Can video games be good for your mental health? Over the years, video games have gotten a bit of a bad rap. This is especially the case with first-person shooters. Nowadays, however, there are so many different styles of video games out there and you can’t simply brush them all off as being a waste of time. Video games are a great way for you to relieve your anxiety levels. Not only is playing video games a positive way for you to boost your mental health, but you may also be able to take advantage of some physical benefits by playing them.
Emotional Resilience
It can be frustrating for you to lose when you play against other people when playing a video game. That being said, games are a great way for you to learn how to cope with failure. They can also teach you how to be more emotionally resilient. You will be encouraged to get up and try again. This is a very valuable skill to learn and you would be surprised at how much it could help you overall.
Feeling Accomplished
Video games are very rewarding in terms of your overall achievements. When you play a game, you will be given goals or targets to meet. When you can achieve those targets, you will then be both praised and rewarded for your efforts. This can bring you a lot of satisfaction and it can work wonders for your mental health.
Recovery
It doesn’t matter what type of video games you play, because participating in them can easily help you to get through any tough times. They can also help you out quite a lot when it comes to trauma recovery as well. Video games can be a great distraction at the end of the day, and they can also help you to cope better with any mental health issues you may be having. This can include ADHD, PTSD or anxiety.
Problem-Solving
Video games are engineered to be more complex and difficult as you get through each level. You will need to think about them deeply and you will also need to analyze and strategize where possible. Playing video games will also connect the deeper part of our brain, to the point where your critical thinking skills are drastically improved.
Social Interaction
Multiplayer games are ideal if you want to engage with a worldwide community. You can partner with like-minded people and you can also connect with others with ease. You have the chance of being able to build strong relationships and you may even find that you can lean on others when you need to as well. Video games are a great way for you to learn that being part of a team is the best way for you to get the job done and this can be a very valuable life lesson overall.
Self-Motivation
Another benefit of playing video games is self-motivation. You will be rewarded for your persistence and your effort. Whether you are trying to solve a puzzle or playing card games like Freecell, it’s safe to say that there are always a lot of opportunities available to those who commit and who keep trying when levels get difficult. The best way for you to keep your brain happy and healthy would be for you to keep learning new things, and the more you try something, the more knowledgeable you will become. Even if you happen to fail a level, you will be encouraged to try again and again and when you emerge victorious, this can work wonders for your mental health.
Spatial Visualization
Video games can also help you to boost your spatial visualization. When you give video games a go yourself, you will soon find that they help you to increase your spatial understanding in real life. If this is something you have struggled with, then you could benefit from video games quite a lot. Spatial visualization is encouraged in a multitude of video games, from platform games to first-person shooters and more.
So as you can see, playing video games can come with a lot of advantages. If you have never given them a go for yourself or if you have not given any thought to video games in the past then now could be the time to change that. You may be able to reduce anxiety while also being able to take advantage of benefits that range from increased spatial visualization to better problem-solving skills. You can also boost your social skills too, which is great if this is something you struggle with.
