Gaming vs the People:

Throughout the world, everyone experiences mental health problems in one way or another, some more severe than others, but we all experience mental health problems at some point in our lives because we are human and we aren’t perfect. Some choose to report it and get help, whether it’s through talking to someone or getting medication to help, or even both, and some people choose to work on it themselves or keep within friends and family and that is okay too it is whatever is best for you. Mental health issues have increased over the years, and some people say that this is due to technology and social media. But at the same time some see technology and social media as an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of life. This is still a huge debate across the entire world and everyone has a different opinion, and this is what I want to talk about, and more specifically the gaming side of things. So, is gaming helping us or ultimately making us worse in the long run?

How does gaming help us and our mental health? Can it make it worse too?

Gaming has been known to be an escape from reality for those suffering with mental health problems as it gives them that break from the problems and situations that are happening in the real world and gives them a chance to live in a world where they are in control and they can be whoever they want to be and do whatever they want to do. But along with this, you also have to be careful because avoiding dealing with these mental health struggles can actually make it worse in the long run, which is what I will be looking into. There are many people who use gaming as a coping mechanism when it comes to dealing with problems in the real world. People who may have felt invisible and forgotten in the real world can go online and they may be the best and one of the most popular players out there because their social skills aren’t great but when online they are in an environment where they feel comfortable, doing what they enjoy and they can be themselves without having to pretend they are someone else just so they are able to fit into a particular social group. I remember being at school and there were a quiet group of people who didn’t speak much, got into their work and spent break and lunch times playing video games whether it was on their phone, Nintendo DS, or even towards the end of my last year in school people started bringing their new Nintendo Switches when they were released in March 2017. They would all sit together on the table at the back of the lunch hall and play their games, and this was their own coping mechanism for dealing with the stress that they had while at school. I find it fascinating how someone can get so lost in a game they can completely forget the outside world and problems that they are facing at that particular time. I was never much of a gaming person when I was younger, I had the Nintendo DSi where I looked after my Nintendo Dogs but that was as far into gaming as I got, but there was a way I related to these people who got lost in a game, I would get lost in music, especially Justin Bieber. I remember being at school and I was obsessed with Justin Bieber and everyone else liked One Direction, I used to be really shy when my mum got me a new Justin Bieber bag for school and scared that if I used it then people would laugh at me and I would be singled out because I was different and liked different things to them. My anxiety was terrible when I was there and I was very quiet and shy, but when I put those earphones in on the way home, I got completely lost in his music and that was my escape from my anxieties, the stress of social situations and school stress. Life is hectic and stressful, everyone needs something to help them escape from the real world. Some listen to music, some go to the gym, some get lost in a comfort series on Netflix or Amazon Prime, and some get lost in their favourite game anything from Call of Duty to Candy Crush. Anything can be a distraction, good or bad, it’s all about ensuring we moderate the amount of time we spend on a certain activity. Gaming excessively can really take a toll on your mental health, as well as your physical health. Going to the gym for example, it is healthy and helps you keep fit, but also if not moderated can actually lead to injuries, so it is important to do things in moderations so that whatever activity it is that you are doing you can still enjoy and use it to help you cope with difficult situations that you are facing in your day-to-day life.

The People

So we have agreed that gaming can have both a negative and a positive impact on our mental health, it is all down to ensuring we use it responsibly and moderating its use to ensure we take breaks and time away from screens when it’s really needed most to ensure it’s still an enjoyable experience rather than something else in your life that you feel you have to deal with. But, I feel that I have a very basic viewpoint of looking at it as I’m not a gamer myself. So I spoke with people from GoLiveTest and I asked them about their viewpoints on gaming and how it has helped them, and how it has affected their mental health, whether that be in a good way or a bad way. These were their responses:

 

 “In my late teens, I was in a very dark place. After school was an extremely tough time for me and while I was gaming throughout to keep my mind busy, It wasn’t enough. For me, gaming is special not only for the game itself, but who you meet. While playing Overwatch one night, I came across a couple of people who unbeknownst to me, would soon become my best friends. It only takes two random girls from Norway to truly form a bond of friendship with you to help dig yourself out of that pit. Unlike the “friends” I had prior, they not only cared but had great advice too. I knocked some bad habits, became more outgoing, and began truly enjoying gaming for what it is. A wonder-filled experience meant for a band of buddies to take in together. Always be on the lookout for friends, you never know who on your party of randomly matched teammates might become the friends you truly need and deserve.” – Sam Galvin 

 

“I feel like gaming definitely distracts me from overthinking. It’s a way to get out of reality for a bit and feel free.” – Muskaan Afzaal

 

 “Gaming has really helped me to become more of a social person and really get more involved with events and meetups, even if they are only online, I am still meeting new people and making new friends.” – Anonymous 

 

“I’ll go straight out there and say it, I wasn’t a popular kid in school. I was bullied a lot because I was clever and people didn’t believe that I could be smart and popular so since I didn’t exactly have the upper body strength to fight back I would accept it and continue with my school life. When I got home I would spend all my time in my room playing endless amounts of online games and just for that few hours I would feel like I was in control and I could vin against the bad guys. But, it quickly turned unhealthy for me where I would get so much anger built up for what happened at school which I kept in, and then coming home and losing a game that I would become aggressive, verbally and physically and this was when I realised that it was unhealthy and I needed a break. My mum began to homeschool me and I became extremely detached from the outside world and had hardly any social contact at all. It wasn’t until I was looking for one of my old school revision books when I found my Xbox and decided that enough time had passed and I was ready to play again. So, after my homeschool hours I would spend an hour playing FIFA 18 which was where I began to build up my new friends, people who shared a similar interest to me and we all chatted for an hour, played games and I began to feel like myself again for the first time in 7 months. So yes there’s the good and the bad of gaming, but if you enjoy it and you need an escape from reality where you are in control then it can really be a true lifesaver, just make sure you know when to say when enough is enough and take a break because you can end up doing more harm than good.” – Anonymous

The Pandemic

March 2020 was a time when everything changed, schools were converted to home learning, everyone was working from home, no seeing friends and family outside homes, no socialising of any kind, the world truly came to a stand still and everyone was stuck home and arguing in the shops about toilet roll and pasta. But the one thing that kept us all connected was the internet. It was a time where up was down and no one knew what to really do but work and eat. But, this was also a time when a lot of gamers thrived and people who had never worked before started to game and it opened up a whole new world of people and experiences. It gave people a chance to explore a world that they hadn’t before and talk with people from all over the world who were going through the same situation while doing something that they all enjoy and can all do together no matter where they are from, what their language is or their background, it brought millions of people together in a time where the world was upside down and everyone was at a loss. Personally, I think that gaming can be extremely beneficial to us all, giving us an alternate reality to escape to where we can be someone else and we are in control of our own fate. Having this place where we can let out our frustrations at a moderated level can be very healthy in maintaining a healthy mental state. So yes, I agree that it is very beneficial to be involved in gaming in any way that we can, as long as we know our limits and take regular breaks so that we do not get overwhelmed. 

 

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