How Using Video Games As Escapism Helped (And Damaged) My Mental Health

Video games can be a great place to escape to when we need to forget our real-world issues, but it's important to keep one foot in reality.

[stokedAF]

Spoiler: Video games are not medication. Seek help.

[Brave_Losers_Unite]

Yup I need help.

[stokedAF]

There is nothing wrong with that. You have already done the first step by admitting it.

[ImGumbyDammit]

Hint: Don't blame the game, you were already very depressed before you played the game(s). Blaming others/things for your own issues is probably your modus operandi otherwise you wouldn't be escaping the very world you already blame for your issues.

Seek professional help for attempting to reach some fix for your issues not escapism. Escapism, by its very definition, is running away and avoiding the unpleasantness of reality.

[bluefox755]

Not sure what makes you think you're qualified to analyze video games as some form of treatment for mental health problems, or classify them as something that's detrimental to mental health. How bout you leave that to the professionals?

[Tankbusta40]

Just treat it as a blog...thats all so called "gaming journalism" is

[Tankbusta40]

I love video games as much as the next guy...but who thinks playing them will help improve anything(mood and mentally related)? Exercise is for that, as it releases endorphins and over time will improve your physical appearance. I guess I might be a bit older or something but when I was little video games were a hobby...not a doctors pill or poison. I still think of them the same way today.

[Themba76]

and the so called real medicine doesn't work either I know i been on them all the only real medicine that works is marijuana.