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I started think a while back on how we as people, suffer from many issues. Also, how our hobbies can reflect our issues, or become affected by them. So I was curious if anyone used Warhammer by means of something therapeutic to become calm, relaxed, or just get away from it all.

I have friends, as well as myself, admit that they paint to become relaxed or relive stress, which I can see in the paint jobs. When I painted my Orks, I always painted them gritty or rough looking, and when I did blood effects I made sure it was bloody.

Sometimes, whenever I'm feeling sad or upset, I read one of the many codices I have and look for something that I can use to evade reality.

I read of certain heroes and characters, that lead noble lives, or faced problems many other individuals have faced as well.

Today, I woke up sick...(I was sick most of the week.) Well I discovered that my ex got a new boyfriend, why yes, I should move on and not worry, but I still care. Infuriated and saddened, I do my best to not just pace and scream around the house. When I finally came back to my room, I looked at the model I recently purchased.

Lemartes, Guardian of the Lost

I thought to myself, the lost... is that what I am, lost? Is it that I just want to find everything and be happy?

I read up on him in the Codex and found that he fought with a fury unlike no other, and refused to die as long as he could fight.
But the unique thing was that he was part of the Death Company, so these individuals are all cursed by the Black Rage. If you're familiar with this curse, you'd know that all victims soon perish to insanity. Lemartes however is stronger, and fights it back to the best of his will. So to think, that someone after being faced with such a burden, would stand up against it, and vow never to fall. Not as long as he still breathes. Made me smile... Guardian of the Lost; the warden of the Death Company. All members destined to die to the Black Rage for they would soon die to insanity. But by all means, Lemartes leads them into glorious battles, and makes their chapter known.

Why does this relate to me? Well I'll admit, out most of my friends and family members, I'm probably one the most depressed and or pessimistic. I know everyone has problems, but I always seem to make it worse. But this is because, I don't care enough to solve it, but I do care to help out others. I tell my friends that no matter what I'd be there for them.

So in a way, it's like I'm my own "Guardian of the Lost" because as long as I'm still breathing. I will fight for my friends.

...when I was driving with a friend, when my CD player wasn't working, I yelled "BLESSING OF THE OMNISSIAH!" and smacked it. It started working.

That's about the only way Warhammer's helped me cope with anything.

Fafnir wrote:...when I was driving with a friend, when my CD player wasn't working, I yelled "BLESSING OF THE OMNISSIAH!" and smacked it. It started working.

That's about the only way Warhammer's helped me cope with anything.

I've had my fair share of moments like that.

I am bullied for playing Warhammer 40,000 at school so I paint to get away from the stress plus Im also publicly hated for not really being an Xbox addiect so I paint more but then im bullied for Painting enstead of playing Xbox and playing Stratagey games instead of COD. But I all ways remember 1 thing they are Paracites.

For me it isn't really painting that is theraputic its converting and fluff. Looking at my models and thinking of how I can change them to make them better or what new ways I can use bits distract me. The same goes for making fluff that fits into the universe which in turn leads me to conversion ideas/oppurtunities.

I find most aspects of the hobby calming to some extent. Mostly, it's the fluff that helps out. No matter how badly written, I love to read about the special characters and great battles, as it allows me some form of escapism. Maybe it's that over-the-top action and gore.

blood reaper wrote:I am bullied for playing Warhammer 40,000 at school so I paint to get away from the stress plus Im also publicly hated for not really being an Xbox addiect so I paint more but then im bullied for Painting enstead of playing Xbox and playing Stratagey games instead of COD. But I all ways remember 1 thing they are Paracites.

I love how playing video games is now seen as cool.

Also the great thing about school is, once you leave there is no need to ever see these ass-hats again. Huzzah!

blood reaper wrote:I am bullied for playing Warhammer 40,000 at school so I paint to get away from the stress plus Im also publicly hated for not really being an Xbox addiect so I paint more but then im bullied for Painting enstead of playing Xbox and playing Stratagey games instead of COD. But I all ways remember 1 thing they are Paracites.

Hey I'm not one to say resort to violence. And I don't know the situation over there. But maybe, put down the brushes and pick up the weights? I mean just stand for yourself a little, I'm not saying you don't since like I said I don't know. But don't let people get you down because you enjoy other things. Heck I got picked on for wearing black and gray jeans instead of blue.

I can't paint; so I avoid that.

However, modelling and reading up on the fluff takes my mind off things. I got bullied a lot in High School (causing one suicide attempt; place and a time for that though) and doing this was the only way to take my mind away from the next day.

I lived for the weekends where I could go down to my GW store and have a laugh and play a few games with people who accepted me and who saw me as friends; it was one of my few ways out and for a few hours every saturday/sunday, I forgot about everything.

Writing has also helped me. I write a lot of fiction (most of it just reactionary and therefore unfinished and hardly captivating, but fiction nonetheless) and some poetry, so that helped me vent my anger and sadness etc. Warhammer fluff helped by giving me a huge universe and backstory to get lost in; when I ran out of ideas for one thing, i'd just grab another codex or army book, rifle through it and start something else.

Unlike video games online such as WoW or X-Box Live, Warhammer also has fewer conflicts. You're face to face here, and often surrounded by other people, anything kicking off is likely to be calmed as soon as it starts, whereas online, you're just another display name being harassed anonymously. You can't punch them in the face or ask someone to help you, because they won't.

So yeah, Warhammer has helped me a good amount.

I love nothing more than on a cold night being inside in my room in the dark painting with calm music playing (Nox Arcana- Winter's Knight idealy) . I feel at peace, and stress free.

So, I guess the answer is yes, as I usually sculpt or paint to ease stress.

I had a pretty rough time a couple of years back, and simply grabbing a few models and cracking on with painting really helped me get through it, although I do try to keep it a secret or at least with the minimum mentions amongst my mates. I also love getting lost within the literature as well: Codexes, Black Library, etc, they are pretty relaxing as well.

I had a nervous breakdown a few years ago and the day after I woke up from a fairly catatonic blackout I did nothing but read the Ork Codex Voodoo Boyz had sent me and make lists, all day. It wasn't "coping" with the problem- I was using it to avoid dealing with the stuff I actually had to deal with, but yeah,I suppose that's what you're talking about.

Painting keeps me out of trouble.

The Games are just for fun for me, but I see in other players a sense of happiness from being amongst people with similar interests.

I usually grab the nearest Ork boy, paint him, slather him in Methl Ethl Ketone and light the sucker up.

Yep i also find that having a blog and connecting with other people like this to be the biggest catharsis. i use 40k as escapism but from that great creative moments are born.

my first painting frenzy started when my first real relationship ended for good (well not for me though and thtas why i had to paint). i painted to escape thinking in a circle. i had no one to speak to. my so called friend in that time new the story and always told the same "helpful" things to me...i used painting like some kind of off button to not feel msierable. well i actually came on top of it but i think painting in that time helped to ground myself. less someting really bad might had happen to me done by me...now i paint to ease stress but mostly because i lkie to feel creative and to do something productive. a productive process where you actually build/create something that lasts more than a family meal or the amount of money needed to burn through your car exhaust for petrol...

vik

I hope everyone is doing okay.

I paint and model to avoid boredom.
When Im bored I feel depressed. When Im depressed, I don't want to do anything so I become more bored, etc etc endless cycle.

I suffer from clinical depression and have serious anger issues.....I pour all that negativity, hate, rage, pain, and loss into my modeling. Recently I lost a 2 year relationship and basically went on a 40k binge to deal with it. Something about BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD makes everything better.

I don't think that escapism qualifies as coping with issues, however, I'm hardly an expert. Really, 40k has done quite a bit for me in the same vein as well. Between my ex-fiancee going out of her mind, job stress, family strife, and depression, all in the last several years, I've been in a pretty bad place for a while. Painting gives me something to concentrate on rather than sitting around and thinking about life, and as an added bonus, it keeps me too broke to drink as much as I used to.

Please be safe brethren.

agroszkiewicz wrote:I suffer from clinical depression and have serious anger issues.....I pour all that negativity, hate, rage, pain, and loss into my modeling. Recently I lost a 2 year relationship and basically went on a 40k binge to deal with it. Something about BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD makes everything better.

My girlfriend dumped me, I got Orks and pounded face. 40k makes relationships a thing of the past when you beat someone with the Rulebook over true LOS.

I enjoy warhammer and it helps to make time pass quickly. But I don't really use it as a copeing device.

Video games on the other hand...

Also books when I was younger, I love reading.

Never had to cope with the loss of a GF/BF relationship since I've never had the one (GF) and am not intrested in the other (BF) .

Ma55ter_fett wrote:I enjoy warhammer and it helps to make time pass quickly. But I don't really use it as a copeing device.

Video games on the other hand...

Also books when I was younger, I love reading.

Never had to cope with the loss of a GF/BF relationship since I've never had the one (GF) and am not intrested in the other (BF) .

So you're a loner?

The_Savior wrote:

Ma55ter_fett wrote:I enjoy warhammer and it helps to make time pass quickly. But I don't really use it as a copeing device.

Video games on the other hand...

Also books when I was younger, I love reading.

Never had to cope with the loss of a GF/BF relationship since I've never had the one (GF) and am not intrested in the other (BF) .

So you're a loner?

Quite, its not bad at all IMO

Though maybe I just don't know what I'm missing

Ma55ter_fett wrote:

The_Savior wrote:

Ma55ter_fett wrote:I enjoy warhammer and it helps to make time pass quickly. But I don't really use it as a copeing device.

Video games on the other hand...

Also books when I was younger, I love reading.

Never had to cope with the loss of a GF/BF relationship since I've never had the one (GF) and am not intrested in the other (BF) .

So you're a loner?

Quite, its not bad at all IMO

Though maybe I just don't know what I'm missing

Well if you're content with life then more power to you.

Maybe in a later time you'll find that special someone, until then enjoy your life.

Fafnir wrote:...when I was driving with a friend, when my CD player wasn't working, I yelled "BLESSING OF THE OMNISSIAH!" and smacked it. It started working.
That's about the only way Warhammer's helped me cope with anything.

Sigged.

Painting is helping me deal with some of my depression and anger as well. I'm very proud of my elves even if I don't get to field them any time soon and I paint almost every weekend if not more often. I'm finding that painting is giving me something other than loneliness and boredom to focus on. I know it seems weird that I could be bored or lonely with a husband and three year old, but I am.

hah got three kids and a wife and still got moments when i feel lonley. thats nothing to do with troops of people surrounding you, more like if someone tries to understand you and tries to sympathize with you. if thats lacking sometimes (no marriage can support that much attention on a daily level) you feel lonely. and sometimes i need to feel lonley, it sometimes help to think some things through. but i always get out of these dark clouds. this is the thing thats helping me living together with my family for more´n seven years now.

and on a side note since i joined this community i have to say that modeling and painting helped me cope in a way that broodingly painting on my own didnt help me cope with some issues had, here i tend to meet likeminded people and thats helping a lot!

thank you dakka

vik

Viktor von Domm wrote:hah got three kids and a wife and still got moments when i feel lonley. thats nothing to do with troops of people surrounding you, more like if someone tries to understand you and tries to sympathize with you. if thats lacking sometimes (no marriage can support that much attention on a daily level) you feel lonely. and sometimes i need to feel lonley, it sometimes help to think some things through. but i always get out of these dark clouds. this is the thing thats helping me living together with my family for more´n seven years now.

and on a side note since i joined this community i have to say that modeling and painting helped me cope in a way that broodingly painting on my own didnt help me cope with some issues had, here i tend to meet likeminded people and thats helping a lot!

thank you dakka

vik

You're welcome.