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Do you use video games to fill a void inside?
- Thread starter Kitty Paws
- Start date
Yes, I certainly use. But games are not enough, if you feel empty and anxious all the time, maybe you should see a therapist, is a good idea and helps a lot, hope you can stay healthy and fine OP. Games are amazing and the best way to deal with reality, but they can not be treated as life saviors or the substitutes to meds and professional help.
Yes for sure, this world keeps getting worse and worse, need to have some sort of escapism.
Also I probably have some sort of functional depression that I can't get treatment because lack of money and time nway.
And yeah, and I have a small social circle and some other hobbies (mostly are being ignored at this moment though) but not is as good. Hell, I just prefer to be alone and peace playing my games after a really hard and stressful job week. And like, 90% of my weekdays are really hard and stressful (my job sucks) so yeah.
Also I probably have some sort of functional depression that I can't get treatment because lack of money and time nway.
And yeah, and I have a small social circle and some other hobbies (mostly are being ignored at this moment though) but not is as good. Hell, I just prefer to be alone and peace playing my games after a really hard and stressful job week. And like, 90% of my weekdays are really hard and stressful (my job sucks) so yeah.
Video games are probably an integral part of my life, so I guess it fills some sort of void? Though I've got many more important things going on in my life that I don't let it completely define me. Life before games, for sure.
Yeah, at least partly to feel like I'm accomplishing something with a clear goal. It may only be in a video game, but I crave the feeling of finishing something, and I really only get that in video games at this point. :( It's also why I like trophies, gives me things to work toward.
Not to "fill a void" per day. I love my job and partner and feel generally fulfilled.
But to escape anxiety or stress, absolutely. But I'd argue it's a more healthy alternative to a lot of other coping mechanisms (over eating/drinking etc.). I consider it one of the healthier ways I deal with stress and anxiety.
But to escape anxiety or stress, absolutely. But I'd argue it's a more healthy alternative to a lot of other coping mechanisms (over eating/drinking etc.). I consider it one of the healthier ways I deal with stress and anxiety.
I like being with people.
You can only talk about the same things so much.
Video games give more substance to those friendships because it gives more to talk about and a shared activity that we can work on together.
That's it. I don't really play alone. It's boring.
You can only talk about the same things so much.
Video games give more substance to those friendships because it gives more to talk about and a shared activity that we can work on together.
That's it. I don't really play alone. It's boring.
I mean, I was never allowed out on the street as a kid. Anytime I wanted to hang out with friends, my parents would need to approve and bring me there, didn't matter if it was around the corner.
It became so much of a hassle that I just started playing more video games. Now they're my coping mechanism whenever I feel upset, angry, stressed, what have you.
It became so much of a hassle that I just started playing more video games. Now they're my coping mechanism whenever I feel upset, angry, stressed, what have you.
Man everybody does this with something… just so happens on this gaming forum the majority of us use gaming, but it's pretty normal no?
Sure. Nothing wrong with it. I've used it plenty of times to get my mind on the right track when I've been confused and they've helped me when things have been rough. I feel thankful, actually.
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Yes but at the same time I've been made to think video games are what caused the void in the first place.
I clocked 400+ hours of Noita in a very stressful time in my life. Without it my mind would've kept racing.
Got through that time because it allowed me to escape.
So yes, there definitely is a therapeutic aspect for me in games.
Got through that time because it allowed me to escape.
So yes, there definitely is a therapeutic aspect for me in games.
For me it can become a way of procrastinating if I have something important to do that I don't want to face, I end up playing way more games than usual instead of doing what I should be doing.
Yes. Especially during Covid restrictions - I have used gaming as a coping mechanism. And it has helped some, but at the same time it has exposed gaming as a shallow pastime. It fills you like fast food - its fun, takes the hunger away, but doesn't fulfill you quite like a nice steak.
I get that feeling sometimes, and have managed to pin it down to not having been productive or creative enough recently. Gaming feels best when it's a reward for having achieved something, which is itself just a natural part of being human. If you aren't feeling productive or creative, your mood levels will drop.
The other big thing to watch out for is that you're not living vicariously. That can be a real problem with video game addiction, and will likely to lead to these sort of feelings. It's incredibly difficult during covid of course, but make sure you're still experiencing life, visiting new places, getting a sense of real world adventure. Doesn't have to be fancy trips abroad, you can even just go exploring local footpaths if you want, but it's important for your mental health to get outside and have your own little adventures.
I have it both ways...if I have an actual problem then I can't play, I need to go deeper into escapism like with a True Crime doc.
If it's for general procastrination on the other hand gameing is great.
As a refugee who is told by the local government here that we aren't allowed to work, that we should do nothing but stay inside the house and going out might be a risky thing if the police decided to check on us even if we have official papers from UN refugee agency, yeah it's either gaming or browsing the net and chat with people.
Nah, I don't have a void that needs filling. But I use video games to postpone all the other more constructive things I could be doing with my time. Video games are just too much fun and they're all too easy to engage with for instant gratification.
Yep, I game to 1) fill a void in my time schedule (aka a hobby); 2) to distract me from an extremely demanding job which leaves me drained and in a mood to be alone; 3) right now, also distracts me from a sinking relationship.
Yeah, are a useful thing.
Yeah, are a useful thing.
I have a serious chronic illness which means i cant live a normal life. Videogames help me by providing an outlet where the playing field feels level.
You could call it filling a void, i call it positive outlook booster.
You could call it filling a void, i call it positive outlook booster.
Isn't any activity/hobby/sport some sort of escapism?
In my country, gaming still has a bad rep and is often reduced to geeky or obsessive childish behavior.
But watching TV or Netflix all night is perfectly acceptable and sane.
In my country, gaming still has a bad rep and is often reduced to geeky or obsessive childish behavior.
But watching TV or Netflix all night is perfectly acceptable and sane.
I give some of my coworkers shit about sports all the time when they feel like talking down video games. Just give them a good counter argument. Most won't change their opinion, but some of them might start to think about it at least.
My hobby of gaming started as an escapism due to my younger years. Being bullied and all that. Later it became something I truly enjoyed and later also a way to connect with like minded folks :).