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Video games and anxiety

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Posted 4/3/2011 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
So I am a complete video game nerd. The other day I read where two 19 year olds had massive heart attacks after playing Berzerk probably caused from the stress of wanting to win the game. Then I looked up other stories over similar things that have happened since. Just now I was playing a game called Oblivion. I got to a part that I was nervous about cause it was sort of scary. Then I thought about those kids and I am so scared I'm about to have a heart attack cause I've been playing this game for hours today. Please put my mind ay ease. Maybe I need to go to the hospital. I'm scared!
Posted 4/3/2011 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
Well I could be wrong but I don't think a video game by itself could give someone a heart attack. I'm willing to bet they had cardiovascular problems to begin with, either congenital or developed because they don't do anything but play video games.

I play a few games casually and they help with my anxiety.
Posted 4/3/2011 7:01 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with debaser. I have heard of video game fatalities but usually these people aren't just playing for hours, they are playing upwards of 24-48 hrs straight. As long as you take a break now and then, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Skatterprank
Posted 4/3/2011 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
I've heard the stories too. But I think they must've had something wrong with them to begin with or just the fact that their adrenaline is up so high from the games on a continual basis that it may of affected their heart. Taking breaks and limiting your game play should counteract that I would believe.

I'm a gamer too, or I used to be. However, the scarier the game the more I wanted to play (Resident Evil - Nemesis was my last scary game played). It got to the point where I would literally have to use the bathroom as I picked up the controller because nerves got the best of me. I no longer play those games but I tend to stick to the more milder computer games now such as the search and find adventure games.
Posted 4/3/2011 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
These are a miniscule few who had problems compared with the millions of others who are unaffected. You always hear about the freak accidents via the media...that's their bread and butter. This is an extremely rare occurance that your anxious brain is trying to obsess on.

If for instance you heard or read that a couple of people had recently won the lottery for millions, would you automatically think 'Oh yeah...I'm next, it's going to be me winning now!' Probably not. Anxiety tends to focus on the frightening/negative stuff, but that doesn't make it reality.

Enjoy your games in moderation like the others suggested, and you'll be fine;)
Scaredy Cat
Posted 4/4/2011 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
What??? Wow, it sucks how no where in the media they mention on how they had defective hearts in the first place, or how this is just 2 gamers out of 100 million or more actually billions since the time games were created

wow I hate how it seems like these news stories and all these once in a lifetime freak stories are portrayed as if it can just as easily happen to you if you get into a Halo game a little too much or something lol

I don't know man truth be told I'm not an expert, but if you have high anxiety and you haven't had a heart attack by now, as weird as it sounds you really have nothing to worry about lol it mores of a lifetime of high stress where it begins to do damage but trust your body to not be as weak and fragile as our anxious minds make it out to be at times
Posted 4/4/2011 9:01 PM (GMT 0)

Scaredy Cat said...
If for instance you heard or read that a couple of people had recently won the lottery for millions, would you automatically think 'Oh yeah...I'm next, it's going to be me winning now!' Probably not. Anxiety tends to focus on the frightening/negative stuff, but that doesn't make it reality.

I also want to add that the likelihood of you winning the lottery is greater than you having a heart attack, apart from birth defects lol

think about how heart disease is the number one killer affecting almost a million people in the USA, now think about how their is over 300 million people in the USA, and finally think about how many of those are young healthy people lol

I'm right there with you buddy, cardiac related illnesses are my biggest phobia but I'm realizing how freaking stupid it is to worry about and how it's really only there in the first place because of the stuff I read on the internet or heard on the news or something
Posted 4/5/2011 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys so much. All of your posts really helped to calm my nerves. I'm not sure why I freak out about having a heart attack as I've never had anyone I know die of one or have one for that matter.

I do however, think the source of my nervousness about the video game is really about me being scared about my fathers health and me thinking the same thing will happen to me hereditarily. He had a pulmonary embolism about a month ago and is fine, but apparently very lucky. Also I have gained 35 pounds in the past year and a half, smoke occasionally, and don't eat as I should so I've been freaking out because of that, but I am slowly but surely reversing all of those things and becoming a healthier person.

Anyways, seriously that you guys so much for your support you're like my second family!
Posted 4/5/2011 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad that you're feeling better about things now. I am sorry to hear of what your father went through, and I am glad that he is doing well now!

I am sure that with a healthy lifestyle (good job on the positive changes!) you are going to be just fine. Heredity does play some role in health of course, (although I've not heard it linked to a PE) but ultimately it's what is going on in an individual's life that counts the most!

Eating healthy food and exercising are two of the easiest and most powerful tools you can use in ensuring good health. Now that the weather is going to get nicer, get outside and walk for 30 min 3 or more times a week.

Life is about balance...do the healthy things as best you can, but also enjoy the things that are just fun and take your mind off your troubles, like video games...in moderation:)

My best to your family,
Scaredy Cat
Posted 4/5/2011 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I agree with all of this - anything that you hear about gamers dying etc are crazy flukes, to be honest. Or, like those people abandoning their baby so they could play WoW, stupidity. I think you'll be OK :) *hugs* I'm a fairly committed gamer too :)
Posted 7/21/2018 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
you're more likely to suffer some of the negative effects that many studies have found associated with playing games, like anxiety
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