Mental Health and The Sims - How has it helped you?

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.