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 have maniac chronic depression PTSD bipolar and a few other handicaps I use the Sims as a way to get away from RL when dealing with drs therapists and other people who don't understand me and when tell them the pills are not working all they do is up the dosage or change instead trying to discover why they are not working
I feel like the Sims games have helped me cope during this pandemic and look at the bigger picture. Like the worst disaster of Will Wright losing his home really resonates with the games of overcoming challenges and looking for a solution using multiple pathways. I am able to work now during it and help people get their unemployment checks. It has helped me realize how important inclusivity is too with the Sims games with the BLM movement and continue to come up with ideas for the Sims 4. I'm able to not only support myself, but my parents too and my mom has always had hearing problems, so buying her hearing aids for her 40th anniversary this year. I like how the Sims has helped shaped me into the person I am today and I really like how I am turning out during my adult years. It has helped me realize that perfection is boring and that being differently abled just means I have to take different paths in life, but doesn't mean that I can't get there and have an adventure along the way.
I've been struggling with anxiety and depression, varying degrees of chronic pain (muscle and joints), diabetes and thyroid illness (which led to an eye condition with double/fuzzy vision and swelling). I've been fighting the powers that be, along with my doctor, almost 15 years. I was to be tried in "every" job possible, to find out what kind of work I could do. Endless testing and trying. It was very stressful and exhausting. Ended up on disability last year. Didn't want to, but found I had no choice.
I'd say gaming in general has been helpful, not only the Sims, although TS is a big part of it. TS can, more than other games really, allow me to relax and control the environment around my sims. They can do things I can't, or never got to do. Its also a bit of a creative outlet for me, with building and creating stuff for the game, mainly for TS1+4.
"Kathykins;c-17561071" wrote: I've been struggling with anxiety and depression, varying degrees of chronic pain (muscle and joints), diabetes and thyroid illness (which led to an eye condition with double/fuzzy vision and swelling). I've been fighting the powers that be, along with my doctor, almost 15 years. I was to be tried in "every" job possible, to find out what kind of work I could do. Endless testing and trying. It was very stressful and exhausting. Ended up on disability last year. Didn't want to, but found I had no choice.
I'd say gaming in general has been helpful, not only the Sims, although TS is a big part of it. TS can, more than other games really, allow me to relax and control the environment around my sims. They can do things I can't, or never got to do. Its also a bit of a creative outlet for me, with building and creating stuff for the game, mainly for TS1+4.
That must be exhausting. I am glad you are getting financial help. Getting on disability isn't an easy feat in itself either. I've tried and got denied, so work was my only option. You could try streaming for your gaming hobby. Pay isn't much especially at first, but I heard it helps a lot with anxiety. There is an app to help people with visual conditions. https://www.inc.com/joseph-steinberg/this-new-app-lets-blind-people-livestream.html I am following this teenage girl who is deaf and streams Fornite and she got nominated for an award show. I just recommend getting a few trusted people to mod for you to keep chat safe. I like to build too and build streams are very popular.
"Scobre;c-17430004" wrote: 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 get it. I have fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and an ever growing list of health problems. It seems like every time I go to the doctor, there's a new problem. And I understand how some people get about invisible disabilities; I wish there was more done to promote conditions that have an impact on every factor of your life - for the rest of your life. Any thing that takes you away from the everyday stress of you life, and lets your mind wander to new worlds, new possibilities, is a good thing. The Sims, and Dragon Age, were my go to's after my mother died in 2014. They gave me something else to focus on while grieving.
@Valeah We have similarly good taste in games, I see. TS and DA FTW! :>
The Sims is as a whole an unique way of escapism and I love it. When overwhelmed or stressed/depressed I find the much needed clarity and order in the game. Thw most important thing really is that it is not competitive in any way. I am not playing against anyone or trying to win anything. It's purely for entertainment and relaxation and most of all creation.
The Sims franchise has provided me with emotional support through some very difficult times in my life. Difficulties which have affected me physically and mentally. There have been times when I have dragged myself to my laptop to play, to have the distraction and to at least feel better mentally for a while afterwards. The value of the Sims to do this should never be underestimated and there have been times when I have been very grateful for my little pixel friends. Enough said otherwise I shall start crying.
Honestly, it has helped me enormously with stress. Through Sims I can focus on something fun and creative and it is the only thing that relaxes my mind.
I did get The Sims when I was suffering from depression for which I got early retirement. It helped me through a bad time and I also got a dog which helped by making me walk miles and meet new people.
Much, much later I found all my troubles were due to Coeliac Disease (gluten intolerance) and useless GPs & works doctors who hadn't even considered it until a brilliant woman GP gave me a test. Luckily it was past retirement age and I saw a consultant who told me it causes a lot of symptoms of other diseases and I found that my complete life changed after. Depression, aches all gone.
I am still addicted to Sims games though and had two dogs in the meantime! <3
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