Sans addiction, video gaming has tremendous benefits in coping with stress and mood swings. But, not just mental benefits, studies show that balanced video gaming is beneficial to cognitive development.
Games teach many skills and concepts that can be beneficial in the real world. Therefore, video games are part of several therapies that deal with physical and mental issues. Also, there are video games that deal with mental problems on their own.
Video Games and Depression
Many companies have taken therapeutic gaming to another level. They have brought out games that intend to deal with mental illness. Here are some video games that claim to manage depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues:
- Depression Quest
- Night in the Woods
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Gris
- Celeste
- Sea of Solitude
Gaming and Mental Health Treatment
Anxiety disorder is a very common mental illness, affecting around 40 million people in the US alone. Video games have been used to treat such diseases since the beginning of gaming theory in 1975. Video gaming in therapy can be as simple as asking the patient to play a game to relieve stress and playing cognitive behavioral therapy-based games to help them collect milestones and rewards.
Video Gaming and Psychiatry
Alternatives are mandatory in therapies when there are limitations in medication. Video games help in increasing patient engagement. Also, learning and training can be easier through video games with the help of interactive and immersive media for patients with attention disorders. Video games with therapeutic content teach patients, especially children, to overcome real-life issues. Gaming is a proven way to learn, experiment with social and emotional consequences.
Video Gaming and Psychotherapy
The benefits of video games overlooked due to one-sided discussions about the disadvantages cannot be stressed enough. Medical science uses video games as a rehabilitative and psychoeducational tool. Medical professionals state that video games have a lot of advantages over traditional games for psychotherapy. However, it is not entirely used because most professionals are unfamiliar with video games.
Video Games and Mental Health Benefits
Mental Stimulation
Video games that have multiple tasks demand the players think, analyze and strategize. This allows the brain to work deeper and improve critical thinking skills.
Accomplishment and Satisfaction
Accomplishing tasks and achieving goals by successfully implementing our plans and strategies bring in a feeling of accomplishment. The reception of specific awards can complement this.
Social Interaction
Multiplayer games provide chances to interact with many players, decide and differentiate on who can be trusted and who cannot be trusted.
Emotional Resilience
Video games, like any other game, require multiple trials to complete. The trials help build patience and make the player resilient to frustration that happens as part of failure.
Apart from dealing with mental illnesses and cognitive development, users have also stated that video games have helped them deal with their learning issues. So unless you play video games for more than or around 10 hours a day, which is proven ‘excessive,’ video games can be good for you.