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No idea why but sitting about painting or gaming makes my anxiety completely go away for a while... Anyone else use the hobby as help?

DaughterOfHorus wrote:
No idea why but sitting about painting or gaming makes my anxiety completely go away for a while... Anyone else use the hobby as help?

Yup.

Painting forces me to clear my mind and focus on the mini. Calm down and be still, so I can get the brush where it needs to be. Have a little quiet time in my man-cave.

Gaming is my primary form of social interaction. Since I’ve been unemployed, even more so. But when I was still working, it was a place I could let my hair down and be myself. I didn’t need to maintain my professional facade. Being among my fellow geeks is a nice sense of community. Even if we didn’t agree on things like heresy or even game systems, we all speak the same language.

There is also a heavy does of escapism in gaming. More in RPGs then wargaming, but it’s still there. You forget your daily problems, and focus on leading the heroic charge against the greenskins, or valiantly holding the line. Much better then punching the timeclock of a humdrum existence.

 Nevelon wrote:

DaughterOfHorus wrote:
No idea why but sitting about painting or gaming makes my anxiety completely go away for a while... Anyone else use the hobby as help?

Yup.

Painting forces me to clear my mind and focus on the mini. Calm down and be still, so I can get the brush where it needs to be. Have a little quiet time in my man-cave.

Gaming is my primary form of social interaction. Since I’ve been unemployed, even more so. But when I was still working, it was a place I could let my hair down and be myself. I didn’t need to maintain my professional facade. Being among my fellow geeks is a nice sense of community. Even if we didn’t agree on things like heresy or even game systems, we all speak the same language.

There is also a heavy does of escapism in gaming. More in RPGs then wargaming, but it’s still there. You forget your daily problems, and focus on leading the heroic charge against the greenskins, or valiantly holding the line. Much better then punching the timeclock of a humdrum existence.

Well, I find joy in rushing in a cracking 'oomie skulls, but the point remain the same

Most of the time, although some bad dice can get my blood pumping

Usually, yes. Absolutely. When playing against power gamer with bad dice and the temperament of a 5 year old, no. Quite the opposite.

I'd say modelling and painting were more fun than they are relaxing.

Wargaming itself I believe promotes, rather than alleviates, anxiety, but it's a good fun kind of anxiety. My 2 cents, anyways

I don't think I've ever had a relaxing game, quite the opposite. Usually my games are fairly close and exciting, which I enjoy of course!

That said, painting and building are very therapeutic. It's probably one of the only things that's kept me sane over the years. Having a beer, putting a record on, and just working away and letting my mind wander helps me immensely.

Like others are saying, playing the game is exciting, but modeling and painting are very relaxing. I love ending my day brushing paint on a freshly primed model.

It helped me through a breakup with a then fiancee' who was fortunately replaced by someone who actively supported me and even helped run some tournaments. This also led to the fearsome "Nurgle sparkly glitter paint Mardi Gras/Hello Kitty Tank Army" GC decided tank list needed to be. So much sparkly, so much cute, it has to be chaos!

The wargaming is fine.

It is wargaming forumites that tick me off!

Only when I'm crushing my opponents......

Wargames much better than PC games for health.

Painting I find very theraputic, as it's a good thing to focus on.

Gaming I find as a good excuse to socialise, though I do enjoy the challenge of the game itself too.

Herzlos wrote:
Painting I find very theraputic, as it's a good thing to focus on.

Gaming I find as a good excuse to socialise, though I do enjoy the challenge of the game itself too.

This. I enjoy having a beer with friends more than the game a lot more.

I relax most when I am assembling minis and talking to my kids and /or wife. Something about doing conversions really engages my brain and clears it so I can think more clearly on other things.

 TheCustomLime wrote:

Herzlos wrote:
Painting I find very theraputic, as it's a good thing to focus on.

Gaming I find as a good excuse to socialise, though I do enjoy the challenge of the game itself too.

This. I enjoy having a beer with friends more than the game a lot more.

I’ve stopped going to my weekly RPG group because the game had bogged down and the rules arguments and bickering overrode the fun to be had generally socializing. I was enjoying the pre/post game part, but not the game itself.

It was my primary in-person social outlet. But after a certain point you need to ask “I am having fun here?"

No not really. I mean, obviously I enjoy it, but therapeutic? No.

Reading a book or going for a walk I find therapeutic, going for a drive through the country. Wargaming? not so much.

Yes. I think the reason for it has to do with turning off certain switches in the brain, and turning on analytical + creative ones.

Distractions in general are probably inherently therapeutic to some degree, unless they compound personal problems.

Then there's a spiritual perspective: that God made us to work, and when we don't work (whether mentally and/or physically) ..... it is in opposition to our basic nature - being an image of God - creating stuff.

I made tactical tomahawks for my SM. Epic...I get creative. Also thinking of making MOLLE MAG pouches. Creativity kicks in besides painting all the time