problems behind. But both in excess will harm you in the long run and give you bad habits. A therapy fixes problems, it doesn’t make you flee them.

Games in excess do plenty of harm on someone’s mind. Addicted hardcore gamers can wreck their lives (cut off from social interactions, fleeing obligations, like their job and others) and harm their bodies with lack of sleep and exercise. Of course for most people it ain’t a problem just like casual drinkers are not wrecking their livers because they raise the elbow from time to time.

 

[Gunther_Bladderburst]

I don't agree. Elite (well, games) take your mind away from the problem, allowing you to actually get some rest from worries without harm. I felt the positive effects on my own. Drinking will (maybe) take your mind off a problem, but will fatigue your mind and body, making you worse off the next day - let alone long term harm.

Let’s do this another way... is p0rnography a therapy?

(haha damn don’t answer that, that’s an excrementy comparison, still funny)

 

[JaciDivs]

The best thing that video games can do is to reduce stress.

 

[Vandaahl]

The best thing that video games can do is to reduce stress.

Yeah, well... so does a punching bag. The latter don't get bugged that easy.

 

[thelion]

I play games, therefore I am, what what

 

[here_it_comes]

No.

My childhood was beyond bad and I suffered a lot of mental problems straight through my 30s. Saw plenty of therapists, psychologists, tried various meds, yadda yadda. The only thing that ever worked was coming to God and straightening my life out. The rest was all kabuki theater.

Video games are just a non-productive recreation. You can use them as a distraction from your problems, sure, but they aren't going to help. It's not therapy, though that wouldn't make it helpful either.

PS I'm sure some have had success with therapy/etc. Good for you. Was a waste of years of effort to get out of the hole for me.

o7

 

[space voyager]

I've written this several times already, but this thread is on this exact purpose, so I'll write it again. Up to two years ago my job was SUPER stressful, due to a at work that kept telling everybody not to listen to my guidelines. As I came to that leading position (80 people) a decade and a half after that guy was already there, people were genuinely scared of him as he managed to subdue any leader that came around. Sadly, not by means of arguments. Threats, bullying, yelling, scaremongering... you name it. Things were... I was in a ROUGH spot for three years. The fourth was a bit less on the edge as he finally got scared he might get fired as he's done some really bad things and not even the syndicate could cover his behind much longer, but my mind was already set on leaving. Well, the next sucker has it a bit easier.

Anyway, exploration in Elite, with its serenity, beautiful sights and a magical power to set my derailed mind back in order, saved my sanity. I spent hours just... relaxing in not thinking about work.

Well, at least I think it worked. There is no telling really - I may be in a mental institution, banging my head at a brick wall, drooling all over and imagining typing this post.