More Than A Game - Our Mental Health and Gaming

Video Games
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Over the last few years there’s been a number of games that have hit home when it comes to the topic of mental health and our overall wellness as human beings. Some games are raw and unapologetic in their approach and portrayal, others are softer and help us heal in gentle ways.

I’d really love to have discussions about how we’re all doing? How do some of us use games to process the real world? Have any of you stumbled across games that you haven’t really been searching for but have wound up showing you that maybe you are going through something?

Of course this is all deeply personal so I would never ask anyone to share something they are not comfortable with but I would love to have discussions about how gaming has helped some of us or even just shown us new and different perspectives on life, relationships, work, trauma and nature.

A personal one for me was Dreams, a game about a musician filled with regret and self doubt who’s constantly running away from the past and present. Although his selfishness that he’s trying to make amends for doesn’t resonate that strongly with me, I really connected with his anxiety and feelings of self doubt and self belief. The emotions in the game are expressed beautifully through amazing visuals and I walked away feeling more in-tune with myself and what I needed to address. Some of the guilt I walked away with from University was that I realised I didn’t want to pursue a career in computer science despite spending tens of thousands of pounds on it and studying it for 3 years, instead I felt drawn to the arts and nature which are things that have always been in my life. Seeing the incredible visuals and witnessing the touching story that had been told inspired me and gave me reassurance that art is powerful, meaningful, and it can change people’s lives. Realising those things helped me shrug off my guilt and allowed me to walk with confidence in the new direction that my life was heading.

I look forward to anyone sharing their own experiences:)

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Maybe it’s a bit of a stereotypical answer but one of them is always gonna be “Night in the woods”. It’s probably mostly the period in my life during which I played it aka after dropping out of university but it really hit home. Mae was too relatable with her inability to find purpose and feeling guilt over “squandering” such an opportunity while the people in her small town would love to have what she had. It’s like the days were passing in a blur and despite her going out with friends and trying to reconnect with them, things just still felt wrong until the end. Honestly anyone in their 20s or just anyone whos felt listless and not knowing what the hell to do with their life, will find the game really relatable.

And the other is always gonna be “What remains of Edith Finch” cause besides just being a really great game with such good storytelling, Ediths final words really struck a chord with me " It’s a lot to ask, but I don’t want you to be sad that I’m gone. I want you to be amazed that any of us ever had a chance to be here at all." It’s such a tragic game thats basically about you reliving the death stories of so many people but despite that it’s not nihilistic and negative in the end. More so about appreciating even the smallest of things in life and feeling lucky that you get to experience any of it. It’s bittersweet and in a strange way it makes you hopeful about things.

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Thanks for sharing those two games, I’ve seen artwork for Night in The Woods but never knew what the game was called. It sounds very interesting and very relatable to a lot of young adults growing up in a town or area that doesn’t grow with them. Definitely wish listing this (already spent a lot of money this sale).

I have What Remains of Edith Finch on my epic account i think? Or maybe playstation but i haven’t played it yet. I didn’t realise it touched on those themes. It sounds utterly beautiful though. I’m not sure exactly what the story is about but death seems to typically be framed in a negative way, and yet life is always a part of the cycle somewhere along the way. It’s life that is to be celebrated and thankful for, every small moment is precious, and ultimately at the end of that cycle we get peace and closure as we slip away into death.

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Perhaps a ridiculous answer, but there’s a NakeyJakey video called “Dark Souls Saved Me,” where he talks about how Dark Souls got him out of a deep depression and gave him a sense of control and meaning in his life that really resonates with my experience. There’s SOOO many video essays on youtube talking about dark souls and depression now, so there must be something to it.

Diving deep into the philosophy behind Dark Souls is what introduced me into Buddhism and existentialism for the first time, which has had a profound impact on my life over the past decade. Seems crazy to say about a video game, but I truly think if I had never played Dark Souls in 2012, I would be broke, depressed, and addicted to something right now.

If I ever get a tattoo it would probably be “Don’t you dare go hollow.” Five of the most profound words in gaming.

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That’s exactly how I’d describe part of the main plot actually and it goes bit beyond that cause of the way it explores mental illness as well cause oh boy, the main character sure has some form of it but I wont spoil. Just that the gameplay really reflects all of that in a very interesting way.

Edith Finch is a really unique case to me cause walking sims are usually a bit overlooked by people but anyone whos played it, will tell you it was so damn worth it. Some of the stories the main character walks you through (each with its own unique form of gameplay design) are so gutwrenching, you’d need a moment. And not to mention how good the environmental design of the house is, where the main story takes place. If you are a fan of big houses with lots of secrets and secret passages, and this sort of cluttered and lived in feel? You’ll like this one a lot.

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I used to watch a lot of Nakey but sort of skipped his dark souls video because it’s just a genre that never really interested me because of how punishing it is. There’s probably something there in itself to unpack about why I run away from challenges.

It’s interesting to hear that there’s accounts of the game helping people through depression and other problems. Could you talk a bit more about the links to Buddhism and existentialism and how it shaped your life, if you don’t mind? Thanks for sharing what you already have, really fascinating!

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Just found out I own Edith Finch on playstation so will be downloading that soon! Thanks!

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As a social worker I see this too. It is great that games are starting to understand “mental health” in there plots. Hex even my favorite series halo has mental health in some of the plots.

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i discovered Mouth Sweet when i was 11 years old during quarantine. i did not play the game itself until recently, as my laptop resided at my bio father’s and i had a mere tablet, but to say it left an impact on me would be an understatement.

i couldn’t quite articulate it at the time because i was still young and an egg (in the trans way), but despite it taking place in a corporate office, it captured a particular feeling i had doing online school while with my mom, who at the time was at her worst - in my lifetime, that is. i was abused, traumatized, stressed, anxious, and having an identity crisis, and mouth sweet alleviated the pain, even if it was for only a little while. i related to the main character heavily and would constantly draw fanart of her, make amino layouts with other fanart, etc. during a time of constant turmoil, it was my escape, my catharsis. it saved my life.

im much better now and more comfortable in my identity. i’ve also forgiven my mom, because she’s trying her best on a day to day basis, and we’ve come so far since then. i still listen to the soundtrack now and again and i think the game holds up so well. it’s a genuine work of art. it is so, so unbelievably important to me.

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That’s a beautiful share, thank you. I’m glad that you had a character and game to relate to and turn to for moments of comfort when you needed it. I can see how important it is to you! It shows how impactful games can really be, even life saving in many situations. Thanks again for sharing your journey and its nice to see you still revisit the soundtrack! I’m also glad that you’re more comfortable with your identity:)

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A few years ago I was diagnosed with C-PTSD due to childhood abuse I believed was not abuse and was normal until my late-20s. I guess I still don’t really know what’s what… and I don’t feel like I’ve ever changed. I feel exactly like how I did as a kid, but I can’t remember it clearly. It’s all fragmented. It feels like I don’t understand the world clearly, too, like even though I’m in this adult body I still look at everything through the lens of a child, stuck. I’m sure you could learn more on the facts of C-PTSD than I could accurately tell you, so instead I wanted to give people context for what the “experience” feels like, because it’s all I can speak to.

Ever since diagnosis, I have been trying to reckon with it. It has been difficult and I have lost so much in the last few years since then. I had a really rough break-up with a partner, our family dog passed and I took care of my mum for half a year when she desperately needed surgery, in that order. Even though this was all over the course of three years, it felt like one really long year, and all of my issues were put on the back-burner to deal with the immediate. After everything, it’s like I’ve only just gotten the chance to swim up for air and try to assess where I’m at with my own mental issues.

Through my whole life games have been my method of coping through difficult times, so it feels natural to pick characters with struggles I could identify with, even if they were fantastical and not connected to my disorder. One I closely identify with is Final Fantasy X. Tidus is transported a thousand years into the future after being attacked by a world-threatening monster called Sin. Due to his proximity to Sin, seen to be poisonous, Tidus often apologizes for behaviour; his head is foggy-like, his memories are scattered all over the place. When I came back to FFX in recent years, I couldn’t explain how much I identified with this feeling that I need to explain myself for the way I am. But the way Tidus negotiates his “trauma” is inspirational; he laughs in the face of it, challenging his fear with an equally formidable support system in his valuable party members. I know these things can never be this simple, but I like to think there are pieces I can take from Tidus’ story to help me along in mine. At least, I think I can learn to open up a little bit, though truthfully it is the thing I am most afraid of.

I hope I don’t seem full of myself and silly to compare my struggles to a video game protagonist, but they really do help give me some insight into the ways I perceive and process my own trauma. I hope it’s okay that I’ve posted in this thread after such a long time, too… when I talk about this kind of thing, I feel like I am “trauma-dumping”. I stumbled across this thread in the middle of a panic attack and enjoyed reading posts on peoples experiences, so I thought it’d be appropriate to share a bit of my story, too, and how games have affected me.

This post was meant to be a bit longer, with a few more examples, but as the symptoms from the attack just now wear off, I become really exhausted… I’ll have to leave it there for now. But the sleepiness means the worst of my panic is over. I can start to relax my body and mind bit by bit, so even if I end up exhausted, I believe it helped me to be able to talk through my feelings here.

And just in case anyone might be worried about me, it’s okay! I’ve got a lot of experience dealing with symptoms and I’m in a safe space, both physically and on Grouvee. It’ll pass. Thank you for listening :slight_smile:

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I don’t think it’s silly to feel a connection to fictional characters. That’s one of the reasons why people love stories so much. We see ourselves inside the characters in these tales, whether fantastical or not.

I think the character I have felt strong identity with is Joel from the Last of Us. I will admit it feels cringy to talk about it now that I’m doing it hahaha. His traumatic experiences have shaped him into someone who distrusts and even hates people, who distances himself from others, is quick to anger, and would rather watch the world burn than lose the ones he loves. I heavily identify with all of that. There is a scene in the game where he gets really angry when Ellie tries to empathize and help him through his trauma and it made me remember how when I was a kid, if I was caught crying or hurt or upset, and someone asked if I was okay, I’d scream at them that I was fine and that I didn’t need help from anyone. His character traits aren’t unique but his mannerisms and personality are what hit home.

I’m glad you are feeling better and that Grouvee is a place that feels safe to you. I know many of us feel grateful for this little corner of the internet because much of the netscape is no longer safe.

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It’s awesome that you took the time to share and also worth pointing out that I think almost any artist who puts their stuff out into the world would love to see someone relate to their creation (character, in this case) in the way you described. It can feel silly but it’s definitely what makes art so important at its core. I’m sure the writer(s?) behind Tidus would be ecstatic to hear about the impression he made on you.

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I just wanted to say firstly thank you for taking the time to write how you feel and what you’re going through, you’ve articulated it all so well, I never know how to respond to these kinds of things properly without it coming across in an odd way but I just wanted to say I have a deep appreciation for everything you’ve gone through, your journey, and how you’re dealing / processing it all.

I created the post originally because I think these kinds of discussions are really important, and also to show that a lot of us are going through or have been through tough events in our life and video games can often be such a big part of that process. I couldn’t agree more with what Roach and BurningKirby have already said, the connection with characters whether it be games or books is a really powerful thing and it’s not strange at all. We’re all human, these characters are extensions of the author and their surroundings, and most of us fundamentally crave connection, whether that be through a person or a character that a person has poured their soul into. Like BurningKirby said, one of the best thing an artist can experience is for someone else to connect with and understand the art that they’ve created, so they would be so happy to hear stories like yours.

I recently sort out help for anxiety that’s gotten out of control and I found it really helpful to explore my thoughts by exploring them on paper much like you’ve done in your post, I relate a lot to the way you sort of narrate the panic attack itself and coming down from it. If you ever feel like using this thread as an outlet to write more posts like this, obviously feel free to do so! I also talked to someone today who’s got over a period of mental health issues and he’s started leaning into it all as well and laughing in the face of it as you described. Like you said it’s not that simple, but when you do get those moments of clarity and you are able to laugh at it almost, it can be quite liberating and puts you back in the control seat, even if it’s just for a short while.

Thanks again for the post, sorry I forgot where I was going with this reply anyway!

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Honestly, you (and BurningKirby, and Roach) couldn’t have put together better responses to what is an emotionally vulnerable post. I really just wanted to be as candid with myself as possible. I’d never suggest anybody needs to respond to something like this—but I at least want to assure anyone who does that I’m very thankful for taking their time to write them, let alone reading what I wrote! If I managed to open up a conversation with these thoughts, maybe get others who are struggling to share their stories too, just like the writers for video games that create the stories we identify ourselves with—that would make me very happy! It has been very meaningful to me just sharing and reading others thoughts.

I’m not usually so totally honest with what I’m feeling, and when I try to be, I tend to freeze up and run away. When I was writing my initial post I thought about deleting it like a dozen times. I think this is a PTSD type? In any case, I’m very glad I stuck to it, especially if it can give insight or a space to share to others who may be struggling or in a tough spot.

I wanted to let everyone know I’ve been doing well since my last post. Mental health and healing and all that stuff is not a linear process and involves many ebbs and flows, and a journey that largely lasts a lifetime. but like Tidus, it’s my story! As I continue to learn to live again, I am at peace with this. Thank you everyone for being a part of it, too.

And most of all thank you for making this thread in the first place, Atag! I’m sure you know this thread is a fine venue to explore your anxiety, as I explored mine, and I’m certain myself and others will feel comfortable sharing our experiences here down life’s road. It really does help to talk about. It definitely helped with that panic attack :slight_smile:

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