At the end of a long day, I often like playing Tetris just to clear my head of thoughts. When it's hard for me to sleep, I picture doing a run of familiar game levels, such as World 1-1 of Super Mario Bros, or the Green Hill Zone in Sonic the Hedgehog, and it doesn't take long to calm down and drift off.
As it turns out, games and meditation have a deep link. Ogyen Trinley Dorje, a high ranking Buddhist leader recognized by China, Tibet, and India, and head of the Karma Kagyu school, believes that video games are better than meditation for taking out aggression. There are further reaching benefits of video games for the mind and body, and we'll explore some of these after the break.
Kick Some Ass
Expressing aggression in a video game can often be beneficial. Opposing the views often conveyed in mass media, video games do not nurture violent thoughts, but can be used to release it in a more passive way. Dorje elaborates in an interview with TechDirt, "So, for me sometimes it can be a relief, a kind of decompression to just play some video games. If I’m having some negative thoughts or feelings, video games are one way in which I can release that energy in the context of the illusion of the game. I feel better afterwards. The aggression that comes out in the video game satiates whatever desire I might have to express that feeling. For me, that’s very skillful because when I do that I don’t have to go and hit anyone over the head."
Rampaging in Grand Theft Auto V, mowing down a field of soldiers in Dynasty Warriors, or bashing baddies with multi hit combos in Bayonetta can be extremely satisfying in this regard. Fighting games can be cathartic as well, as long as you're on a winning streak!
Just Chill Out
Not all meditative experiences are about dealing with an overpowering emotion. Meditation can be about focusing on one thing while letting go of any distractions that may enter your thoughts. It is possible to induce such relaxation through repetitive tasks which can quiet the mind. Daily chores in Animal Crossing or Harvest moon, a casual dive in Endless Ocean, and whisking across a field in Flower can be quite calming. Grinding for levels or replaying a favorite you've memorized while listening to a podcast can be a good way to unwind.
We can also engage in a complex thought process to distract us from negative thoughts, breaking free from a circular pattern that could otherwise become a crippling obsession. Solving a puzzle in the appropriately named Zen Bound, contemplating an advanced Picross board, or a more active challenge such as Tetris and even a racing game can allow us to engage in an elaborate mental exercise. Keeping your brain busy with something constructive can help conquer a ceaseless and futile cognitive discourse.
Escape Reality Temporarily
Losing ourselves completely in a story can be an escape that allows us to clear our heads and later return to our daily problems with a fresh perspective. Just like a challenging boss can be overcome on the first try after taking a break, so can a real life roadblock after we come back with a renewed calm. Chrono Trigger is a perennial favorite, wandering the vast world in Skyrim feels freeing, and it's hard to remain stressed while playing the beautiful and whimsical Ni no Kuni. All of these games have incredible soundtracks, some of which can soothe your thoughts, and others that will hook you with their catchy melodies.
A Healthy Dose of Games
While combating negativity improves our mind, games can also aid our bodies. Dulling physical pain, a good play session can allow patients to recover more easily, and help those who suffer from a condition experience some form of relief. This idea is central to the focus of the Penny Arcade Child's Play charity, which has raised over $33 million dollars through contributions since its inauguration in 2003.
Free Dive by BreakAway Games creates a virtual world in which patients hunt for treasures in the tropics, swimming with dolphins and schools of fish along the way. It was designed to distract children from chronic pain, immersing them in an environment that promotes calmness.
Dr. Hunter Hoffman allows burn victims to explore a computer construct called SnowWorld, a frozen surreal adventure filled with challenges. Using VR headsets, patients are alleviated from constant agony. "Pain requires conscious attention. Humans have a limited amount of this and it's hard to do two things at once," Hoffman states. SpiderWorld is designed to help those suffering from arachnophobia, allowing them to adapt within a safe environment.
He is also attempting to help those with post traumatic stress disorder, such as survivors of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. "Virtual 'exposure' therapy allows access to the event a step at a time, starting with getting up on the morning of September 11th and gradually working up to the most disturbing events of the memory. It is a controlled way of eliciting and processing the memories."
Do you find yourself using games to relieve stress and tension? What games do you use, and for what situations? Are there any games you avoid for these purposes? Let us know your thoughts!
