clicked for girl.

cool video, I really like how they don't really take a side of whether games are good/bad, they just explore their effects on those who are introverts or depressed. I very much agree that video games are like meds/drugs/alcohol/etc; If used intelligently and with other techniques and strategies, they can help immensely. But if they're abused or become a source of addiction, they make things worse. As a person with major depression, I've experienced both sides of this.

the girl at 1:24 looks like a crow, or some sort of strange bird

I've been dealing with severe depression for almost 2 straight years. Video games are a welcome distraction for me. TF2, and some of my good friends here, helped get me through some bad times that's for sure.

I think a lot of gamers can relate to using video games as a way to cope with depression...

And by this I mean that the video brings up valid, interesting points.

dont be a dick

Yeah I get depressed every time I start up tf2 and realize I suck. :(

But in all seriousness, I feel like I use video games as a way to avoid things that make me anxious which is VERY unhealthy/dangerous. I've never really thought of them as helping my depression.

I've been depressed for probably a year at this point, I have incredibly bad social anxiety, and I've tried to kill myself before. I didn't go through with it, obviously.

TF2 has helped me so much. Not the game itself, per se, but the friends I made through it. I've met some great people who I enjoy talking to and being in their company, and a bunch of them have helped me in so many ways. I won't say that games don't help with depression, but the people I met through TF2 have helped so much more than the game as an 'escape.'

Just gonna add, video game addiction is really fucking bad. It is just as bad as any other addiction. Spending 10+ hours a day playing games can ruin your life just as easy as coke. I learned the hard way.

I feel like video games have stopped me from falling as deep into depression. I had the biggest break up of my life 5 months ago and video games are just one of the only things I enjoy in life. I'm still pretty much in depression but I can't imagine how much worse it would be if I didn't have video games...

tell me more

http://www.depressionquest.com/

Nice find.

I fell so deep into depression that videogames are no longer a escape for me. Instead, I lurk TF.TV and occasionally play when I'm asked to.

I never really suffered from depression but that might be because i can play videogames with really fun guys pretty much every evening.

bleh

good video, nice to see some different perspectives and know how other people feel about it.

The only gripe I have with depression quest is that it's too easy to just click each "best" response, it doesn't really simulate the difficulty of depression as well as it could. Still though, it's a pretty emotionally-fueled text adventure, and the music really helps drive the point home.

fixed

also any addiction can be equally horrible for you psychologically, but coke still has a bunch of worse shit that comes with it (legal issues, death from overdose...).

I get to talk to real people when I play video games so that's better than normal life.

hey! but at least coke let's me do my homework!

This.

The Tyler dude uses my same mouse, cool.

Really interesting video. Shows that video games do have some advantages outside the game. It is weird when you hear people compare video games to drugs, and make you feel like you really are like an addict for playing non stop for hours on end. Definitely changed my perspective on how games can be good, rather than entertainment.

A cool video about health benefits for video games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNycSARuGcE

I've been through hell and back with domestic problems for the past two years and video games really seem to help. I meet so many new friends on a regular basis that always keep me happy generally.

After suffering from anxiety issues and depression for a while, this is a nice video to come across.

I used to play tf2 for around 40-50 hours every 2 weeks. I was a mess. But I play around 10 now with friends and teams, and I feel a lot better because of it. Games can be a good distraction but if you play too much it does become an addiction.

bunch of pussies in this thread hahaahaha

And hes only telling the truth lol