I play video games, and I have depression

Six months ago, freelance video game writer Matt Hughes killed himself. Following this tragedy, a surge of people in the industry came out with stories of their own depression. That got me thinking about my own feelings. I’m taking anti-depressants and feel on the level, but every now and then I have down days. On one of those down days, I wrote this piece.

[GABRIEL1030]

LOL, I feel the opposite I play video games, and I have a lot of energy. :)

[Maddens Raiders]

whilst smoking candlestick spliffs. Relaxed, but not depressed.

[xHeavYx]

The writer of the article takes antidepresants, that's already a red flat. You don't need to be a health expert to know that. Watch a commercial on TV about a depression pill and listen carefully to the side effects, which list "suicidal tendencies". WTF? I won't get into detail (I could write a book) but taking pills to fix an illness is the easy way, but the easy way doesn't work. Medication barely works. I'll leave with 2 examples. More people take pills to prevent hearth attack, but hearth attack fatalities keep going up, also FDA approved drugs have killed more people than all the people who died fighting wars for the US.
There are alternatives people! You don't get depressed for playing video games (I've been playing for over 22 years) you get depressed because your life is not balanced! Pills won't help you

@klecser
3 questions for you. How many people you think have clinical depresion vs the people who say they are depressed to get on pills? How many of those people live a healthy lifestyle? How many people on pills are "cured" and can stop taking pills?

[klecser]

xHeavYx:

You don't have the foggiest clue what you are talking about. Speak to real people with clinical depression and tell them to their faces that it is because they are making bad choices and see how that works out for you. Clinical depression is a VERY REAL chemical imbalance in the brain that can be treated with medication. It doesn't work the same in every case, not because the medication is faulty, but because clinical depression is a complex issue that is different for every person.

You are part of what is wrong with this world. You are an ignorant person who loves to blame victims of illnesses. I wouldn't let my loved ones within three hundred feet of your influence. Here's a test for you: Make the claims you're making at a National Conference for individuals with depression and tell them that they are being foolish for taking medicine. You wouldn't make it to the door. Heck, you wouldn't even go. You don't have the guts. That's what victim blamers are: gutless.

[xHeavYx]

I would also like to ask you that, instead of attacking me, discuss it with some FACTS, don't just try to trash me with empty words

[steve_ps]

@Heavy

Cardiovascular disease and cancers are conditions of elderly populations such as western countries, as healthcare improves more people will tend to die of either CV disease or cancer. Also western societies are getting fatter which increases likelihood of cardiovascular disease etc. Saying more people die of heart attacks therefore medication doesn't work isn't true and it's bad science, association doesn't mean causation.

Also antidepressants have helped a lot of people when used correctly in the right context, and I would disagree that taking pills are the easy way to anything without medications many diseases would be fatal or debilitating and it's often a struggle between side effects of pills and the potential benefits. Sorry to be picky about this but just working with people who suffer with chronic conditions it seems pretty easy to those who don't experience it to label it as an easy option when in reality it can be very difficult.

[xHeavYx]

Healthcare doesn't improve. Kids life expectancy now , for the first time ever, is shorter than their parents. I understand that there is a very small percentage of people who may have serious depression caused by genes or birth issues, but (same with obesity) 98% of the people lack of exercise and a healthy lifestyle and blame it on the genes. most chronic conditions are caused because of inflammation, and guess who gets inflammation?
Then you have 2 options, you take a pill for life who acts as a band-aid, never fixing the cause of the illness, or you do something about it, unless it's too late

[steve_ps]

@ Heavy

Sorry but you're wrong. Where did 98% come from? Also disease processes are multifactorial and I'm not denying lifestyle factors don't come into play but you said "taking pills to fix an illness is the easy way"
So firstly, rheumatoid arthritis an autoimmune condition that if untreated by medication can leave individuals severely physically disabled.
Secondly, hypothyroidism can be idiopathic and many people are diagnosed incidently; treatment is with levothyroxine and without it there's adverse affects in particular weight gain which can impact on other health factors.
Last example, hypertension (high blood pressure) the majority of which is primary ie idiopathic, yes obesity and other factors can promote it but many people just have it. Treatment with antihypertensives which without leaves individuals at a multiple fold increase of stroke, heart attacks and peripheral vascular disease.

Now tell me taking medications for any three of those conditions, arguably none relating at all to someones lifestyle choices, is an easy option? And how does your inflammation theory relate to those. And FYI there's lots more conditions which aren't predominately caused by environmental factors.

Also type 2 diabetes has a proven genetic predisposition, depending on which study there's around 50-60% concordance between twins which indicates that while there is environmental factors which can play a role there is a significant genetic role in diabetes.

Finally, a quick google search would give you the graphs to indicate that life expectancies are increasing. UK for example is around 80 compared to 77 just over 10years ago.

[Saryk]

Spleefs not spliffs!

[xHeavYx]

You mention rheumatoid arthritis, again that's caused by inflammation. Hypothyroidism can be treated with Armour thyroid for better side effects. I thought you were being serious until you said that many many people just have hypertension, so I have to ask again, how many of those people who "just have it" live healthy? You can also list Rx for hypertension, but first check the side effects.
Type 2 diabetes? Ever heard of the show called Biggest Loser? Many of the contestants with type 2 diabetes were able to cure it after (again) exercise and a good diet.
Lastly, another quick Google search will show you the differences between health care in the US and the UK, it's apples and oranges

[steve_ps]

I'm sorry but you really don't know what you're talking about. Yes rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition but it is caused by an autoimmune response, the pathogenesis of the conditions is not caused by an systemic inflammatory response it is an inflammatory reaction to an immune response. Learn your stuff before claiming things.

Armour thyroid is still a pill and you said all pills are the "easy option" so why are you claiming to be an expert on hypothyroid treatment, surely by your reasoning a bit of fruit and veg and a run will cure that for them? Also armour thyroid is T3 & T4 combition, levothyroxine is just T4 which is converted to T3 in the body under normal physiological conditions so there is very little difference. Also levothyroxine only has side effects in overdose as it is meant to compensate for the bodies lack of T4/3

I don't need to list the treatment for hypertension, the consequences untreated include nephropathy, retinopathy, heart disease, stroke and vascular disease. Those are facts, if you don't want to be treated and die or have serious morbidity from these outcomes that's fine. If saving your eye sight/kidney function/prolonging your life from heart disease is just an "easy option" to you then you are an idiot. Yes lower weight control and excercise can help lower blood pressure but in cases this is often not possible.

Yes I did say diabetes has an enviromental link did you not read my post? But I also said there is a significant genetic link affecting the likelihood of you suffering from it. Not all diabetes can be weight/diet controlled.

USA life expectancy 2000 - ~76.6, 2010 - 78.2 You're wrong again.

Btw on a side note I witnessed a 20 something year old male who had a BMI ~22/23 probably healthier than you with Crohn's disease have his large colon removed. I would love for you to tell someone like that that a bit more excercise and he would've been fine, and if you can defend that you are a worthless individual.

[gatormatt80]

@ steve_ps

I'm glad you brought up the diabetes issue, particularly the fact that not all diabetes is caused by unhealthy diet. And in fact a perfect example is Ray Allen's son, who at 5 years old has diabetes type 1, but has the appearance of a healthy kid.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2...

Respectfully, Heavy I completely disagree with you.

[xHeavYx]

@steve_ps
I thought you were a mature person who could have a discussion. Why call me things? Keep taking your pills and you and I can have this argument when we are both 100, you can take all the pills you want and I'll keep my health in check my way. By the way, Armour thyroid is a pill, yes, but it's not like all the crap you list, I guess you could actually call it a "natural" pill.
I'll just end this nonsense saying that it doesn't matter what you look like in the outside (that super healthy looking guy you talk about) you can still fill your body with crap and have a 6 pack.
The big problem here is that close minded people think that pills are the response to everything, you go to your doctors office and 9 out of 10 times he will check his drawers for some pill he was paid for to give out. What about "conventional" doctors? How many of them are healthy looking people? How many of them still use methods that were proven noneffective years ago. On the other hand, other people like Dr Burzynski who find safer alternatives to treat Cancer get prosecuted by the FDA and the Medical boards, because "pill health" is not about curing a person, it's about keeping them sick and alive for as long as possible while the big pharma keeps their profit as high as possible. I will ask you for the last time, when was the last time someone got pill treatment and the disease was fixed?
You can do all the Google searches that you want to prove me wrong, but look around you (and your Dr's office) first to see how "healthy" those people are.

@ gatormatt80
Chances to get hereditary diabetes risk can be as high as 1 in 100, more info here http://www.diabetes.org/dia...

[tommygunzII]

xHeavYx makes good points.

As arrogant humans we like to think we know everything about the human brain to the point we can alter its core with chemicals without extensive testing. With our medicine in its infancy stages I will never take a drug that hasn't been proven over time. You almost have to twist my arm to get me to take asprin.

Balanced diet, sleep, and activity is really what most of us need. If you don't understand that, you are doomed.

[steve_ps]

@ Heavy

I'm tired of arguing with you now, you haven't formed any reasonable arguments to any of my points just reiterated the same crap so I'll finish on a few points.

I'm a healthy weight and active but that doesn't mean I sit high and mighty like you and claim that all illnesses are peoples own doing. I can guarantee you that over the next 40/50 or whatever years you will have a medical condition even with your oh-so-amazing life.

You totally misunderstand the role of medications, if you have a chronic condition you have to have treatment to manage that, it isn't a magic fix. But I guess if you want an example of a good drug antibiotics may satisfy your need, I challenge you not to accept them if you ever have a serious infection but I'm sure you will take the "easy option" if that happened.

"A natural pill" I'm guessing you don't classify them as the "easy option" which is convenient, many medications are based on natural substances.

Dr Burzynski used unproven methods to claim to treat cancer and make a profit for himself, that's just as bad as those big pharma companies yet you defend him? Interesting.

Also I work in a national healthcare system and so earn a wage from taxpayers, no incentives for me except patient care. Healthcare systems aren't perfect but in general the workers do their utmost.

I also like the way you deny factual based evidence, really brings your intellect across.

I urge you to use pubmed.org or any other medical journal site and do some research, look up rituximab for example, it's a great drug which has helped the treatment of many conditions and in particular those with B cell lymphomas, there's even evidence behind it's use (so you might disagree with that).

[FITgamer]

There are people who actually need the meds, but most people who take them don't. Just because because you are diagnosed with something doesn't mean you need meds. Some docs believe in the power of meds more than others so they are quick to write out prescriptions. Also there are doctors who are paid by pharmaceutical companies to get their product out to public. Regardless of whether or not you need the meds they still wreck your brain after long term use. 52% of suicides are by people who are on meds, so im sure there are a decent number of people who are better off without them.I personally was diagnosed with anxiety when i was 13, but refused to be on medication. Now that i am an adult my anxiety is pretty much non-existent.

[jadenkorri]

klecser and all of above...

I laughed when Obesity was considered a disease. I'm sorry not putting the fork down is not a disease. Its laziness, people who don't get proper exercise and eat right can't blame themselves, they blame other people, or call it a "disease" to make themselves feel better. The same goes with depression, maybe it is a chemical imbalance in the brain, maybe its just that you're sad and not happy with yourself, but I've brought people to the gym who I know were depressed, or I'll say "unhappy". I was not aware of any medical conditions, but they lost weight, started eating healthier and sure enough started feeling better and hanging out instead of not showing up at parties they were invited too. We still play games, hell we played MW3 for like 2 hrs last night. Take an hour for yourself every day, you'll feel better, and do not be afraid to goto the gym, I was and too be honest it was the hardest thing for me to do at that time. As for all these antidepressants, their only for 1 thing... $$$$$$$$... if you want real health care, look west, not east.

[MysticStrummer]

Who knew all these doctors frequented N4G?

Anyone who says depression and obesity aren't diseases is moronic. Are there people who don't have the disease that show the symptoms for various reasons? Absolutely. Are there people on welfare who don't need to be? Absolutely. That doesn't mean welfare isn't legitimately needed by many, and the same applies for depression and obesity.

Saying that dealing with obesity is as simple as putting down a fork, or that dealing with depression is as simple as a change in diet and/or exercise habits, is ridiculous. You might as well say "get a job" to the person on welfare, but as many should know by now in these economic times, it's not usually that simple in the real world.

[Mainsqueeze]

I too laughed when you said obesity was a disease. Obesity is not a freaking disease. Things like bad genes, which increase the likely hood of obesity if you sit on your ass all day, can, i guess, be considered a disease. But i guarantee that if these people with bad genes just worked out and ate healthy they wouldn't be so damn fat. My best friend's mother and father are two of the fattest people i have ever seen and have diabetes. Their son weighs about 170 lbs, is mostly muscle, ran track, and played bball in highschool. Yes pills can help and prolong or weaken things like depression and obesity (not talking about cancer or other ridiculous diseases that probably need to be treated with medication but IMO its more about how YOU handle the situation by treating your body with respect.

[jadenkorri]

@ FITgamer

wow, the lamest comment ever recorded. You couldn't think of anything else.

[Psn800]

I suffer with mental illness it is no joke !

[SolidStoner]

lol. same here, If I dont have something to smoke, I dont even start playing...

also you have to do sports and active life style, playing games dosnt make you depressed, but sitting on a couch for all day does!!! Take a break, eat somethig, go out, some time with family maybe, and smoke sh**, relax :) gaming is only positive, even bloody online shooters making me lough... (sometimes want to smash tv. but thats normal, any failed activity does that :D)

edit: I have hypertension, and pills made it worse, healthy lifestile, good night sleep is the key... pills made it easy at the start, but you cant use them forever! if you stop it is harder to go on without them... pills is the last option, if you have any health problems you should start by changing life style!!! but dont stop play games, it dosnt change anything.. just dont do it all day 7 days a week :D

[Ares84HU]

xHeavYx is absolutely right. Whoever sais otherwise is wrong and don't know what they are talking about. Do some research before you speak. If you are ignorant than by the time you are 50 years old will be living with medication taking a handful every day and will never heal from your illness but will take those pills the day you die. Doesn't that make you wonder???

The truth is that there are alternatives to taking pills. And taking pills will NEVER heal you but all it does is put a blanket on the illness just so it can come back later on in some shape or form. The problem is that most doctors try to treat illnesses and not the source of the illness and because of that you will never recover from most illnesses. Pills are poison, just read the side effects of any pill. It's crazy how dangerous they are and yet people still take them. So what's the alternative??? The solution is simpler than you can imagine and most people don't believe that it even works. It's eating healthy and vitamins. That's right....that is all. You can cure cancer, heart disease, diabetes and so on but drug companies don't want you to know that because for them there is no money if you get better and heal. They want you to keep taking their pills so they can make their money off of you. You don't have to believe me. Do some research!!! I'd advise anyone to watch "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead", "Forks Over Knifes" and there is a few more but I forgot the titles.... anyways these two documentaries are just a fraction of the truth that drug companies don't want you to know. Depression is a chemical imbalance that can be corrected with the right diet. The problem is especially here in the USA that people eat terribly, it's 90% meat which is terrible. Our diet should be 90% vegetables, 5% fruits and 5% meat (and white meat preferably like chicken, turkey and fish). Diabetes, heart disease is the highest in the world in the USA because of the diet people eat here. People eat every day at least 100-120g of sugar in the USA and the recommended amount for men for a day is no more than 30g of sugar. No wonder you get fat and sick. Drinking all those fountain sodas and eating chips, hamburgers and pizza. This is what makes you sick and fat and depressed. Turn your diet around, let your food be your medicine and you will be surprised of the results. Just a quick example; during WW2 when the Nazis invaded Norway, they took all the farm animals away from the Norwegians. The result was that Norwegians had very limited access to red meat and their diet changed to mostly vegetables and fruits. What this did is basically made death by cancer drop by more than 80%. Than after WW2 when the Norwegians were able to eat red meat again death by cancer started to climb again. But again, don't believe me, google it!!!

People, most doctors today are paid off by drug companies to shove pills down your throat without caring about your actual well being. Drug companies don't want you to know the truth and they will scare you into taking their pills by telling you there is no other way and you will die if you don't take their pills. Don't let them fool you!! Educate yourselves!! Be smart, make healthy choices, look at what you are putting in your body!!! Thank God there are some good doctors out there who are giving a middle finger to drug companies, among them my Godfather in Hungary who is a very smart man and people all over Europe go to him to heal.

Anyway, I got one last advice for everyone when you visit a doctor; If the doctor does not ask you about your diet and the amount of sleep you get than stand up and walk out. That is the two most basic things a doctor who is trying to heal you MUST ask!!! If they don't, than they just don't care and you will leave with 2-3 different pills that will do no better than to poison you any further.

[Ares84HU]

Oh and my mom had clinical depression, she wanted to kill herself by the end but than I did my research found out the truth. She flew to Hungary to my Godfather and he took her off from all of her pills that she took here in the USA. It was about 10 different pills she took. And guess what happened..... she was cured and today, she is a healthy 48 year old. Also, she lost a lot of fat and drinks fresh made fruit and vegetable juices every day 3-4 times a day.

So as I said, educated yourself. Don't let yourselves be poisoned and lied to by drug companies! And again, don't believe me! GOOGLE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

[Irishguy95]

Sorry Heavy and Ares...you both have no idea what you are on about. The pills do NOT cure depression, but the ****ing help you ALOT to get over it. Combination of pills and therapy are the best form of treatment for depression. They helped me. I don't need them anymore. Pills alleviates the symptoms and helps restore the imbalance in your brain which comes from long term depression. Therapy will get the source and 'cure/mostly' while these pills help you lead a normal life while depressed.

[MoveTheGlow]

You know, I thought this conversation was going to get good, but then someone in the comments above recommended we all watch a couple for-profit entertainment flicks on losing weight, and I knew we missed the mark.

Can this be a talk about neurology and psychology again? Did anyone catch the author's references? How did those games make *you* feel? Or were you too young to experience even Ico and Metal Gear Solid 3... oh wait don't even tell me that answer, that'll just get me depressed either way...

Anyway, for further reading if you liked that article - http://kotaku.com/5962636/d...

[TheFallenAngel]

We got doctors in n4g now!

[cyguration]

I agree with everything Ares and Heavy said.

Everyone I know who takes pills for something never got better, they're just taking even more pills now and are either bed-ridden or require constant care. I don't see how that helps (but don't get me wrong, there are some clinical forms of treatment that are necessary for some people with chronic illness that I believe can help at times.)

And Move the Glow, I reported your post for spam. There's no reason to include a Kotaku link in this discussion. A lot of people are trying to get them banned off the site anyway.

[Kte]

Just need a little bit of weed like madden said..also you guys are taking the whole med thing pretty far. I agree with both points but at the end of the day it's up to the individual to take care of their health period...depression pills medications all fucking useless..my moth is obese and also has diabetes so its up to me to make sure I keep my health good not no fucking pills or any damn subscription that puts you closer to death..if anyone here is a doctor trying to state that shit is good for you...then you are wrong...take care of yourself...or if your depressed use what god gave to this magical earth...some weed..what was the family guy episode? Everything is better with a bag of weed...at least you don't hear someone dying off that lol

[Kte]

Sorry, typed from my Ipad, I meant to say my MOM*

[IAmLee]

Well, this is a pointless article.

[Flavor]

I used to be sorta sad, then I got a great job and got in shape. Now I'm unsad.

I never even considered doping myself with happy pills.

[Kos-Mos]

Fight and stop with medical treatment. That's how I did it. Now I'm a really happy gamer:)

[Awolvie]

I would love it to be that easy for some of us

[dredgewalker]

It takes a lot of willpower and discipline to pull it off. I've had clinical depression too but I wanted to be free of the meds so I tried things like scratch building things and other activities in order to fight off my depression. I've been off the meds now for a decade but I still have depression but keeping my mind and body busy really helped me a lot. It's not easy but it's impossible.

[Ares84HU]

Awolvie, if you stop taking pills, you are half way there. Read what I wrote above and you'll see why I said that.

[jakethesnake]

Awolvie - great comment. It is a shame that people try and shame people from seeking the medical attention they desperately need. About 12 years ago I suffered a really terrible depression that I thought I could cure with improving my lifestyle - and the result was that I had such a breakdown that I was in a near psychosis and depression. Medication wasn't an easy fix but did eventually help and after 4 years of treatment I was able to return to a normal healthy life. I hope people reading these comments who are suffering just think they can beat it by themselves if they are genuinely in need of help. Random people on the internet need to stop giving fake medical advice and encourage people who need help to seek it from qualified individuals.

[spok22]

Anything in which there is too much excess will almost always be bad for you. Just have to balance it out a little ya no?

[justrandom]

I agree spok22
At my work on of my workers I manage its big fat a$S lazy (he has no desease) all shift .the last 15 min that we have to do some stuff we do everyday at work ,he is the fastes fatty i've ever seen.So he is just lazy ,no wonder he gets payed minimum wage.Im just commenting about the fat lazy people.As far as pills concerns me ,like someone mentioned above wy wife has to bag me to take a tylenol when I have headacche.I dont unless I m really sick then yes.I just take a quarter of pill and it has effect right away .but people that takes them all the time their body is used to it and becomes like an need addiction.plus its a brainwashin thing .
As far as deppresion goes many people are the cause for their deppression(im talking about cases when the individual ignores keeping fit and eating healthy and thinking clear).Few workers where I work they are already bored depressed the first minute they start working.I work happy almost always cause i think positive,I work fast,most of them dragging their feet when they work,so to wrap it up millions of people are dead weight to this society and who disagrees with contributing to a better society(talking about lazy and selfish ones) F off and jump off a bridge and do the world a favour.
By the way there are treatment for cancer.who is smart can understand why cancer still exist.have a nice day smart and not so bright ones...
I was not talking about the depressed people that cannot fix themselves cause medicines are needed at one point for certain deseases,but many problems in our lives we can resolve ourselves and not pills.

[fsfsxii]

LOL, who cares< its your own problem, you're forcing yourself to be depressed, just get over it, its not worth it.

[dafegamer]

I bet you dont understand, that depression is an illness. You cant just get over it, you dont understand what you're talking about. A relative of mine died, because of depression. Thats some serious business and needs to be cured asap

[LoveOfTheGame]

I understand that people think depression is an illness. Learn to deal with your problems in a healthy way and get over them.

PS: Anti-depressant pills are not a healthy way.

[klecser]

You are an idiot LoveOfTheGame.

[LoveOfTheGame]

@klecser
That may be, but at least I have the manners not to immaturely call some one names.

[cleverusername]

I bet she doesn't even know what day it is!!

[tubers]

@LoveOfTheGame..

I hope antidepressants aren't easily recommended.. that wouldn't feel right.

IMO, other alternatives should be tried first.

Still.. very situational.

[TheModernKamikaze]

You just can't get over an illness.

[PeaSFor]

I know i will sound cheesy, but life has it ups and downs, twist and turns, and highs and lows. Just like a rollercoaster.

Everyday can bring new challenges and new peaks whether good or bad. We stand in line to start our day, just like we stand in line to ride a rollercoaster. When the day is over we end up, pretty much in the same place we started, just like when we get off a rollercoaster. Some days may end worse some days may end up better. But either way you must tackle all the hills thrown in your path, because if you don’t the ride will never end. Right? Say your on the roller coaster and it can’t pull you over the first hill then you would never get off the ride, you would be stuck. Same way with life if you cant get over the ups and downs, twists and turns, highs and lows then you will always be stuck and never move forward. Unfortunately in life we are thrown tragedy and that’s a hill we have to go over and with support like the roller coaster harnesses we will get over them all.

[kreate]

Ur depression would of been worst if u didnt play games.

[ApolloTheBoss]

Yep. When having a bad day, gaming is the perfect remedy. Depending on what you play, of course.

[Apollosupreme]

Gaming addiction could probably lead to depression. Feeling the need to always be gaming, feeling "withdraw" when you go without it, feeling ashamed if you invest an insane amount of time into it.

Personally, I game to disconnect from life. Gaming is therapeutic when you need something to take your mind off things. I think the key is that you make sure it's just one tool and not a crutch. The minute it becomes a crutch you're in a baaad situation. It's called addiction then and it's probably making your life unhealthy.

I wonder if the writer has sought out a psychologist or a priest to talk about his problems. Unless he has something defective about his brain then why take the drugs? That's masking the underlining problem when what he needs is to face the problem head on. If you sweep the dirt under the rug, the dirt is still there and you can only hide so much...

[iceman06]

Depression is a bit more complex than the "problems" that you speak of. It is a proven chemical imbalance (can be tested for) in the brain. IMHO, he isn't sweeping things under the rug anymore. He is actually trying to confront his illness head on. The issue here is that the meds that he is taking normalize his chemical imbalance and allow him to function. That is the key to his particular diagnosis...he cannot function normally. That being said, some cognitive therapy with a psychologist can provide some insight into some life issues that can complicate his diagnosis.

[Campy da Camper]

DLC depresses me.

[PygmelionHunter]

LOL, indeed!

[Picnic]

However your depression would probably be less if you MADE games.

It's just unfortunate that such jobs are not necessarily easy to come by because a) you need the technical skill and b) you might also happen to prize living close to where you already live (chances in many places outside of a few cities that no videogames studio is there) where your emotions, for good or bad, have nevertheless settled to some extent.

The writer on games, the player of games, is swimming in the idealism offered by games where there are certain rules, certain powers, a constant amount of variety.

The sad irony is that by being so great at the pure logic required by games, people in the 'real world', particularly older ones without such imaginative faculties, tend to look down on this idealistic frame of mind as simplistic or naive.

This age gap problem , partly caused by some of the older generations' (the same kind of people who are still
fearful of The Rolling Stones coming to take their daughters in the night) stubborness to understand shifts in some younger people's concepts of the universe, is, no doubt in my mind, partly to blame for why depression is such a problem.

[Jyndal]

I find it strange that social anomolies are categorized as diseases. Depression, alcoholism, drug dependancy, and other so-called psychological disorders are products of our own making. You can't just call yourself depressed and expect the world to stop and make you it's main focus.
It's about choice and willpower. If one chooses to give in to the difficulties that life brings, then that person has simply taken the path of least resistance. They get no pity from me.

Suck it up and deal with reality.

[Oh_Yeah]

(my theory) Depression is often caused by lack of exercise/ poor diet, lifestyle choices...As is many illness. Ever wonder why in recent years all of this started popping up? And the majority of the cases are in my country America? Well the food industry took a big shift into processed foods/ fast food and physically demanding jobs have decreased. So Natural food is more expensive than processed, and jobs have become more laid back/ the emphasis on exercise isn't there. The lack of importance on exercise and the high costs of natural food, and the drug use is to blame for this. An individual can't choose how they are raised, it's not their fault as kids, they can only battle to correct it later on.

[Awolvie]

As much as I appreciate the opinion, as a person diagnosed with clinical depression... I exercise at the gym at least 3 times a week and play football in addition to that almost every week while keeping a healthy diet. While some cases may be poor lifestyle, believe me when I say that it is not the majority, biology is a major factor in such problems as depression.

[klecser]

Depression is not a choice. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Take a few minutes to learn Biology before you open your mouth. People will take you more seriously.

Saying depression is a choice is like saying that being a certain race is a choice.

"You should choose to not be black and your problems will be solved."

That is what a lot of you are saying, and it just shows how ignorant you are about depression.

[LoveOfTheGame]

So depression is only caused by genetics? Your saying that anyone who is depressed is born that way and has no chance to be happy.

Man, no wonder their so depressed.

PS: Just like Michael Jackson was born white...oh wait.

[iceman06]

@LoveOfTheGame...I didn't see anywhere that Klecser said that it was genetic (although there have been correlation studies that suggest a definite link). He is basically saying that it truly isn't a choice, much like what race you are.

[klecser]

It is not entirely genetic, but as Eldyraen says, there is a definite genetic component. Babies born pre-mature are at a much greater risk. Medication can help. The medication doesn't "make people happy". It frequently helps them to function in their daily lives. People with clinical depression (not the same thing as "feeling sad") are often constantly tired and stressed and lack motivation. Trust me, they WANT to be motivated, but it isn't a choice for them.

The problem here is that our culture throws the word "I'm depressed" around so willy nilly that it has convinced people it is a choice. If you are sad, you should say you are sad. If you are CLINICALLY depressed, that is a different matter.

But hey, welcome to the age of the internet. Anyone who has an opinion, no matter how ignorant or backwards or inexperienced the person is can say anything they want with "authority". I feel that it is our duty to stand up to ignorance because people's lives are at stake when people accuse them of "making a choice to be depressed."

[Eldyraen]

I can sort of understand what you are talking about with alcoholism and drug addiction as they are entirely dependent on a person embibing them in the first place but Depression is another matter entirely.

There is a difference between "being or feeling depressed" and living with Depression. Those that can't understand that simply haven't truly encountered it or refuse to see the truth. The vast majority of people that actually suffer from Depression can be "helped" because its often a chemical imbalance causing it. Sometimes a "fix" can be found as simple as diet change or other mundane means to correct the imbalance but others truly require medical assistance depending on the severity and kind of Depression (many kinds that get lumped together by misinformed which require different treatments).

The main reason people aren't truly aware of Depression and other "true" mental diseases/disorders are until less than a century ago most cases that required severe assistance were all lumped together in asylums (my grandmother spent a little time in one long, long ago in early/mid 1900s). Today is a little better but true Depression has now been trivialized and marketed as some sort of minor inconvenience. For some maybe but far from all.

Another one of the biggest problems with acceptance of mental disease/disorders are they are much harder to diagnose/prove than a physical one. Where we have had countless centuries to experiment on the human body we are still only beginning to understand how the brain actually works. We have had a rough idea what certain parts do but actually being able to "see" it and map things out is a relatively new science.

[MWH]

i don't feel depressed but sometimes i do feel frustrated and angry in games, but only when I lose a good fight in fighting games.. you little %&^@#%*!

[KillrateOmega]

I've never really believed in depression as worthy of being called an actual illness or psychological disorder. Similar to alcoholism and drug dependency, it's a matter of self-control. Unless you were born with a chemical imbalance, then it's just a temporary state of mind as far as I'm concerned. Just like an other emotion.

It's an extreme form of sadness. All emotions are created through chemical reactions within out brains.

I've also never understood why people take anti-depressants for it. The medication is simply tricking your brain into believing that you're not sad; basically, it makes you lie to yourself. It seems like a much healthier solution would be just to pick yourself up and do something that makes you happy in order to offset the sadness. It may be hard, but just make yourself do it.

[iceman06]

Well, I would say that is your opinion. However, you should probably actually SEE someone that is suffering with depression before making that call. Clinical Depression is far worse than just a "temporary state" of "extreme emotions". It impacts patients in a variety of ways that go far beyond just being sad.
As far as your treatment of "picking yourself up", you don't think that depression sufferers would like nothing more? THAT, in essence, helps to determine if you are clinically depressed. You lose interest in things that used to be interesting.
The medication is not "tricking" your brain. It is actually balancing the brain chemicals. It's telling your brain that it didn't do the job that it was supposed to...much like an antibiotic would fight a bacteria that the body couldn't fight on it's own.
I fully understand the trepidation that many have with meds because they can have some side-effects. There are some homeopathic/natural remedies as well. But, to just dismiss clinical depression as sadness is like saying that a person with cancer just has a little problem with his cells. It's just not that simple.

[justrandom]

Omega dont bother man.
Technically like someone mentioned above sometimes its not their fault that they were raised not properly by their parents.Food I think is very important.I seen lot of mothers smolke or drink while they are pregnant and that will affect the child,and the child will have problems and will not now how to teach their own children and so on ,its a chain.Even pop(soda) its so harmful that maybe many of you disagreers wont believe.
Fuk it,I fall for it every time,commenting and trying to help with tips about health etc.who is smart will do the right thing anyway.Hey YOU,do not disagree with my comment otherwise I will go in depression MUAHAHAHA

[inFAMOUS_KRATOS]

it is depressing when i think about 24 years old and none of my friend play video games but me, kinda sad in a way depends on your environment.

i always think this will keep me out of trouble.

not depressed neither happy all times.. but life goes on.

[WeAreLegion]

I think we all learned an important lesson today. Keep your emotions off the internet. People don't seem to care when they're behind an avatar.

[KillrateOmega]

The anonymity provided by the internet is a good thing. You can express how you really feel and the conversation is truthful.

Without it, we may as well be having these conversations face-to-face in a real-world setting. If that was the case, then the discussion would be censored by social preferences and niceties.

[memphis2]

wow what a great piece! even though this guy said he was depressed, but in the long run he kept his spirit up and tell people to be positive. i really enjoyed this article.

[KNero]

You must be single LOL

[Awolvie]

Brilliant and heartfelt article. Some people on here are just being downright insensitive with topics they do not understand... Shame really.

[dafegamer]

true. It's sad to read some disturbingly immature comments on this page

[Why o why]

Hope you pull through. Its a horrible vicious cycle for some. From the frying pan of depression into the fire of anti depressant drug dependency. I know a few sufferers and often question myself but some of the views here are quite astonishing. People from all warps of life can suffer with depression, from the rich and healthy to poor and unfit. I don't support the drug escape as the side effects can be damaging.

I wish more holistic options were more available but then the pharmaceutical giants would be losing out. Bottom line, if you're functioning better then drugs or not, its better.

[Saryk]

I play video games because it is illegal to do what I want to do to people!

[josephayal]

Video games are my escape and to relax when I come home from work

[Kran]

Dude I'm the same.

I think for me it's because I have too many games I've lost track of and I work as well so mixing them both together messes with your head. Plus my personal life can be pretty bad, what with a bed-ridden mother in all.

I don't feel the same way about games than I used to :( Not because they are bad at all. It's just... I don't know.

You have to feel this way to understand it really.

[iceman06]

Okay...so after reading a bunch of responses to this article I have to say that I am shocked by the amount of misinformation or dismissal of Depression as a clinical disorder.
About 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with PTSD depression that stemmed from a traumatic situation that occurred in my life. It took me on a ride that I can really not describe. I lost MANY things that were valuable to me...including my dream career. See, while being depressed I couldn't concentrate on studying. I tried...believe me I did. I lost my fiance, because I didn't enough energy/motivation to even care about myself...let alone another person. I stopped talking to friends about anything important..because nothing was really important. (I have great friends and they still had my back). There were days that I didn't sleep at all. Followed by days that I would sleep for what seems like ever. Point is, I didn't want ANY of that to happen. There came a point that I just wanted to give up...life I mean...I just didn't care anymore! I struggled for 2 years to get myself back on track BY MYSELF before I sought help.
So, I saw a psychiatrist that prescribed an anti-depressant. Suddenly, I could now gain insight into my disease because I could concentrate on what was being said and actually cared enough to follow through. Also, I was able to actually see psychologist that I could speak to about the type of days that the article speaks of. No...it wasn't those mommy issue type sessions. It was about how to cope with those days and the days ahead.
Needless to say, today I am much better. I was only on meds for about 3 months and I no longer see a shrink.
What I am trying to say is that this combination of treatment saved my life! It gave me the stability that was lost to PTSD and the tools to know when it is creeping up, recognize it, and do something before it is too late.
On a much lighter note....I LOVE VIDEOGAMES!!! LOL

[maniacmayhem]

"That’s what depression can be. It’s letting things get to you, letting the smallest utterance cripple you for hours."

Interesting, this could describe a certain person's behavior on this site.

I have a family member who has this condition and the prescribed medication helps. Problem is he stops taking the medication because he feels he's getting better and doesn't need and goes right back to being depressed. It never clicks that the reason he's getting better is because the medication is working.

[jsslifelike]

I just cut the crotch out of every pair of pants that I own. If you don't wanna see my junk, that's your decision. You'll be much less depressed once you don't give 1/10 of a fuck about what others think of you. It works for me.

[MuhammadJA]

I'm not an expert on the matter, but here's my opinion. First of all, take a little break from video games, and secondly, try doing stuff you like or engage in different hobbies. Finally, and the most important thing, always show and express your feelings whether you love someone or something just go right ahead and say it because sometimes people feel happy when they release something off their chests.

I hope this helps and you find happiness in your life.

[DeadManMcCarthy]

Too much time spent in the virtual world can make you lose sense of reality and weaken you mentally.

[timmyp53]

I can relate alot surprisingly. Great article.

[justrandom]

IM so depressed,when is 'The Last Of Them' coming out?

I know I know :)

[Question_Mark]

What makes me depressed is the sheer ignorance of so many people. Plenty of examples in the comments above me.

[linkenski]

I think i might have, or have had a depression at some point some time ago, and looking back at it I didn't enjoy the games i was playing, but i kept playing because it was compensating for the emptyness i felt. I've been playing games a lot since i was 10 years old (though back then 2hrs a day was my absolute max) and i had many great moments where i wowed at my games and many great memories of beating a certain game i had been playing for a longer period of time.
So when i play games but sometimes not feel "relaxed" or "happy" i think i strive to get to a gaming "high-point" like the ones i had earlier in my life. Gaming reminds me of when i didn't feel sad, so in that way it can help, but it can also be a means for an escape from reality, which isn't always a good thing imo.

Also, screw Bioware for kicking us with that Mass Effect 3 ending. That was the tip of the spear. I was emotionally invested like i had never been before and we just got that slap in our face. I know it wasn't intentional and that Bioware may even regret the ending behind their closed doors now, but at the time i felt the ending ruined everything i liked about the franchise, and Mass Effect 2 was one of my favorite games ever.

[MajorgamerQc]

Playing too much video game create a high tolerance to dopamine. Which is a neuro-transmetor created in your body everytime you do something you like.

So it's normal after playing games nothing seems to interest you. You cant fight it except playing less games. Then world will become interesting again.

[Hayabusa 117]

lol, this shit is old. I'm afraid I have little sympathy for the author. I've been through similar phases in my life, and yes, no one cares, no one can do anything about it, the people who claim to be close to you don't actually care about making you feel better, and the ones that actually do care haven't got a clue how to fix you're problem. And then there are people who CAN fix your problem, but do you listen to them? Of course not, you're depressed, you have to justify you state of feelings to yourself in order to bare them. Depression is an outlook on the world and yourself, only you can change your outlook, it's hard, but it's the only way.

[Samuel-Rodrigues]

Somebody remind this guy to NEVER play Max Payne 3 in that case.

[danthebios]

I can relate with this article.I remember after my big brother bought a ps1 i was the one thats always using it hehe,in my 20's i bought my own ps2,it didnt slowed me down one bit,and everyday was a fun day because friends would come over and game with me,if it wasn't with my friends it would be with my big brother but now in my 30's i game alone because my big brother moved out,friends are busy with each others careers and family and its kind of hard of making new friends at this age because most of them are married not like me(still single)and it would be akward talking hey wanna come over and play games to a married dude haha..So my lifestlye did changed from being always with my brother and friends to mostly being alone now,and at one point i did felt depress because of it,but lucky for me i had caring parents and friends that help me feel better and somehow i have to accept that this is my lifestyle now,i cant keep hoping things would be the sama like the old days.My point is that we as a human need someone to talk or share,i do tend to still call my friends or just hang out for tea.In my 30's i find it more fun playing games with other players than alone.The writer of this article only wanted to share and i as a reader says thanks for sharing.

[KimiRaikkonen]

Snake she didn't betray the United States. Far from it she was a hero who died for her country. Son you gotta way to kill they will tell you what is yours but they'll take mine. Rip Big boss

[Thatlalala]

Turn off the Country and up the Rock. Party Hard.

[Kidmyst]

How can video games cause depression? People had to have had it and it's just coincidence. Otherwise turn them off and get out and see the world. I used to game 12 hours a day easily but now with Kids I love to game but even reach my point where there are other things I want to do too.