Games can help prevent PTSD!
“If you experience or witness a trauma, play a pattern-matching video game such as Tetris or Candy Crush Saga as soon as possible, ideally within the first twenty-four hours after the event.
Play the game for at least 10 minutes. It may help to play the game again immediately before going to sleep that same night.” – Jane McGonigal
First time I heard this, I was amazed. I never expected silly games like these to have an incredible positive effect like this. I also did not expect to have an opportunity to share this with a co-worker that experienced a horrible car accident few days ago. So thank you Jane for this useful piece of information.
Of course playing Tetris does not mean you won’t experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and won’t have flashbacks, but it can help. These types of games are very visually stimulating. The stimulation prevents your brain from constantly visually replaying the traumatic event. Since the game breaks this repetition pattern, unwanted flashbacks are less likely to occur or are less severe. Other medical treatment and assistance should also be pursued if symptoms are not manageable.
From what I remember hearing, this preventative measure mostly works if you witness a traumatic event, rather than be a part of one. Only visual pattern-stimulating games work, not other games. Trivia games may worsen flashbacks.
So as Jane says “PLAY, don’t REPLAY.”
You can play Tetris here: http://www.freetetris.org/
and Bejeweled here http://www.popcap.com/games/bejeweled2/online.
Learned from Jane McGonigal (click her name for a direct link to Jane’s post on PTSD and games)