Video games as therapy, not just escapism

lol no. Im an adult in RL so have total control over my own thoughts, actions and behaviours. Generally life and quality of life is a reflection of those things more than anything external. But I live in the England, if Wales invaded tomorrow and I lived in a war zone I would have different priorities in the first place.

Do I enjoy gaming as a leisure activity? Yes, because Im lucky enough to have leisure time and the ability to make the choice about what I do in it, gaming or otherwise.

To be fair, there wouldn't be much to worry about if Wales did invade. Just the odd exploding sheep, and an excess of vowels all over the place
 
So my question for gamers here is this: Do you think, if you are honest with yourself, that you find gaming to be therapeutic in some way, not just a way to escape the real world and relax, but also a way to make up for your own lack of control, lack of material possessions and lack of wealth and power in your real life?

If you are, in this game a griefer, ganker, a multi-billionaire miner, a manipulator of the BGS or just a collector of ships, do you think that these virtual activities are able to actually fill a void in your real life? Does the virtual feeling of power or riches or owning many belongings make up for these things lacking in reality? And do you, like me, consider this beneficial and healthy for your psyche and mental wellbeing, rather than unhealthy, as some might suggest?

Thanks - Si

Personally, I fly in VR, with flight assist off, using twin-sticks as my control set up, as such, when I play, I'm totally immersed. Generally, I manipulate the BGS, meaning that typically I'm just flying missions, fighting in CZ's etc. I do this 95% in Solo as nobody likes me deploying a fighter because of the net-code sucking testicles and seemingly being all but incompatible with SLF's, and I'm not willing to let ms deadly ten percent cut sit in the bar all day. I can almost see the memes getting drawn now, a carebear with a VR headset and a couple of joysticks crudely slapped together in MS-Paint, along with a derisory comment in white text with black outline. But playing the way I do means I don't have PvP etiquette, Metas, PvP Community Reputation, or other male bovine manure to contend with, so there is no stress. By flying FAoff and in VR, I am inherently cocooned from the real world, and after a long day of spinning multiple plates managing a few concurrent projects, this playstyle is definitely therapeutic, and a few good sorties can definitely counter a bad day at work.
 
So my question for gamers here is this: Do you think, if you are honest with yourself, that you find gaming to be therapeutic in some way, not just a way to escape the real world and relax, but also a way to make up for your own lack of control, lack of material possessions and lack of wealth and power in your real life?

almost any activity can be therapeutic, quick evasion, or systematic evasion. as with everything (substances, sex, politics, consumption, etc) there is seldom something intrinsically pathological about it, it's mostly just about the particular application, dosage and motivation. set and setting!

in my case there will be surely a mix of both.

computer games in general are a big thing in my life. i witnessed their birth, they fascinated me as a kid, they threw me into computers which ended giving me a profession which carried me through most of my life. i also have abused them for evasion at times, but i consider that circumstantial ... i would have abused something else instead. it seems to me that the debates about the specific consequences of gaming, while building on reasonable initial arguments, get lost in the anecdotic and mostly miss the point.
 
I'm 71 and have be fully retired since I was 62. I sold my business and liquidate most my assets in the U.S.A and moved to Mazatlán Mexico. By the time I reached 66 I had been to any and all places in this city in which derives the bulk of their economy to tourism. I had a house built in an area far removed from any of the tourism sites and or the "Snow Bird's" as they are referred as, those retires whom only come and stay until it gets hot.

Prior to retiring and having the funds to do it, there's only one thing left in my bucket list and that won't happen for a couple more years in which case I only have to go outside and look at the sun going through a full eclipse.

At 66 apparently I was complaining a bit about nothing to do, when my grandkids visited and brought me an PS4 along with a just released copy of No Man's Sky. Took quite awhile to figure out the learning curve of both the device and the game. But within a month of investing an average of 6 hours a day and 6 days a week; Finally got the hang of it. Since then I switched to an X Box One and now I'm utilizing a gaming PC. I own and play No Man's Sky, Hitman, Red Dead Redemption, ED, I'm a Star Citizen pledger, and though I have yet to play it subscribed to Duel Universe. Between playing video games and subscribing to various forums and a couple of discord channel; I keep rather busy.

I've met a few retires whom after a half dozen years of retirement have also gotten board. Passed on my information relating to video games and forums. And have received a few thanks, now I'm busy. Busy hands are happy hands, and video games keeps one hands pretty busy. So if your grandparent(s) seem to be board, and you've got the means. But them a console and at least one game such as NMS, Hitman and anyone my age who grew up watching Westerns would love Red Dead Redemption II.
This is something I hadn't thought of. I'm always forgetting that there are a lot of older retirees that play video games more often than most would expect. My grandfather who is in his eightees now spends his time updating his family tree website, which has taken him decades of research work over the years. He also tends to his garden a lot, which I'm pretty certain is one of the most well kept gardens in the whole town! But he would probably think of video games as a waste of time.

Definitely boredom though, and often loneliness and isolation which can lead to depression are some of the biggest social problems for retired people, especially widowers, and multiplayer video games have a lot to offer. The virtual worlds of contemporary video games present an environment that allow the making of new friends as well as help people keep in contact with family and other friends that one might not see very often because of geographical constraints. So yes, video games can be therapuetic in this regard as well, and perhaps it's an idea that should be considered by health and social care workers as an activity to recommend to the elderly who suffer with these problems.
 
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Been playing games for close to 40 years.
Mostly for fun and i like escapism and immersion though i have played most genres at some time or other.
Back in 2015/16 'ish i was unemployed but i found this game quite handy for maintaining a routine and keeping my mind active(bgs meddling), which then led to job so i think they help more than hurt.
Also helped me relax and wind down after work later on....
A lot can depend on the game though, as some can be highly toxic and not for the faint of heart..

Someone mentioned COVID and i think gaming has helped ppl through that and anything that helps ppl feel less isolated and mentally stimulated is only a good thing imo...but ultimately, i feel it depends on the individual as we don't all play the same way.
 
you blocked bottom hat or what? that guy is a public service ...

And block the closest thing i have to a drinking buddy? Perish the thought...

All i can do in my quiet efforts is endeavour to bring a quarter of the drunken ribaldry BH offers. A true master.

Cheers guys, appreciate it! I aim to please by promoting displeasure ;)

That and pointing out humourous things, whilst also telling stupid people that they are stupid! It's a fun job, but busy work here...! There is always a muppet in need of a mirror...

(Ironic too that I don't drink any more :ROFLMAO: )

Agreed Bottom Hat, or in my case avoiding the need to succumb to the definition of "Stress". "Stress: The overwhelming need to smack the snot out of some moron who desperately needs it."

War Kitten

Yup, you hit the nail right on there!!
 
Do you think, if you are honest with yourself, that you find gaming to be therapeutic in some way, not just a way to escape the real world and relax, but also a way to make up for your own lack of control, lack of material possessions and lack of wealth and power in your real life?
....do you think that these virtual activities are able to actually fill a void in your real life?

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..
 
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