Anxiety Forum

Brichter · Joined: 21 Dec 2005 Posts: 3

I post this every once in a while in the hopes that it helps someone. I suffered from major anxiety issues for a very long time. I tried medications therapy etc to no avail. What finally stopped it for me was when I quit gaming.

I computer gamed heavily most of my life. Hours at a time. I think there is a correlation between the repetition, sound and visual elements and anxiety. After you have been playing for hours and you stop the music and visuals continue in your head. This I believe leads to derealization and then panic attacks.

Posted as is... Your results may vary.

Brichter

Canary · Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 18 Location: Wisconsin

I can see it... when i spend a lot of time online, I feel isolated from others, and I feel like I'm in my own world. Then when I suddenly snap out of being on the compy, I'm more on edge.

interesting..

stumbs · Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 12

that could have a lot to do with it, i play world of warcraft alot..i use to play for 8-10 hours a day, i've since cut back to maybe 3-4 to hardly at all a day, i took a 5 day vacation with no computer and felt great...

dtrotter · master poster Joined: 25 Jun 2009 Posts: 90

Well, gaming in moderation is good for us. But, getting in to gaming like an obsession will do you more harm than good. It might give you stimulation to distract you from thinking about negative stuffs but it still might cause to you stuck in the virtual gaming world.
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coops025 · mucho contributor Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 257

Now this is very interesting topic indeed.

I'm an avid wow player and suffer from Anxiety and have wondered if this game has contributed to Anxiety and de-realisation.

As any wow player will tell you its not the sort of game you can just put down and spend hours and hours playing.

So how can i tear myself away from this game??

Any other gamers need to post here, maybe we should all come off our well loved games for a while to see what happens.

Georgec · apprentice poster Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 38

When my brother had anxiety he would get panic attacks while he played video games. Sad to say that I loved it because we only had one computer and I wanted to get on. I know it sounds mean Embarassed

In any case, I just wanted to point out that this was not the cause of his anxiety. He still plays video games today and he no longer suffers from panic attacks. The reason for his anxiety was more towards his personality and his ability to cope with different problems related to the family.

Thanks,

George
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trigonometry · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1

I game (counter-strike) and I have to stop sometimes because it makes me have panic attacks. It didn't always happen, and I quit gaming for years and still had panic attacks, so I know it's not the cause--but obviously something about playing sets it off.

I don't really know what it is..maybe just nerves or getting into it too deeply. When you snap out of it, it's like the real world is there all of a sudden and the shift sets off a panic. Not to mention, the game I like is kind of intense. I really like to play and so I'm trying to work on ways to lessen my anxiety in general, but it's not really working. Shocked

Georgec · apprentice poster Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 38

Agreed. That was the point of what I said, the games are a trigger probably because you are already in a sensitive state with anxiety, but they are usually not the main cause.

Thanks,

George
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fernandogress · master poster Joined: 24 May 2009 Posts: 90

I am also agree with your advice.You have done an great job.. Such an informative and well formed post!Gaming is good but already in a sensitive with anxiety.
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Knawx · apprentice poster Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 34

Yeah, I think alot of it has to do with what types of games you play and for how long.

I myself love playing games like Halo, Call of Duty, Fallout 3 etc, but I notice that the more intense the game the more anxiety it induces. I've never had a panic attack while gaming but I imaging it has contributed to increasing the chance.

With that said, I have also noticed that gaming has been a great way to get my mind off of my anxiety and stresses. Especially if I play a low key puzzle game, or something that is slower paced like Super Mario World on the SNES.

I believe gaming is like anything else and too much of it is a bad thing.
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coops025 · mucho contributor Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 257

Ok i been trying some tests with gaming and Anxiety.

If you play agressive war games etc this is not going to help you, but in saying that it is a distraction. I think we need to play games that dont have the "OMG i got pwned" then throwing your keyboard accross the room.

Playing games can be a good distraction but playing too much can put stain on your eyes thus making Anxiety worse for some.

Basicly monitor how you react when you play, does your heart race ect?

I personally find gaming stimulating but if i do it for too long my de-realisation becomes worse so im taming it down.

Velrose · master poster Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 79

I use gaming as a distraction from my depression and anxiety. I played wow (though not long) EQ2 and Warhammer Online for a while. It helped, but I had to quit, because I began becoming obsessed with the online world and less and less content with the real world, which is a REALLY bad then when you have a child. As of right now, I'm not gaming online, but I do still play a LOT of computer games, PS3 and Wii--

dtrotter · master poster Joined: 25 Jun 2009 Posts: 90

Serioosuly, playing games is like avoiding the problem. You need to find out the root of your problem, ask why are you feeling like these? What are you lacking of? What you always wanted but have it? Like you wanted to be the desirable guy in school/college/workplace?

If so, what the hell you are doing now? depressing and playing game, how sad are you? Be anger with yourself for being so useless, and use that anger to fuel yourself to change for good. No one can help you, even the best drugs or physicians, it is only you yourself whether you want to get out of the rut.

good luck
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winry · apprentice poster Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 27

I just had to reply to this thread Razz

I'm an avid gamer - mainly RPG's (Final Fantasy~~), oh and Zelda~

I've never really considered whether they contributed to my anxiety, but I *really* don't think so in my case. I used to play them much more than I do now, but I didn't have anxiety then lol.

I do agree with what people have said about when you stop playing, it's back to reality and you feel kinda down (let's face it, it's much more fun in games xD), and you have to think about your anxiety again.

I guess there's a medium really - play lots so you can have fun and relax, but don't play so much that you can't deal with real life!

Squall ftw.

coops025 · mucho contributor Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 257

I use it as an escape sometimes and forget about my problems, i always feel so much better when im focused on a game rather that stting doing nothing or watching TV.

Problem is that im hiding and need to get out and about to face my fears.