For me it is kinda the opposite. Gaming doesn't affect my depression (except maybe to alleviate it at times) depression on the other hand does affect my gaming. If i've been feeling depressed for awhile I feel less and less like playing video games and as a result play less and less of them. I think it is mostly a motivational thing, cuz when depressed I don't wanna do nothin.

Well sometimes I fell like 'what's the point?' Though mostly I use video games as a way to help me think. Tomorrow's always a new day, if not, then the next. I'd say that I don't use video games to escape from reality but to cope with it.

Gaming has little emotional affect on me except that I have fun. Personally I feel if something like gaming is affecting you on a vary emotional level you may want to talk to someone, as being emotionally tied to something like that is not a good thing.

well i have acute anxiety disorder and it seems like the only thing that helps me get through a day to day basis is video games ive, whenever im not playing i feel really anxious

My depression is given a vacation when I play video games. Normally.

When I'm down in the dumps, video games are usually the 2nd thing I turn to (after baseball of course).

To tell you the truth, when I'm down, I play some CoD Nazi Zombies, and it cheers me up.

I'll move this to Video Game Controversy.

(moved)

Thank you so much people for your replies so far, I would love this discussion to continue and become deeper, perhaps a place where people can come for support and share their experiences, please respond sensitively though, we all expereince things in different ways, so one persons experience may not fit at all with anothers and this is a way of saying that there is no one answer or truth.

I am interested to see that some of you found your deperesion prevented you from playing games, I wonder what you may/may not have done alternatively.

I read that the best exercise to remove depression and prevent it is exercise itself. Long walks, fresh air and activity that makes you lose your breath and releases feel good chemicals, sometimes winning at a game does that.

I find I watch every episode of AVGN when I am depressed to cheer myself up, but staring at a screen all day makes me so depressed I cannot say.

I was thinking of starting a poll to see what peoples expereinces are, would this be something you people would be interested in completing and a good idea?

I do hope that with some support, we can help touch the lives of those affected by depression and perhaps it starts here one word at a time.

Thanks again and look forward to reading and replying to more comments, no dodgy ones though as they just waste everyones time.

I think it cures depression. Simply throw in a FPS and you will feel a lot better after killing people

I think it cures depression. Simply throw in a FPS and you will feel a lot better after killing people.

Pardon my ignorance but what is an FPS?

Humble thanks,

Totts

FPS = First Person Shooter

Single player isn't much fun but online is a blast. Though there are a lot of people who trash talk I would just ignore what they say and keep killing them

Thank you,

I think this is true, there does appear to be many people with anger issues who use gaming to express their violence and talk noncense, swear and are quite insulting, this means that blasting them in an FPS would be a blessing and make one feel better in the short term, but perhaps unsatisfying that we have to face these people in real life.

I can't really say my gaming and my depressed feeling, if I ever have any, are linked. Playing games wouldn't really improve my feelings. Only time or something else would do that. Playing FPS games online with people from my friends list would probably do a better job since I could talk to then and listen to their funny trash talk, as opposed to just simply playing a game.

It can be a good lifter of spirits if you really like the game. Generally if I'm feeling a bit depressed I'll turn on one of my favorite games or go over to a friends house and play a new game. If I'm feeling really depressed no game on earth would be able to make me feel better, I'll usually talk to someone or do something repetitive and time consuming to keep my mind occupied, usually something like sharpening my knife.

Games are like a cure for bad mood, at least that works for me.
For example whenever I'm angry, I like playing Assassin's Creed. It really helps me to calm down by slaughtering the "bad guys".
But whenever I feel that real life is boring, playing any Tomb Raider cheers me up

Generally, I think games helps people to avoid making bad or unpleasant thoughts, which usually lead to depression. Because your mind is always "busy" thinking about the game, and this way you avoid thinking about real life problems.

On the other hand, playing games can lead to isolation, but it depends on if you abuse them. It's like a medicine, if you take the right portion it cures you, but if you take more, it can kill you.

Zamiel : Sharpening knives (LOL) now that has cheered me up, thank you so much for your wonderful reply

It's what I do *cheesey thumbs up and grin*

What do you mean by copy and paste this into oyur signature??

p.s. Thank you guys for supporting this thread, I wish more memebers could access it, I beleive that talking about your depression can really help, and in this frum noone judges anyway as people I have met so far are really cool.

Thank you

For Me Games Help My Deppression When I Play RPGs Its Like I Am Them And It Helps Forget My Life And Makes Me Happy If Only For A Second.