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Animal Crossing + Mental Illness

Yeah, I'm noticing/have noticed a lot of people who are into Animal Crossing use it to cope with anxiety and depression. I'd be lying too if I didn't play for a lot of the same reasons. Whenever I'm having a panic attack, Animal Crossing is the best way to calm myself down and ground myself. I don't really have any friends either, so Animal Crossing is a great way to pretend I have cute animal friends who care about me ;-;sobs
 
Major depression, PTSD, and anxiety. I haven't enjoy anything for a while. ACNL recently keep me entertain and keep my brain working. It's nice to feel excited about something again.
 
*raises hand* I think y'all were looking for me?

At 34yrs young, I have run the entire gamut of mental illness since I was about 17... from stress, anxiety, depression (including PND)... I currently have a diagnosis of Emotional Dysregulation with signs of rapid cycling bipolar disorder, confirmed PTSD and possibly BPD.

I have always used video games for temporary release from my symptoms... it really can help. Most people I know use colouring books to de-stress and I tried that, but it didn't shut my brain off the same way that gaming does. My go to game when I am struggling is actually Minecraft... I've yet to turn to AC... but I will have to bear that in mind for future... the plus side being I can play my 3DS in bed, on those days when moving is just too hard... why did I never think of that smh.

Also...

Vertigo said:
its always hard for me to admit to anybody that i have a neurological disorder though, especially in a website like this where a great majority of users are normal. but to find somebody to relate to and share experiences with is probably the most satisfying feeling ever.
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Two points here... 1: Nobody is "normal" there is no such thing ;) And 2: There really is no way to tell if people on a forum have issues or not... as the saying goes "everyone is fighting battles you don't know about"... whether it's mental illness or something else... it's just a symptom of mental illness that makes you feel like no-one else struggles or understands :) x


Barbara said:
Why are there so many people who are depressed and/or have a mental illness on here? :( Not that you're not welcome here, it's great that Animal Crossing makes you feel better but it just saddens me there are so many of you struggling.
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Unfortunately it's not just "on here"... there are lots of people out there struggling with mental illness, and it's still taboo for a lot of people... I agree that it is great that people can use AC as a bit of light relief :)
 
I've a laundry list of mental issues, and yeah, zoning into the animal crossing universe tends to help when the world gets overwhelming and unfun.

I get the whole not wanting to share about mental differences because there's a lot of negativity out there. But really, I've found that it's sooo much better being open, getting the negative people out of your life, and just being you with people who really accept you. I mean, there's online groups on every site really for people of different mental stuff.

But if anyone wants to talk. I've got cptsd, crazy anxiety, and multiple buddies in my head. So by all means, I understand.
 
I'm not diagnosed with any kind of mental illness, but I do turn to ACNL when I'm any degree of upset. Or when I'm scared. I'm 20 and I'm still scared of the dark sometimes :|. I play ACNL to forget about monsters hiding under my bed, lol.
 
I think it actually makes me depressed.

I suppose I do, I don't think I have depression at all though, people get sad at some point, and its no different with me.
 
I just had an emotional breakdown because of the terrible day I had yesterday. This isn't like me to be in cahoots with another person to this extent. I'm extremely hurt and the person doesn't give 2 chits about me or how I feel.
 
I have dysmorphia (distorted self-perception) and just general depression and anxiety plus bpd and bipolar. animal crossing is just such a good getaway from a lot of things in life. my mayor is cute and honestly it makes me feel alot when im having a dysmorphic episode or im dissociating. it's so consistent and calming and everything is scheduled and organized and aah
 
I have a history of depression and anxiety. I've been through treatment and generally have my mental health under control, but I also suffer from a debilitating chronic illness which can get, well, really depressing at times. So it's nice to escape into Animal Crossing when I feel myself getting down. My condition makes me pretty isolated too, which AC helps me feel better about. I know they're just pixels and coding, but it's so nice to get letters from my villagers when I'm having a lonely phase.

AC is such a calming game, it's a great escape when reality gets a bit too harsh. Everybody needs some kind of escape like that.
 
Geekaloompa said:
I just had an emotional breakdown because of the terrible day I had yesterday. This isn't like me to be in cahoots with another person to this extent. I'm extremely hurt and the person doesn't give 2 chits about me or how I feel.
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Yesterday you said you were going to take a break for a few days and I think that's a good idea. You've been posting nonstop about this on many different boards. Please put the person who bothers you on ignore and stop talking about it. It's time to move on.
 
Belle of Pripyat said:
Yesterday you said you were going to take a break for a few days and I think that's a good idea. You've been posting nonstop about this on many different boards. Please put the person who bothers you on ignore and stop talking about it. It's time to move on.
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This is a mental illness related topic so I thought venting on here would be the appropriate place? I'm confused as to why I get flak for simply venting.
 
Geekaloompa said:
This is a mental illness related topic so I thought venting on here would be the appropriate place? I'm confused as to why I get flak for simply venting.
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No. You are venting all over the place and not just here! You've been doing this since yesterday. Please give it a rest. Not getting along with one member isn't the end of the world, I promise.
 
Geekaloompa said:
It has already been resolved. Please stop bothering me about how I cope with things, I'm really not in the right mindset to deal with this anymore ty.
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Excuse me? Please stop bothering YOU? You just sent me another PM after I told you not to. I am a stranger, yet you sent me a PM yesterday and named the person you're having problems with. Why? How many other people are you complaing to? Leave the poor guy alone...and me!
 
Belle of Pripyat said:
Excuse me? Please stop bothering YOU? You just sent me another PM after I told you not to. I am a stranger, yet you sent me a PM yesterday and named the person you're having problems with. Why? How many other people are you complaing to? Leave the poor guy alone...and me!
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I don't get why you think I'm bugging you? I'm not. I felt like I was getting bullied so I wanted to seek help. You are confusing me right now. I'm just gonna stop commenting to you. I also send you the PM before I read what you said telling me not to PM you. I'm sorry.
 
Animal Crossing has always helped me relax when I'm stressed about stuff in my life. I haven't been diagnosed for any mental illnesses, though, so I can't say it goes as far as that.
 
I have super bad seasonal depression during winter, that's generally when I play AC the most. I usually forget about it during warmer months. It helps me alot to play the game when I'm feeling really down and it instantly makes me feel good about myself again, it's such a lovely game and it's really positive. It helped me through alot of personal issues. Sometimes I just like to drink tea, take a bath and play AC and it helps me relax and gets rid of my blues.

I'm in college ATM so my life is very stressful, in addition to it being winter as well, I've started playing the game everyday to cope. I've also been on forum alot more then usual, cause you all make me happy too :)
 
Geekaloompa said:
This is a mental illness related topic so I thought venting on here would be the appropriate place? I'm confused as to why I get flak for simply venting.
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This isn't for venting. It's about Animal Crossing and how many people with mental illnesses play it to cope with their lives. If you need to vent there's a thread in the Basement called "What's Bothering You?". That's where you vent. Just wanted to let you know ^-^
 
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