Is It Healthy For A Ptsd Survivor To Play Video Games?

[The Albatross]

I don't do fantasy games. I have done Tetris, Collapse, and Bejeweled. Mostly the noises the games make cause me to freeze or breath hold. Or both. I play for a while several times a week and try to normalize the sounds. People have told me to turn the volume off, but that's not really the point. The point is to practice until I can play through the sounds.

"The study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, is based on two experiments. In the first experiment, 60 participants watched a film containing scenes of injury and death. After a 30-minute structured break, 20 participants played Tetris, while another 20 played quiz video gamePub Quiz. The remaining subjects did nothing. Those who played Tetris had fewer flashbacks of the traumatic film than any of the others did. Incidentally, those who played Pub Quiz had the most flashbacks out of any of the groups.

The second experiment extended the break period from half an hour to four hours — even then,Tetris players experienced fewer flashbacks than the other research subjects did.

According to the researchers, chronic trauma flashbacks are usually made up of sensory, visual images. Participating in visually oriented tasks — such as playing a puzzle-like game along the lines of Tetris — will interfere with other visual memories and help reduce flashbacks. By contrast, performing verbal tasks after a traumatic event — like playing a quiz game — compete more with the part of the brain that helps people make sense of what they've experienced.

As the researchers point out in their report, these verbal tasks "may serve to increase (rather than reduce) later trauma flashbacks." Source: Playing Tetris Reduces Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Flashbacks

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I'm very sorry I just realised my phone auto-corrected your name to Hashing, :eek:I hope you took no offense!!

It's particularly games or anything that's clearly intended to be entertainment.

I think that's something I see differently, I don't see games as a form of entertainment in a fun and laughy way. I see games as a way to experience things I can't - whether that is basic social interaction or fighting for survival, or just getting out of the house (without actually doing so as I can't). I also take them seriously as seriously if not more so than a drama, again that's just me.

Early in healing I was trying to find information on a particular type of trauma which isn't much discussed. When I googled it I got a lot of results for video games about it.

I don't know what trauma's you mean but I do understand there is a shady side of games I've seen some of it and it's very unpleasant. Though I don't believe it's typical - even for independent games that aren't for the mass market. I know there is a high level of violence in mainstream games and I do notice it, in fact in nearly every form of media I've encountered there is.

I would still feel cautious about why something is in a game, how, and what alternative outcomes there are.

I think in relation to this game in particular, it was supposed to highlight that for all her rough tough abilities and skill with various weaponry she is still human, she is still vulnerable and bad things can happen to her too. It's supposed to juxtapose your original concept and then reinforce it, but in a more human and realistic way. She can fend of a tiger, an armed gunman but it's never personal and she's never really seemed that human, suddenly she does seem so. Now she's human enough to be vulnerable even if she does overcome her struggles. Even enough to cry once she's survived. It is not a sexy scene, she isn't sexy in it and most people who have played it don't see it as rape because there is not much to say so, sexual harassment yes, but no rape attempt (apart from one guy in an interview who said that was what it was).

I think that possibly it's different to what you think, it's not so highly sexualised, though I wouldn't advice you to watch it as it is graphically violent far more (I haven't played it but I have watched it, it's not my cup of tea). I don't like the personal touch - human or not, I want my games to be as far from this world as possible and almost entirely fantasy based, the less reality the better - except for emotional character development and relationships - Take the story line from Final Fantasy Ten, there was a lot of humanity in that. It's a playable story for me, just like a book that I'm a part of.

I've also seen things in manga and comics that I think ought to be more shocking to people given what it actually is, but they're routinely read by teenagers or even younger.

I agree that there is questionable things in manga (and anime for that matter) but that it doesn't represent the whole market or even a large part of it. I'm also half on comics although usually it's about humanising a superhero and overcoming the issues, but I'm thinking very mainstream and I'm not that well read in comics.

I definitely do agree on some aspects of what you say, many gamers don't play in the same way I do and many do see it as entertainment. I don't always disagree that that's good or bad, because some people can let of steam in what seems an unhealthy way and reduce negative traits such as aggression and others increase those traits. I should think the same should go for those with PTSD if not more so, it gives you a safe environment to either re-experience something similar to your trauma and use that as a form of exposure, or to experience other situations normal or otherwise - equally it could be triggering and put the player or people around them at risk. It beats dissociation as a method of escaping for me but I haven't played a game that relates to my trauma in any way! I think more than anything it depends on the individual and the circumstance. I would not recommend games to everyone with PTSD, or even half, unless they already had played games, definitely not something relating to their trauma unless they wanted to try it and not if they couldn't take the storytelling method being personal - as the first thing games do is put you in the position of their characters.

Something I do know about myself is I have a tendency to defend gaming and gamers as I find that blanket statements are made without proper understanding and with a lot of presumption ( I happen to think that violent video games typically reduce stress and provide an outlet for any issues with aggression or anger where no one gets hurt, they help deal with primal needs that are no longer necessary in our world - with possible exception of warfare). People who play action/violent video games are very rarely violent just in the same way as people who watch horror films are rarely serial-killers. People who are seriously psychotic and left with out help and treatment however may be violent but they would have been, violent media or not - I think. Very interesting topic by the way.

 

[Stanley Shi-Yume]

I wanted to clarify what I said..

As much as I would LIKE to write you a long book here in your thread... I'll just say this:

Games saved my life--- if anything were the only way for me to mitigate and reduce PTSD symptoms, before I understood them.

The majority of time we spend in games is failing.. but because we might win, we keep working on it. The only place I was in control and able to win... games like Manhunt even put me in a position of power over oppressors. Games like fallout and diablo 2 were my sanctuary in the teenage years when I was still in the bad environment.

The one thing they gave me as a lasting impact, too, was a model for grounding. Cathexis is an emotional or libidinal investment in an object. I used this understanding from Mike Langlois' writing to find for myself a broad array of ways besides just spending time creating my game personas that would lead to the same emotional benefits.

Now that I am learning grounding techniques, I use an area from one of my recent favorite games, Flower, as a "happy place" to go to in attempt to combat dissociation.

There is no more addiction to game playing as there is addiction to running on a treadmill or playing music. However games get scape-goated very heavily for other issues.

 

[JarHed]

Interesting thread.

I'm a combat vet with PTSD. I play video games; FPS games and at time some things like MechWarrior. But also play things like simcity, maze and puzzle ones as well. For me it doesn't affect my condition at all. I'm sure that it will vary from person to person. I think of it as play and escape.

JarHed

 

[The Albatross]

Personally, since there are only so many hours in a day, my preference is to seek cognitive benefit and possible improvement rather than escape.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I play video games; FPS games

I'm very curious about this JarHed, do you find FPS's triggering or a safe way to relive or separate entirely? Thanks this was something I was very curious about in particular as there is no trauma that is portrayed so accurately as Combat trauma (in my opinion). Also as far FPS's go, do you find something like Halo more suited to you than something like Modern Warfare.

Also I agree entirely with this:

The majority of time we spend in games is failing.. but because we might win, we keep working on it.

and this:

However games get scape-goated very heavily for other issues.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

FFX nowadays, so it does get violent a lot.

FFX also has some amazing character relationships in the story, which I focus on far more. I find FFXIII far more violent than FFX.

I think escapism and enjoyment is helpful as well as cognitive development. I can read for hours a day for days at a time - is me being addicted to reading or is it just that I love the story and want to see how it all pans out? I don't think it's playing games regularly a lot for your down time. If I was in a position of being able to work, when I came home, I'd want to play a game or read, or browse the internet - if I were in a relationship as well I might do something with my partner - multiplayer gaming or watching something with him. That down-time is your own to enjoy I think, in whatever way you enjoy it. As long as you can still (if you're able to) work or (again, if you can) have social interactions.

my preference is to seek cognitive benefit and possible improvement rather than escape.

I don't know if I could spend 12+ hours a day trying to look for cognitive benefits, nor do I think that focussing on only healing is helpful, it can be very draining and if gaming is what recharges your batteries (obviously aside from sleep), I think that it can be a fair hobby, even if it is a time consuming one.

 

[Mybirch12]

I think if you find it doesn't trigger you and you enjoy it, then go for it. It's similar to watching a tv show that you like...but you have a bit more control and quite honestly the release could be quite good?

I haven't read this entire thread and I suspect there are MANY good answers both for and against gaming, but I remember really enjoying the focus I've had gaming, the reward of finishing levels or finding the strategies!

I say at least try it and see how you feel, be cautious, and maybe be sure to play with someone you feel safe around.

 

[JarHed]

I'm very curious about this JarHed, do you find FPS's triggering or a safe way to relive or separate entirely? Thanks this was something I was very curious about in particular as there is no trauma that is portrayed so accurately as Combat trauma (in my opinion). Also as far FPS's go, do you find something like Halo more suited to you than something like Modern Warfare.

Hi Kas

I've played some of the Battlefield games, online and also Quake Wars online and I was fine with them. I didn't care for Halo or a few other that you mentioned. Just not my cup of tea, I guess. It is curious though that I have a greater problem with anxiety, for instance, when I go to the Mall then playing a game. I've been playing games since Pong, that's a while. I enjoy the escapism and reality of the places in game. It seems that it's totally separate from my non-game reality and I'm able to make that distinction. I'm sure it's not this way for everyone. Why it's that way for me, I don't really know.

I don't play as much as I used to. I still enjoy playing just have other priorities now.

JarHed

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I've been playing games since Pong, that's a while.

Jealous! Not that I can't play Pong now - I think my computer can handle it! But to have seen the progression of games over the years. I wasn't allowed to game when I was younger despite a strong want to do so - maybe that's made me enjoy them all the more now and I caught up by playing through a lot, but I wish I had been able to play before and to have been able seeing the advances as they came, I find it fascinating now - both in terms of story and graphics and soundtrack.

I didn't care for Halo or a few other that you mentioned.

All I meant is for example that Halo=aliens=not realistic, Call of Duty=Human=pretty realistic. But:

I enjoy the escapism and reality of the places in game.... totally separate from my non-game reality... able to make that distinction

that thinking kind of voids that thought. Personally, I entirely get that and I agree, that is pretty much how I experience it but I understand why people wouldn't.

Thank you for your information, this was something I was very curious about. :)

 

[JarHed]

Hey Kas

It is interesting to note the vast changes in computer and video gaming over the years. I've always enjoyed the environments created by the game programmers. They seem to be getting more and more, if I can use the word, realistic. Still for me it's escapism which I will always enjoy.

Oh, and yes I like the alien shooters better than the others. And your welcome.

JarHed

 

[The Albatross]

I don't know if I could spend 12+ hours a day trying to look for cognitive benefits, nor do I think that focussing on only healing is helpful, it can be very draining and if gaming is what recharges your batteries (obviously aside from sleep), I think that it can be a fair hobby, even if it is a time consuming one.

I'm not sure where you got the "12+ hours a day to look for cognitive benefits" or that I focus "on only healing". First off if you're doing anything for 12 hours plus, it's compulsive, avoidant, or escapist and needs to be brought in line with other life values... secondly, play is important... but mindful play gives me the extra added bonus of perhaps some cognitive benefit.

Time for me is a finite thing... I prefer, personally, to maximize potential benefit. Perhaps you do not.