anxiety/depression and videogames

[mailman187666]

I've done a little bit of observations in the last couple years about people that have anxiety/depression disorders and it seems to me that people that have this kind of disorder tend to become addicted to videogames. If you go on yahoo and type in videogame addiction, you'll find some articles that make sense and some that sound plain stupid. In one article I read that "videogame addiction" causes people to become depressed. But I think if these people did further research they may come to find out that (I think) the reason people become addicted to videogames is because of these dissorders they had to begin with. I'm not saying because people love games they must need prozac or anything. But the stories you hear about people killing themselves because of Everquest addiction and stuff like that, I don't think Everquest had anything to do with it. I think these people had disorders before they even played these games. People have this the minute they are born and don't relize it until they are in they're 20s. They play the games so often so they don't have to deal with the mental and physical stress that they wake up in the morning with. The games take thier mind away from the real world, and since some people think thier lives are so horrible, they don't want to leave the game to go back to feeling the way they feel. It seems like there are a lot of intelligent people here on the DP forums, does anyone have something to add, anybody done research on this type of thing? or even can relate to what I've just mentioned? Call me the DP Psychiatrist j/k LOL

[Kid Ice]

Personally when I'm feeling low (lucky for me I haven't been truly depressed in a long time), I tend to have less enthusiasm for gaming and play less.

Based on my knowledge of depression as a disorder, people who are depressed tend to over-indulge in a non-demanding activity, such as eating, sleeping, watching TV, web surfing, or gaming.

Most of the big-time gamers/collectors I know (myself included) view gaming as an enjoyable hobby or diversion and have a pretty good grip on their "real" lives. The tail doesn't wag the dog.

[Necron99]

Personally when I'm feeling low (lucky for me I haven't been truly depressed in a long time), I tend to have less enthusiasm for gaming and play less.

Based on my knowledge of depression as a disorder, people who are depressed tend to over-indulge in a non-demanding activity, such as eating, sleeping, watching TV, web surfing, or gaming.

Most of the big-time gamers/collectors I know (myself included) view gaming as an enjoyable hobby or diversion and have a pretty good grip on their "real" lives. The tail doesn't wag the dog.

I would have to agree with Kid-Ice on this. In fact I think video games are the reason I'm not depressed anymore. not because of the games or the systems or anything, I think it's because I've met most of my best friends through video games/collecting and as such have also gained an active social life outside of gaming.

[dj2times]

I've done a little bit of observations in the last couple years about people that have anxiety/depression disorders and it seems to me that people that have this kind of disorder tend to become addicted to videogames. If you go on yahoo and type in videogame addiction, you'll find some articles that make sense and some that sound plain stupid. In one article I read that "videogame addiction" causes people to become depressed. But I think if these people did further research they may come to find out that (I think) the reason people become addicted to videogames is because of these dissorders they had to begin with. I'm not saying because people love games they must need prozac or anything. But the stories you hear about people killing themselves because of Everquest addiction and stuff like that, I don't think Everquest had anything to do with it. I think these people had disorders before they even played these games. People have this the minute they are born and don't relize it until they are in they're 20s. They play the games so often so they don't have to deal with the mental and physical stress that they wake up in the morning with. The games take thier mind away from the real world, and since some people think thier lives are so horrible, they don't want to leave the game to go back to feeling the way they feel. It seems like there are a lot of intelligent people here on the DP forums, does anyone have something to add, anybody done research on this type of thing? or even can relate to what I've just mentioned? Call me the DP Psychiatrist j/k LOL


i agree with you. the other guys have good points but myself being an obsessed gamer, ive thought about why i get into them so much... i think for alot, i take that back... SOME gamers, its an escape from reality, and to have some control over a world full of instant gratification(bright colors, images, EXPLOSIONS, Ninjas,... feelings of accomplishment).. kickin ass in a world where you always get the girl, have a ripped abs, defeat evil (or innocent bystanders) and always have perfect hair.... why wouldnt you wanna emmerse yourself for hours and forget about the crappy job, bitchy girlfriend/or lack of, stress of everyday life ect. ect. that youre not motivated enought to do anything about? just for some, they forget its just a flat screen blinking lights at them. and lose some concept of reality.

[heyricochet]

Personally when I'm feeling low (lucky for me I haven't been truly depressed in a long time), I tend to have less enthusiasm for gaming and play less.

Completely agree with this, as I was depressed for about two weeks a month ago due to a breakup+other things, and I really had NO desire to play video games. Too engaging for me to want to do when I'm depressed.

[Haoie]

Blame MMO's and their variants as the worst culprit for inducing depression.

That or dating sims.

[exit]

Well I find videogames to help me think things out, or even forget whatever it was that made me depressed. I did that in my teenage years, when I went through that teenage angst phase. Playing videogames probably prevented me from doing drugs if anything else, since I would have rather bought an old NES/SNES game than a dime bag.

[jdc]

Man, I'd like to see a study linking videogames to heart attacks and high blood pressure! LOL

On the subject at hand, I have a friend who finds it difficult to get on with the daily motions of life. This guy is addicted to DVD movies, anime boxsets and games and when not at work, tends to spend far too much money and time on them because of boredom. He impulsively buys games that he has no interest in just for something to do and then trades them in, unfinished, at a lo$$. He needs a relationship and another hobby but gaming is like a cocoon that protects him from having to face other aspects of life. He's not "living" because of it but tends to be a "shut in". He's not 15 either. He's 30 years old and life is passing him by.

[2Dskillz]

I know a lot of people between the office and friendships and those that game tend to be much healthier emotionally. I see so many people that take the wide variety of happy pills available, but those that game never seems to have that problem. Maybe the gamers that I know are an exception. Maybe it is because we all get together and game (not just home alone on the web). Most of the people I see that have the emotional issue do not have any true hobbies to speak of, which seems to be quite an issue with the 20-somethings of today.

I do agree that when I am feeling blue I do not want to game.

[Ackman]

Man, I'd like to see a study linking videogames to heart attacks and high blood pressure! LOL

On the subject at hand, I have a friend who finds it difficult to get on with the daily motions of life. This guy is addicted to DVD movies, anime boxsets and games and when not at work, tends to spend far too much money and time on them because of boredom. He impulsively buys games that he has no interest in just for something to do and then trades them in, unfinished, at a lo$$. He needs a relationship and another hobby but gaming is like a cocoon that protects him from having to face other aspects of life. He's not "living" because of it but tends to be a "shut in". He's not 15 either. He's 30 years old and life is passing him by.

bah

And you think he wouldn't be a no good bum if he didn't game everyone needs an excuse, bah what would he be doing instead? knitting, playing bingo?

Man if I could quit knitting I'd be a CEO now damn my vices...... I hear a lot of women complaining about gaming but I'll be damned if they don't sit their fat asses on the couch and watch 3 or 4 soapies everday religiously... man bitches could have made president with all that spare time...

Sometimes it depends on how the ball bounces too... you can work yourself into the ground on the verge of a breakdown and no matter how hard you try you still won't get that lucky break.... and then some smuck with a rich daddy.... gets a free ride without even breaking a sweat.....

And who cares who wants a fat whinny bitch wife who keeps asking if she fat or desirable, getting on with the plumber behind your back while your crack addicted daughter does the whole neighbourhood and your good for nothing son is a gangster og wanabe.... then there's and child support for your last wife.

A lot ppl putting up a facade too how happy they are how happy things make them, meanwhile they get pissed every weekend trying to numb the pain... because you can only be happy if your so out of your mind drunk.... you can tell everyone their fortune and maybe beat someone up afterwards.

I'd rather game kthnx I'll do what makes me happy.

Beats being homeless on the street giving head jobs for crack.