Mental Health and The Sims - How has it helped you?
Mental Illness affects us all at some time during our lives, and it can be bought on by a multitude of reasons. There are various ways to help someone cope, and actually, playing the Sims can be one of those ways. Talking to others helps too. It's especially important to keep an eye on the mental wellbeing of ourselves, as well as others during these difficult times.
In a world where you can be anything, be kind - Caroline Flack
I've got ADHD and Dyspraxia. I'm also on the spectrum. The sims helps me to escape the reality of my special needs. It also reminds me that we're not perfect. In some tasks, we may struggle, but in others, we're pretty good at.
How has the Sims helped you with your Mental Health? Also opening this up to simmers with special needs.
I think the Sims has helped me with my PTSD and depression. I honestly think it gives me something that keeps me out of my head. I am really nervous with all this coronavirus stuff and the Sims is keeping my anxiety at bay.
I haven't said it on these forums before. I have fibromyalgia, chronic backpain, muscle spasms, osteoarthritis, depression/society anxiety, and torn ligaments in both ankles. I bought the Sims Deluxe after watching a TV trailer and been a Sims Tower and SimCity 2000 player. I had a fall down the stairs hitting my back and neck and ankle turned in on 10 steps doing laundry at my old house. I went to the hospital they did nothing but send me home with an ice pack and an ace bandage. A week later I had spasms for 8 hours non-stop so I had to be home schooled and drop out of band. I had epilepsy as a kid too, so just playing video games now is a blessing. So being housebound mostly for five years as I felt my world closing especially since I was a really sporty girl growing up, Sims not only helped me move on from Barbies and continue my stories from that but helped me travel beyond my own bedroom walls. I couldn't control my muscles, but I could with the Sims. So from the moment the first firework set off in a Sims house, I was a Sims pyro deviant for life. It really helped my chronic pain and Sims 2 University helped inspire me to attend college and university. I almost dropped out of university, but Sims taught me from the origin story despite a house fire, something beautiful can be made from the ashes. It taught me never to give up hope and even if I experience some set backs with my mental health, Sims was always there like a loyal friend never giving up on me even though people would sometimes.
When I joined Sims forums I honestly didn't think I would outlive a month. I was told by doctors that I would likely die with my gallbladder removal surgery. So I figured, well I have a month, might as well suggest toddlers so if I were to go, at least I would leave a legacy for future Simmers to enjoy. Five years later I am still here and thankfully survived to see the day toddlers come out, which was one of the happiest days I got to experience since joining forums. I met some pretty amazing people along the way even though last year was tough mentally losing three Simmers I met along my journey. I just take it one day at a time and even with my sleepless nights what helped me get through it was Sims at times, books, and old movies. I haven't been able to run since my accident but being able to run with my Self-Sim at least made me want to cry happy tears especially when first person view came out with the Sims 4. I still can dance and do some sports, just have had to learn to do things differently than before. I joined a gym with a pool and able to run in the water at least.
There was a story called the Spoon Theory which I think has been taken down that helped explain what having an invisible disability is like, but I found this article that summarizes the story in a visual: https://countingmyspoons.com/2016/08/5811/
I actually had to get this patch for my service dog Buttercup because I was tired of people bugging me when I use her for daily tasks. I made her in the Sims 4 too.
I played a lot of sims after my mum died. It was great to have a distraction from grieving and anxiety. Generally, in times when I’ve been through hard stuff, I’ve reached for the sims.
My Sims are able to conform to my own views. A lot of my Sims have Aspergers or other conditions although quite a few don't. I am able to make that choice for them :smile:
I love making stories and it helps me cope with depression. Sims just happens to be one of those games where you can make lots of all kinds of stories and mods just add to it.
I am really nervous about this corona virus too...I am on some meds as well. I use the Sims as an outlet to get my frustrations out. Right now I am playing a Legacy family...but with a twist...each generation has to clear a career field to survive...look it up...It's kind of fitting for what is happening right now...The Apocalypse Challenge.
This game means the world to me (as I'm sure most of us here all would agree). It helped me deal with my PTSD/anxiety and also when I was diagnosed with EDS/PoTS in my early twenties. Living in chronic pain/progressively worsening condition sucks but at least in the Sims I get to escape that for a bit. There's no such thing as a dislocated shoulder when just opening the fridge door in the Sims!
It's taken me 7 years to muster up the courage/stabilise my health conditions enough to book a flight to Korea in August and then COVID19 happened. The Sims is literally the only thing that can actually distract me at the moment.
EDIT: I just also want to say that this is a lovely idea for a thread and that I really appreciate having a space like this right now :)
It's always been a bit of an escape for me, and can often help me feel in control when I don't feel completely in control of my actual life. I've noticed over the years that I end up playing it less when I am more satisfied about where my life is at, and I think I've reached a point where the escapism aspect of it is gone and I can enjoy it and make weird stories and characters.
COVID-19's got me all like, "Yay! Sims time!" Though so the aforementioned doesn't apply currently lol
"GracieO312;c-17430146" wrote: This game means the world to me (as I'm sure most of us here all would agree). It helped me deal with my PTSD/anxiety and also when I was diagnosed with EDS/PoTS in my early twenties. Living in chronic pain/progressively worsening condition sucks but at least in the Sims I get to escape that for a bit. There's no such thing as a dislocated shoulder when just opening the fridge door in the Sims!
It's taken me 7 years to muster up the courage/stabilise my health conditions enough to book a flight to Korea in August and then COVID19 happened. The Sims is literally the only thing that can actually distract me at the moment.
EDIT: I just also want to say that this is a lovely idea for a thread and that I really appreciate having a space like this right now :)
Awe you should get to know my friend RoryPlays on Twitch. I think you would get along well with her. Sorry you face chronic pain too. I think the virus has a lot of people feeling isolated right now, but glad Sims is helping you through it.
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