Depression and Skyrim

Brandie · Jan 16, 2014

..or other games in the series, but has anyone ever turned to Skyrim to help cope with depression and/or anxiety? When my family and I relocated, the woes just kept coming in counts of 10 and I had a hard time dealing with it all, but the vast world of Skyrim and all you can do with it helped to get those things off my mind a bit.

I won't go into a tl;dr ramble/rant about issues as some of it is a bit personal to post so publicly, but am I the only one who's used Skyrim as an outlet when nothing else seemed to work?

Black Orchid · Jan 17, 2014

I use it for mental therapy from the woes of work and regular life quite often myself.

Cherry · Jan 17, 2014

Aye, Skyrim is escapism at it's finest. I lose myself in the world of Skyrim way too much for my own good. It's the perfect way to relax after a stressful week of work/school, and I have used it myself to escape real life anxieties and such.

Strafer · Jan 17, 2014

Oh yeah, thought I was alone.

Irishman · Jan 17, 2014

I recommend NOT starting the game after getting laid off from work. Its a huge anti-motivator and every1 thinks your majorly depressed from getting the sack.

What they dont understand is that its just an awesome game and spending 10hours a day playing it is really quite normal

Naginata · Jan 17, 2014

I've done that with Skyrim, yes, to escape schoolwork.

I know that Bioshock doesn't have anything to do with Skyrim, but Bioshock Infinite was also one of those escape games for me.

Gigapact · Jan 17, 2014

Brandie said:
..or other games in the series, but has anyone ever turned to Skyrim to help cope with depression and/or anxiety? When my family and I relocated, the woes just kept coming in counts of 10 and I had a hard time dealing with it all, but the vast world of Skyrim and all you can do with it helped to get those things off my mind a bit.

I won't go into a tl;dr ramble/rant about issues as some of it is a bit personal to post so publicly, but am I the only one who's used Skyrim as an outlet when nothing else seemed to work?

Since I don't know any of you, I will be honest. I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (originally thought it was some form of Bipolar), and it was very hard, because it's not situation depression. It occurs for no reason sometimes, and if something bad happens, it's enhanced. While medication helps, it doesn't always solve the problem completely, and therapy can be quite expensive for a college student.

Anyhow, I absolutely agree with you. When I get in that bad mindframe, Skyrim helps me get my mind off of it. Especially if I'm feeling stressed with everything I have to do. It gives me an outlet and just lets me have fun, especially considering I don't like going out much and people tend to annoy me quickly. For years when I was younger, and until this very day, I've always played the Pokemon games on gameboys/DS as this helps me too, and it reminds me of my childhood.

But games are a big help for me. Writing helps too (stories not like a diary). Sometimes we just need to stop thinking about those things, but it's way easier said than done, so games are a nice way to do that.

Glad to know I'm not alone on this

Kohlar the Unkilled · Jan 17, 2014

Mainly an escape from stress for me, (which backfires terribly if the game freezes...).

Daelon DuLac · Jan 17, 2014

Not neccessarily for depression, but certainly as stress relief from the job. There's nothing better than 3 hours of killing things after a long day at work to help me sleep better.

AS88 · Jan 17, 2014

I had a huge loss in the family a couple of years ago, during my degree. I wasn't really coping particularly well, and Skyrim came out about 10 months later. It was one of the only things that really took my mind off things, and I found solace in it. Basketball was the other thing, but I'd played through injuries and had to have months out, meaning that Skyrim was one of the only reliable, accessible escapes I had. I was diagnosed with mild depression around that time, because the lack of exercise (which I had relied on), added pressure at university and stuff at home meant I pretty much became a vegetable and did nothing of much use except attend uni for a few months.

In fairness, I'd probably have done a little better in my degree without it, but in the meantime I'd have probably been a lot more miserable if I'd not seen the Skyrim ad on TV which drew me in so much. And I still play at least three times a week, even though I'm over most of that stuff now.

Kaelbu · Jan 17, 2014

I was going through an anxiety/depression spell (they started when I was nine and can last a few months, but usually have years in between), where I had a huge irrational fear that would affect my daily life. Then I got pregnant in the middle of it all, RIGHT before Skyrim came out. And we just got our first PS3 in early December.

So I saw a gameplay video on YouTube, I'd never played another ES game, and we had no games for our new console. I rented Skyrim on RedBox and was instantly whisked away. Away from the fear of being a mother. Away from my annoying anxiety and depression that no one could help with, because I didn't even understand it.

Ever since, it has been a huge comfort to me. I've been feeling normal for a long time now, but I can take any stressful situation (being forced out of our home, for example) and say "Meh. I'm tired of thinking about it. I'm heading to Tamriel for a while."
It's made my life much more enjoyable. But if I went around telling my family that a video game makes my real life better, I'd get a ton of weird looks.

JClarke1953 · Jan 17, 2014

Wow! And here I thought...! I (and my wife of 21-year's) have had to live/deal with a potentially deadly chronic illness for 20-year's. I have painful neuropathy in my lower leg's and feet, and it seems to be progressing. Anyhow, what relief I was able to get with medicine's wore out a few year's ago.

So playing Skyrim has been a huge escape for me, with little to do but do what I can in our apartment while she works part-time. But I rarely, rarely go out. Going in grocery store's, especially when there are lines at the checkout. I get more than a little anxious in a crowd, or group of people.

And even though I may get onto the beginning's of a rant because of Bethesda's inept, cavalier attitude, playing has taught and helped me to "get" I, we have no real control of anything.

Stuff just is what it is. And s__t just happens.

DestroyerDevourMaster · Jan 17, 2014

I've definitely done it during my battles with depression, playing Skyrim was great for taking my mind off of everything that was bothering me. The only problem was that in addition to depression I also had (and still have) bad OCD so towards the end I didn't play Skyrim as much as I played the level Unbound.

Wildroses · Jan 18, 2014

I don't have any formal diagnosis, but my situation and genetics are potentially dangerous mental health wise. I'm in recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which first came to me in 2002. I was very sick for many years and while I can hold down a part time job now, I can't really do much else. And finding the part time job took a while.

And as for my genetics, my father, both his brothers and his sister have all taken anti-depressants for years and plan to keep doing so or else their brain chemistry will imbalance them back into depression. My brother and my uncle also have Bipolar.

I do wonder if having Skyrim to give me some distraction and enjoyment has helped stave off depression or another mental illness. If you don't have a lot of energy, you do have to find something low energy you enjoy greatly to take your mind off thinking about how unfortunate and depressed you are.

Considering that one of the signs of depression is withdrawing from activities you enjoy, maybe the day I decide I'm too unhappy to play Skyrim is the day I should make an appointment with a medical professional.

shadowkitty · Jan 18, 2014

I went through some really tough times when I first got Skyrim (We had just had our final failed attempt at IVF) and it was my escape from the hurt and utter devastation I was feeling. Now it still is a way to escape from real life, just for a moment at least. With everything I have to deal with, I guess I still need a release from reality.
Skyrim is my happy place.

DustyMayFire · Jan 18, 2014

I lost most of my friends when they heard I had depression, which is unbelievably stupid. But I turned to Skyrim to escape. And when I started reading all the lore about the Elder Scrolls series, I fell deeper in love with Skyrim and the other games. Though I do spend too much time in my room playing it, it's helped me a considerable amount.

LuChao · Jan 18, 2014

nothing beat a rough day at work then coming home and relaxing in Skyrim plus whenever I'm depressed video games were always my outlet Skyrim def more so then others

JClarke1953 · Jan 18, 2014

I often find myself wishing, wanting to have lived during that time, as hard as it was. Seems much simpler than now, although a much harder way of life.

LuChao · Jan 18, 2014

JClarke1953 said:
I often find myself wishing, wanting to have lived during that time, as hard as it was. Seems much simpler than now, although a much harder way of life.

I fully agree more then I admit I would wish to be in skyrim as a citizen making a living there

Brandie · Jan 18, 2014

I want to give all of you a hug now ;-;

But you guys are never alone in that fight with depression/anxiety! While there are some mean people out there who will just tell us to "get over it", there are those who will understand how draining it all can be. It's a very real disease (and I have personally been told before to get over it) that needs to be more...widely understood (i guess is the word I'm fishing for?). I also have a bit of a problem with keeping real life friends because my anxiety can get in the way so I can understand that too. I only have a couple close friends that won't judge me over what's going on (which I'm very dearly thankful for) But think of it this way, those of us who deal with this disease are fighters. We're given obstacles in life that we can fight through that will end up making us stronger in some ways. We live it, we learn from it. I know I've learned from it all.

But yes, I also agree that it (and even the other games in the series), is a great de-stresser after a long day at work as well -especially in holiday retail. Talk about stressful.-

Depression and Skyrim

Latest Videos

the sassy mage

Death Incarnate

Farfetch'd is judging you!

Life Finds A Way

Well-Endowed Member

Huntress of the Shadows

Lollygagging Milk Drinker (according to guards)

Time for some ale

How do you backstab a Dragon?

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

"Zu'u Alduin. Zok sahrot do naan ko Lein!"

Well-Known Member

Mistress of Shadows

Skyforge apprentice

The Martial artist

Well-Known Member

The Martial artist

the sassy mage

Share this page

Recent chat visitors