Comment by glennonymous | Hacker News Reader

Comment by glennonymous | Hacker News Reader

The many skeptical comments on this thread are well founded, however the idea that video games positively correlate with well-being seems to resonate with my own experience. When I have downtime nowadays, I often tune out by listening to podcasts while playing video games on my phone. I jokingly refer to this with my wife as “dial tone mode”. This doesn’t take the place of reading; I read a lot of articles and books, both fiction and non-fiction. I reckon I read much more since I acquired a smart phone and basically carry a library in my pocket FWIW. But I don’t think reading serves the same function as dial tone mode. I suffer from depression and anxiety. When I’m not reading, I don’t usually sit around and have wonderful ideas. Instead, I listen to the often nasty voices in my head telling me there’s something terribly wrong with me and my life. This is especially true if I’m stressed out. Dial tone mode feels therapeutic to me, and iPhone video games are a part of that. I’m quite aware I could be wrong, even about my interpretation of my own experience. But so it seems to me.

I play computer games in moderation, and find them therapeutic too. I have had some really intense anxiety episodes and I attribute much of my present stability to having activities available that easily engage my mind. I think it's suuuuper important to feel your feelings and not be in a race with yourself to obliterate them, so it's important to focus on aligning your activities with your values, and not escapism. Flow, achievement and health and values of mine, so I play games with this in mind (hence intense and short episodes mostly). If you play to "escape" too much, it might be counter-productive, as this can result in a nasty feedback-loop. I guess what I practice is still escapism, sometimes, especially from boredom and work-stress, but I frame it more as an exercise in putting my attention somewhere, and being in the moment, rather than a fight to "feel good".

Also, I suspect the benefits of gaming align with higher-order human needs (e.g. From Maslow's hierarchy; problem-solving, confidence, achievement etc).

I suffered and still occasionally suffer from a lot of anxiety. It got pretty bad at one point and caused repeated panic attacks. Anyway, I'd caution you against creating an avoidance mechanism to deal with it. I noticed I would automatically grab my smart phone a lot to read something and I'm not sure it was really helpful. It was almost an annoying compulsive addiction. Not much different than reaching for a drink or cigarette really.

Obviously, sitting there doing nothing for long periods of time probably isn't great but I think it's good to just set aside moments where you stop trying to distract yourself. This can be done through meditation or some other method of your choosing (outdoor activity is good). It's good to let your thoughts come in and sort of train yourself to stop fearing them or having such knee-jerk reactions.

It seems like I've developed a healthier response to them by doing this. I can laugh at a lot of my stupid negative thoughts more easily now.

Or you play computer games when you feel well. A common symptom of ADHD or depression is anhedonia which leads one to have a hard time with video games.

This kinda hits home for me. I used to enjoy video games a lot before.

Now I play them in autopilot mode. Just enough engagement to ward the brain demons.

It's not so much an enjoyment as it is a reprieve from myself. I still enjoy them to an extent, but not as much as I used to.

That's fine as long as you have balance in your life. Probably healthy as long as most of your time is spent doing something meaningful to you.

But if most of your discretionary time is spent doing unimportant things, that can contribute to depression and anxiety.

"Dial tone mode" sounds a lot like the checking out alcoholics, drug users and other people suffering from compulsive disorders waste their lives doing.

I'm no expert, but there's probably a balance. There are certainly some benefits to zoning out for a bit, but there's also an opportunity cost. Spending N hours a week in dial tone mode is likely a good idea, but spending A LOT of time idling is probably not ideal (for whatever your definition of an ideal life is).

fellow depression+anxiety+spectrum compatriot; I echo your experience, and do not think you're wrong that (video) games can and are a valuable coping tool against the nasty voices that like to try to run our minds.

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