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| Video Games V Depression; Do they help or create it? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 6 2013, 06:06 PM (490 Views) | |
| DeeMoney | May 6 2013, 06:06 PM Post #1 |
Outback Adventurer
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So I came across this video which looks at the correlation between Video Games and Depression. The video focuses on some people that have gained help for there depression by the use of video games. Link - http://au.gamespot.com/world-of-warcraft/videos/video-games-vs-depression-6407898/ So I guess I'm wondering what you guys think about this subject? Do video games help with the symptoms of depression or do they contribute to depression? Depression plays a big part in society these days and more and more people are being diagnosed with this. I myself have suffered from depression and anxiety in the past. For me Video games have always been a great way to distract myself from things that may have been contributing to my depression on a daily basis. I find that loosing yourself in a game can help put some of the things that your depressed about into perspective. BTW, During the video a gamer name appears in it. Based_God is the name. The video is out of the UK, I'm sure that's someone here. Hockeylife on the Wii U. Watch the clip, is that your gamer tag??? Edited by DeeMoney, May 6 2013, 11:02 PM.
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Nintendo Network ID - DeeMoney19 PSN Network ID - hallxx81xx Xbox Live Gamertag - DeeMoney 2K19  | |
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| Phantom | May 6 2013, 06:19 PM Post #2 |
Veteran
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I think it could help, it could help people relax and like you said you can lose yourself in the game and forget, I think for a lot of people it wouldn't be a long time cure for depression but even if you played a game a few hours every couple of days it may well help and improve you slowly, especially if you start playing with some people or friends online aswell. |
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| floorcat | May 6 2013, 06:52 PM Post #3 |
Nintendo sixty-floorcat
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Interesting topic, and great video, Dee! Thanks for posting!!  Like Bane implied, and as it was mentioned in the video, I think games would help, depending on what kind of games you played, and/or how you played them. Even if you're playing some ultra-violent games, if you're playing these as co-op with friends, forcing you to interact and be (somewhat) social/sociable, then it could very well help you in your day-to-day copings with depression. I feel like it would keep your mind stimulated with new scenarios/interactions, and (at least) provide a worthy distraction from wallowing in your unhappiness. Being a means to present you with goals to work towards (and work towards them with others) without the insecurities often involved with physically interacting with strangers (and even friends!) is a huge plus, and I seriously believe such a facet of gaming should be recognized not just as a means to escape, but a true, honest way to improve & heal... just as long as you don't get addicted to it. Yet I'm no psychologist, nor have I taken any course even remotely close to the field. But those are my thoughts, anyway. Just don't go playing & re-playing Heavy Rain when you're depressed. You'd probably off yourself in no less than 3 play-throughs.  
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Now Playing: Clash Royale (mobile), Gravity Rush 2, Rayman Legends, Project CARS, Uncharted 4 Survival Mode ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
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| The Red Shadow | May 6 2013, 07:20 PM Post #4 |
The Seeker
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Video games help with my bouts of depression and anxiety. But I think gaming could also have the same effect as alcohol, drugs or gambling in that you can end up overdoing any of those things because of depression. That would be the one negative I could see. |
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| DeeMoney | May 6 2013, 08:05 PM Post #5 |
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Outback Adventurer
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For sure, I agree with that Red. Anything that consumes your life and makes you miss things that you would other wise do is unhealthy. I found the video very interesting. As you guys know I work in the field of Mental Health, so anything that has to do with video games and mental health I'll look at. I for one agree with the video in that it can help quite a lot, but being careful not to over do it can be important aswell, and something that you need to think about. |
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Nintendo Network ID - DeeMoney19 PSN Network ID - hallxx81xx Xbox Live Gamertag - DeeMoney 2K19 | |
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| Matt | May 8 2013, 07:45 PM Post #6 |
Kick, Punch, It's all in the mind
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Didn't watch the video as it is 2am here, but I can see how they helped. Infact, Halo 3 practically stopped me from an-heroing a few years back |
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| DeeMoney | May 8 2013, 07:54 PM Post #7 |
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Outback Adventurer
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What do you mean mate? Not sure what an-heroing means!
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Nintendo Network ID - DeeMoney19 PSN Network ID - hallxx81xx Xbox Live Gamertag - DeeMoney 2K19 | |
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| Matt | May 8 2013, 08:04 PM Post #8 |
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Kick, Punch, It's all in the mind
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From urbandictionary 1. to kill oneself, especially over something trivial Most likely not the correct term to use, but sums it up the most i guess. |
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| DeeMoney | May 8 2013, 08:07 PM Post #9 |
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Outback Adventurer
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That's no good mate. I'm glad that you had something to turn to so you could distract yourself from whatever was going on for you at the time. I guess that term has less impact than coming straight out and saying it 
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Nintendo Network ID - DeeMoney19 PSN Network ID - hallxx81xx Xbox Live Gamertag - DeeMoney 2K19 | |
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| Grizzmeister | May 8 2013, 08:58 PM Post #10 |
Latter-day Nostradamus
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I recall reading an article years ago which claimed that playing video games stimulates the pituitary gland in to releasing endorphins which act as opiates leading to feelings of well-being. So yes, video games theoretically can help someone deal with depression if that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. Neat topic!
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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
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| Highlander | May 9 2013, 09:59 AM Post #11 |
Scottish Member
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Do you think the Doctor might give me a prescription to buy CBFD?? Worth a try
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 PAL Collection No.2 148/243 PM me to get added to the N64 Forever Members Map | |
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| stinger9142 | May 10 2013, 05:49 AM Post #12 |
Endure and survive...
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Great topic, DeeMoney. I think it can go either way. Gaming can help you make friends and socialize more. It can give you a sense of accomplishment. That being said, gaming obsession can drive people from you. It can isolate someone ina hurry. In my own struggle with a heavy gaming addiction, this is what happened. The more alone I felt, the more depressed I became. I think every individual is different, but for somebody who may already be having issues, it can make it worse. |
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| YogurtStorm | May 10 2013, 11:16 AM Post #13 |
Your mom is a nice lady
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Well Bad Fur Day didn't do much good for my tourrette's All kidding aside, that was a good video and I believe in the power of video games. They can be a nice upper for someone who faces frequent intimidation or that has social anxiety and they are just plain fun! I think it's the rewarding empowerment that one feels when playing away that literally melts the world away as you sink into your own world. In real life you wouldn't hijack a car, kill 10 random people and mow down the police department. You probably would in GTA though. Maybe you're playing a game of Bully so you can turn the tide around once you take control! I know a guy who took it too far though. His family is poor, but he somehow always got the newest games every week, new systems at launch, all of it! Today I understand: His parents were "buying him away". They'd buy him all this stuff so they could do what they want and go out when they wanted whilst they knew their son would just be playing games down in the basement. I saw the guy a few months ago. Poor guy looks like he's been living under a rock. Course he aint helping himself but still. Pretty sure he is depressed, and he plays more games than me I'd be willing to bet. Edited by YogurtStorm, May 10 2013, 11:25 AM.
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My Youtube Channel: All game. No bla-bla. PS4 ShareFactory gameplay Home of Conker's Corner
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| flmadness | May 10 2013, 12:12 PM Post #14 |
not the droid you're looking for
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i like this! |
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| hockeylife21 | May 10 2013, 04:27 PM Post #15 |
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Senior Member
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Hold on im in this article? baha thats funny lemme check it out, ill edit this post afterwards. Dee what timeframe is it i dont feel like watching the whole thing
Edited by hockeylife21, May 10 2013, 04:29 PM.
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| Grizzmeister | May 11 2013, 09:25 AM Post #16 |
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Latter-day Nostradamus
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Depression is a big issue and getting bigger as the population in most developed countries is getting older. Also, global instability in every facet of life from political to economic is causing many more people to feel depressed. Here in the United States depression amongst some members of our society has driven suicide rates up to record levels and has actually gotten so bad within our military that the Department of Defense is scrambling for answers. In an effort to address depression and other psychological issues US President Barack Obama has started something called "The Brain Innovative". It's basically a joint effort by the public and private sectors in the US to map the brain in a way not dissimilar to the way the human genome was mapped. Keep in mind, however, that we now live in exponential times so it's quite likely that the Brain Initiative will progress much more quickly than the genome project did. With respect to gaming; yes on many levels it can help with depression. As I mentioned previously, it can help with chemical imbalances that affect the way our brains allow us to feel contented. Also, gaming can act as a distraction helping people get beyond a rough patch if their depression is merely situational. There is a very real danger with using video games to deal with depression, though. That stems from the fact that the endorphins released while gaming act as opiates thus humans can become addicted to them in the same way that some people become addicted to drugs derived from the poppy plant. Further still, games in which a player has to collect items have shown to have addictive qualities in people who are predisposed to becoming hoarders. Ironically this tends to happen most often in females whose brains after millions of years of evolution are wired to be gatherers as opposed to hunters. |
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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
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| DeeMoney | May 11 2013, 05:50 PM Post #17 |
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Outback Adventurer
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I think it's towards the end from memory mate. |
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Nintendo Network ID - DeeMoney19 PSN Network ID - hallxx81xx Xbox Live Gamertag - DeeMoney 2K19 | |
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| Grizzmeister | May 12 2013, 05:56 PM Post #18 |
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Latter-day Nostradamus
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I read a fascinating article in Wired Magazine several years ago in which they investigated how the game developer Bungie used electrodes attached to the head of gamers playing Halo 3, which was still in development at that time, in an effort to make the game more addictive. The data was fed in to a computer which monitored the gamer's brain waves and vital signs like heart rate to help tune the game so that the player was compelled to keep playing. Many variables would be adjusted based on the feedback including weapon damage and how much damage a player's character could sustain before dying. I was amazed to find out the level of psychological sophistication being employed and I was even a little concerned about the ethical and moral implications. Many people doubt whether mind control is real or not but I believe that article in Wired proved that even lowly video game companies have been mucking about with our brains for quite some time now. So did Halo 3 help with depression? I was never depressed while playing it. |
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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer
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| Alice Lawless | May 14 2013, 08:53 AM Post #19 |
N64 collection completed 7/29/12
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Oh man, don't get me started on depression. I get depressed from playing video games (especially the N64) because of associated memories. Gaming itself is a great escape from reality if your reality is depressing. But if gaming is linked to what's depressing you, it's just going to act as an accelerator for your emotions. |
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Facebook: STIK ROSS   297/296 NTSC N64 [100%] (Zelda GOLD) 7/7 PAL N64 [100%] | |
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| Omnert | May 28 2013, 11:57 AM Post #20 |
Collector of everything.
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I think video gaming can definitely help with depression for a few reasons. First, it provides a distraction, like television, but unlike television it's interactive, so you're not just sitting there but rather thinking about what you have to do, or how to accomplish your current objective. Second, it can give you a sense of accomplishment. I think everyone here knows how good it feels to finish a game you've been playing for a while, which can be a big boost to your self-esteem. Third, it can be a form of social interaction, like others have mentioned. Personally, I'm an introvert/loner, so most forms of social interaction leave me feeling drained, but gaming with friends online is a nice middle ground between going to a party and staying home alone. And I always enjoy hanging out with a few people and playing games, usually while watching a movie and/or having a few drinks. Just as long as I get some alone time to recharge my batteries afterwards. But like all good things, it can be overdone. If someone is extremely depressed and they do nothing but lock themselves away and play games all day, they're probably not going to get any better. |
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