When we connect video games with mental health, we often think of their negative consequences: what we know as disruptive video games, the possibility that they promote violence and social rejection.
What we often don't talk about is how video games can help us dispel our frustrations, something that goes in the order of the day as never before. Not all games attempt to shoot and kill, although these can also help us navigate.
Today it goes on sale Animal Crossing: A new light, is a life simulation game in which the player has to get around an abandoned island and gradually transform it into a community while building tools, furniture and buildings and talking to other citizens.
There has never been so much anticipation for the game, and it's that fans even asked for it to be released prematurely. But why? There are many gamers think that Animal Crossing it is a way to fight anxiety. Its simple and awesome activities like gardening or fishing, its beautiful and colorful landscapes and its slow-moving nature allow you to stroll through the real world. The people of a beautiful place are really helpful.
YouTube channel Screen Therapy conducted research on psychological factors that would explain the relationship between Animal Crossing and emotional well-being refers to the four aspects of mood control. This game is slightly higher in Valencia Hedónica (it feels more optimistic) and lower in Semantic Affinity (it feels really far away), which means it's an escapist game that raises your spirits but doesn't make you download adrenaline like other games the more action they do.
Stardew Valley This is another theme that is exactly the same, and is another great way to play on other game consoles or PCs. Founder found thousands of messages from players They wrote to him to share their knowledge of how the game helped them deal with their problems. For example, for a boy with autism, the game has helped him communicate more easily and establish relationships with his brother.
If fantasy isn't your thing, it's a game like this The effect of Tetris It would be good to focus on just one task. NPR's website published a article about an educational subject who discovered how a flow-stimulating game such as Tetris helped "people who wait for stories that might change their lives."
This "flow" is also known as the Tetris effect, something that has come up with the release of the first game. The effect of Tetris It is designed to nurture this particular feeling and evoke an emotional response. Focusing on one simple activity without too much planning can help separate the mind from other thoughts, such as the one found in yoga or meditation.
While video games are a great way to break the connection and keep your brain active when you're alone, it doesn't have to be one thing. A game that focuses entirely on reinforcing positive emotions Kind Words, consisting of writing an open and anonymous letter about anything that worries you. It is then posted to the public, which may respond to what you have written.
Patricia Hernandez from Polygon He has tried the game again, despite his limited and intimate experience, saying that "everyone who responds has done so with unlimited grace." When you add visual experiences to the game, you will have a theme based on building a caring community through the art of the game.
Multiplayer video games are a way to connect with friends through shared experiences. Crossing the Animals: New Horizons It provides this game mode, allowing players to visit other islands and help each other out with activities. So, you can find those things that will enhance your character and friend, even if it's not physical.
More topics the main Those with less speed increase this relationship between play and mental health. Riot Games, developer behind League of Legends, has partnered with Headspace's meditation program and the organization's program to launch a program they have named Remember and Restore.
The organization promotes healthy play habits and time management in front of the screen, and also offers families and friends who don't go gamers with guidelines on understanding why such recreation can be beneficial. You can find these guides at Headspace website.
Above all, video games can be a great way to escape reality. If you do not have one of the games mentioned here that you like, you can always find comfort in the mountains Zelda: Breathing in Wildlife, or focus on individual tasks, such as fighting Pokémon again and again. As long as you know how to control yourself and understand where to stand, video games will be a great way to unwind.
As I write this, I'm locked up at home and going out to buy something basic or take a breath, waiting for my city (London) to be shut off directly. It's scary not knowing what's going to happen and all the notifications I get on my cell phone about the epidemic are causing me more anxiety.
However, knowing that, soon, I will be able to escape to my desert island Animal Crossing It makes me see the light at the end of the tunnel during these difficult times, and I know it will work like a machine when real life gets too loud.
