Now, there has undoubtedly been a lot of coverage on the topic of video games and the fact that they damage mental health, make people depressed, and have adverse effects on not only physical health but mental health, too. Whilst, yes, some of this is true, it certainly is not all about the negatives because there are a lot of positives that don’t get talked about a lot, and it’s essential to shine a light on them, too. They’re not all bad, but they have their negatives, as everything does. However, they have some significant benefits, and some you might not even realise are one.
Video games still have such a stigma around them, but for some people, they create this escape, this world they can go into, one where they don’t have to worry about anything apart from what’s happening in that game. It creates this world for those struggling to go into it, forgetting about how they’re feeling for a little while and putting their concentration into something else. Playing video games brings people joy and makes them feel better, but it can also become addictive, and it can take a massive hit on your physical health more than anything. But, in moderation, it is something that can still be beneficial for you. Here are a few pros and cons of video games about mental health:
The benefits of video games for mental health:
- Problem-solving: We pick up problem-solving over time and most likely learn to do it at school. But playing video games can help a lot with that because you’re having to come up with ways to complete a puzzle perhaps and solve the problem. For example, in games where you have to escape a particular place, you have to figure out how to, which requires you to use your brain to be creative and solve the problem.
- Hand-eye coordination: In some games, you may have to focus on aiming, and that requires hand-eye coordination because you may have to run and aim at the same time, which requires your attention to both of those aspects. You need to focus on the aim, but use your fingers to move and click if necessary.
- Planning: Quite a few survival games require you to think of ways to come up with ideas on how to make food or even just how to survive. This means planning what you can do and figuring out what you have left. Managing resources that might be limited and deciding which ones you need is the same as what might happen in real life.
- Multitasking: In many games that require strategy, like creating a place to live, something might happen in that area, which requires you to take care of that but also carry on building and getting it sorted. This then forces the player to have to be more flexible and be able to change tactics very quickly.
- Strategy: Many games require you to be strategic, and that’s important on its own, as you have to deal with immediate problems that might spark up. While sticking to the objectives and completing them by a specific time if that’s what the game requires you to do.
- Mapping: Some of us can read maps like pros, but some struggle. However, playing video games helps a lot in that respect. Most games have maps and objectives you must follow, and to do that, you must travel to the destination, which requires you to read the map and follow where you must go. You’re expanding your map reading skills whilst playing a game, which is a valuable skill to have in life.
- Quick thinking: Sometimes, when playing a game, you may not even realise that you’re thinking quickly and having to make decisions within seconds. Choosing what way to go, who the bad guys are, who the good ones are. If you’re playing a story-telling game, you might have to decide what path you choose that has the best outcome, as these vary a lot, and there is always more than one way to play through.
- Concentration: Gaming takes up a lot of concentration; it keeps your mind busy and you focused. It stops your mind wondering and lets you focus on that game. This can be great for anyone suffering from perhaps anxiety or depression if they’re playing a game that calms them down, that they can lose themselves in—for example, a design game or a game where you must organise, build and clean.
- Taking risks: In life, there is always one point at which we will take a risk; it may be the worst or the best decision we make. However, we should be able to feel like we can take risks and push ourselves out of our comfort zones. That’s what gaming does; you sometimes have to take risks in games to get to the finish line.
- Management: Games where you have to manage a zoo or a theme park, perhaps, require you to have management skills to run the places properly and efficiently. This excellent real-life skill allows you to learn a routine and make decisions.
- Social skills: Perhaps you’re someone who doesn’t have a substantial social group, but you have quite a big onecommunity, or perhaps you watch streamers on T in your gaming witch and you chat along, making you part of their community. It’s a great way to talk to people, make new friends and possibly play games with them. Of course, always check up on everyone you speak to. If you feel something is off, don’t speak to them—a great way to socialise as long as you always do it safely. There are also many games to play with family, which are fun for everybody.
- Video games make learning fun: For children, games can be so fun to play and often help them learn quicker while having loads of fun. Concentrating on something and achieving throughout can be a real boost to their self-esteem and make learning a little bit more exciting.
The disadvantages of video games about mental health:
- Addictive: Video games can become very addictive over time. To a point where you’re not concentrating on what you need to and spend hours and hours every day on a game. Perhaps you forget to eat, care for yourself, and stay hydrated because you can’t take your eyes off the screen. When you play games, your brain releases dopamine, which regulates the feeling you get. When this happens, you get used to feeling joy and being able to concentrate. But, over time, your brain starts to get used to this feeling, which may prevent you from enjoying anything besides video games.
- Lack of motivation: Games require a lot of focus while playing them. They can take a hit on how you feel in terms of motivation because you’re constantly playing that game and wanting to play that rather than doing anything else. You might not want to put effort into anything else because you putat game, leaving you feeling unmotivated to d all your energy into playing tho anything else besides playing video games.
- Emotions: Of course, gaming has some significant impacts on how you feel; for example, if you’re concentrating, this may help when you’re feeling anxious or upset. But, it can negatively impact your emotions, perhaps getting don’t win a game, feeling upset when you don’t reach a specific goal or annoyed when you feel like you’re not good enough to play. Some games can have an online community where you play with other people, and sometimes, these people can be pretty nasty, which may make you feel disheartened and low.
- Repetitive stress injuries: This is a relatively common type of injury amongst gamers because it requires them to be strenuous and repetitive in the motion that they take with their hands and wrists. This doesn’t happen to everyone; there are just some things to be aware of. This can be for hours and hours on end, always having them in that same position. This can, in turn, cause inflammation and injury. Some of the injuries can be Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, commonly known as ‘Gamer’s Thumb’, where the tendons in your thumb become inflamed, leading to a lot of pain. Stenosing Tenosynovitis, aka ‘Trigger Finger,’ is where your fingers get stuck in a bent position. Lateral Epicondylitis, aka ‘Tennis Elbow’, which you can develop if you’re gaming too much, is a painful condition that makes the tendons in the elbow feel overwhelmed—carpal tunnel syndrome, numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand, and feeling pressure.
- Health issues: There are quite a few health issues that may occur; from the way you’re sitting, these could be so in terms of posture, not sitting probably, can cause problems for yourself. Eyestrain can be pretty common in gamers because they constantly stare at a screen. It can lead to eye fatigue and difficulty focusing if you don’t take breaks.
- Insomnia: Another common problem for gamers is insomnia. This can happen because you’re so invested in a game that you feel excited and energetic, and staring at a bright screen can lead you to not feel tired even if you’ve played it all day. The rush you get as you play the video game leaves your brain going a hundred miles per hour, making you feel more hyperactive and lively before you sleep.
- Relationship issues: While they help families connect when you play games, they can also cause relationship issues. If you’re with someone instead invested in video games, they may spend a lot of time playing them and not engaging with you. Neglecting other parts of their lives and the people in them is excellent, as it allows them to play in moderation and have time for themselves. But, when it gets to a point where you’re on it constantly and only saying hi to the person you live with once a day or only seeing them when you want something, it starts to become a worry.
- Social disconnection: While gaming can help you socialise, it can often make you feel disconnected. It works either way, but social disconnection is actually a rather problematic issue in the gamer community. You’re playing games constantly, but you might play them alone or not want to interact with others. You also isolate yourself from your family and friends because you’re invested in this game.
- Toxic environments: As previously mentioned above, some people in the online community can be very poisonous and like being hurtful to someone through a screen. A lot of bullying can occur if you’re playing online with others; comments that they think are funny may hurt someone’s feelings and make them feel really upset and perhaps even depressed if they’re not already suffering. You don’t always get these people, but looking out for toxic people in the community is essential.
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