Mental Health and Gaming: Fun, Coping, and Sometimes Burnout
One of the many hobbies I have is video games. I have loved playing games since I was a kid. It’s been a fun medium to make and bond with friends, it’s a bit of escapism, engaging in new stories and having fun in various ways. Even now, it’s becoming more mainstream with even people having opportunities in jobs as professional gamers, jobs to work in an industry, and accessibility and catering to different types of demographics.
What I noticed when it comes to games is how much they can affect our mental health in positive and negative ways. Right now, I want to briefly look over gaming and mental health and possibly expand on these topics in the future.
When I look at and meet other people who are into video games, I see how there are a lot of topics in regards to mental health. Video games have been a great source of comfort, fun, and representation for a lot of people. As I have discussed with peers and other BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people, representation and visibility are important, and aside from movies and books, games are another form of media that can be stories or experiences that can be cathartic and even feel valid for communities.
Video games can also be seen as a source of meeting and connecting with interpersonal relationships or fun activities to spend time with loved ones and bond with others. I’ve seen instances where video games can even be a healthy way of coping, such as people being able to express themselves outside. I see a lot of trans and nonbinary people who like to play games with character creators to validate and express their presentation or even to explore. During COVID, I saw video games as a way to help ease the loneliness of isolation. I remember celebrating holidays and birthdays through an MMO with my friends during tough times.
Sometimes video games, like any other hobby can have downsides, such as burnout or avoidance, and even addiction. Like all enjoyable things, sometimes it can be an issue when people neglect relationships, responsibilities, and things that affect quality of life (if there isn’t a good balance). Sometimes games can even be used as avoidance to escape issues instead of healthy coping or using games to take a self-care break. In competitive gaming, there can instances of burnout where it can take a toll on a person’s mental health.
The important thing is to know a good balance like everything that’s a hobby or something important to them. Sometimes it can be challenging as some people believe that video games are silly and childish and that it’s not a valid use of fun or wasting time. The reality of it is the impact of games and mental health is valid, and as you can see how they can affect us in negative in positive ways. It’s always good to check in with yourself and the relationship with games to see where you may need to watch out for but also where it's important and fulfilling to your life.
