What Games Help Process Trauma?
Trauma, whether acute or chronic, can have a profound impact on a person’s emotional, physical, and social well-being. Processing traumatic experiences can be a lengthy and arduous journey, and seeking healthy outlets to manage symptoms is essential. Gaming, in all its forms, has increasingly become a popular medium for people to cope with their emotions, including trauma.
Games that Help with Trauma Processing
A study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Irvine, and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics found that playing the classic game, Tetris, can indeed help reduce trauma symptoms by "jumbling the mind’s ability to process and store fresh traumatic memories" [1].
What makes Tetris a Potential Trauma-Taming Tool?
Researchers suspect that the game’s spatial reasoning and visual presentation help shift the brain’s attention away from traumatic associations, thus reducing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [2].
Types of Games that Can Aid Trauma Processing
There are many types of games that can aid trauma processing, depending on individual needs and preferences. Here are a few:
Relaxing and Meditative Games:
• Animal Crossing – This popular life simulation game is known for its calming and soothing atmosphere.
Stress Reduction and Physical Reactions Games:
• Overwatch – Action-packed team-based shooter gameplay can provide an outlet for stress release.
Building Confidence and Self-Efficacy Games:
• Portal – This award-winning first-person puzzle game can foster confidence and build problem-solving skills.
Benefits of Playing Trauma-Focused Games
Recent research on digital technology in therapeutic contexts suggests that playing certain games can:
• Enhance emotional expression and validation, allowing users to explore and process intense emotions [3].
• Improve self-regulation, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety [4].
• Strengthen mental resilience, increasing coping capacity and well-being [5].
• Foster socio-emotional skills, promoting communication, empathy, and emotional intelligence [6].
Games that Are Specifically Designed for Trauma Processing
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Headspace (2014) – Designed by researchers from the US Army’s National Center for PTSD, this app offers trauma-focused meditations and sleep stories.
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Potion Permit (2022) – Set in a fantastical realm, this role-playing game focuses on character development and exploration.
- Grimes’ The Land of Cockayne (2021) – Interactive audio visual art piece incorporating soothing ambient music and graphics.
Potential Drawbacks and Future Research Directions
While playing games can potentially aid trauma processing, care must be taken to avoid exploitation and misuse of such technologies.
More Research is Needed to better understand:
• How specific game components, mechanics, and attributes impact trauma processing.
• Individual differences in response, including sensitivity, coping abilities, and mental health state.
Conclusion
When seeking games to help with trauma processing, it is essential to prioritize games designed specifically for this purpose and consider factors such as calming, cognitive challenges, stress reduction, and emotional processing. Furthermore, researchers continue to uncover the potential of games to support mental wellness and explore their applications as therapeutic tools.
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