Gaming is a way to connect with friends that is a bit of a niche activity. It has stores of knowledge and techniques that only its close followers know about. Many gamers enjoy trying less popular and unique titles that don’t show up in mainstream media.
Part of what makes this community unique is that it accepts people from all walks of life. Gamers don’t discriminate based on age, race, or sex.
Veterans In The Gaming Community
Free video games for veterans provide a pleasant experience to those looking to have a bit of fun and escape the mundane activities of daily life. Others find that online casinos help them take their mind off of negative memories. Jacek Michałski is an expert when it comes to online entertainment like the one you can find at Cookie Casino.
Some even find that these activities provide an alternative to drinking and criminal behaviours. If you enjoy video games, there’s a chance that you can turn your interest into a hobby and positive networking opportunity. After all, what’s a better source than gamers when it comes to exploring the vast world of online interaction.
Not all veterans have a positive experience when joining online communities. It varies by individual. It’s important to consider your current level of stress and sensitivity when participating in online activities.
Also, be sure to consider the intent of the specific forum or chat group that you’re planning to join. These interactive environments can sometimes get competitive and high-stress, so it’s important to take a break when you need one.
FPS Games
First-person shooter is the first category that comes to mind when considering video games for soldiers. The CDC funded several projects to prevent suicide.
One study explored the idea that VR (virtual reality) may function as a form of therapy for PTSD. In the study, participants answered questionnaires about their gaming experiences and playing a FPS. The subjects highlighted the importance of FPS clans and online communities in their recovery. They also reported a sense of brotherhood.
Of course, these kinds of environments can also trigger PTSD-related symptoms. It’s exactly this cross-section that researchers and therapists seek to explore in these studies.
FPS games provide veterans with an outlet and community to encourage them when other support systems aren’t available. There are even clans on Discord, a popular gaming communication platform.
VRET: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
Therapists traditionally employ exposure therapy to treat phobias and other anxiety-related disorders. The use of virtual reality in this form of therapy is a relatively recent development that broadened the scope of exposure therapy.
VRET and AR have been useful tools in many therapeutic areas since their inception. They can certainly be powerful agents of change if used properly.
The positive effects that AR and VR can have, especially in FPS games, are not extremely intuitive. For example, it might seem that triggering traumatic events during a therapy session is counterproductive.
However, it’s this fictional simulation of real events that some find liberating. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs funds research projects that explore the therapeutic potential of video games. Former military members found the opportunity to cognitively reframe traumatic events to be vital to their therapeutic experience.
Conclusion
Augmented reality and virtual reality provide realistic frameworks for veterans to rescript their experiences, and they act as therapeutic tools. These communities also give access to unique networking opportunities. The immersive experience that these environments offer sets them apart from other forms of technology. With the guidance of a skilled therapist, people who struggle with PTSD can find solace in everyday life.
