Well OP, you have my sympathies. I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with a panic disorder, and it's even tougher to battle that while you're already navigating the perils of school. A lot of what you experience is very common among all sorts of people. A large slice of any given populace will have been bullied relentlessly, have difficulty navigating the social waters and self-image issues. If this was an outdoorsman forum, I'd venture there would still be people with similar experiences. Chin up, be strong: these years will not last forever. I won't be the first nor the last to tell you this, but as much as it might feel you're in the depths of hell now, this too shall pass. Think of whatever stresses are in your everyday life in the long term: will this matter to me a year from now? two years? ten years? I promise you, once you graduate, the faces that seem to be everywhere now will fade away and you will never, ever hear from them again. I mean, ever. This life is long and hard, but you will pull through and be the man you want to be. Think of these years as a trial, the social experiences you have now will be like hurdles and tests to help you cope with college and a job. With every day you'll get a little better and a lot stronger. Have faith in yourself and everything else will fall into place.
J03bot said:
I feel I've had the opposite effect. Gaming has given me a series of objectives, which I've needed to help me through my (also diagnosed by a doctor) depression.
I'll defend gaming for many reasons, and this is one of them. As derelix mentioned, humans aren't meant to be crammed into tiny cubicles, hammering away at buttons and squinting at blinking monitors all day long. Gaming gives us an outlet, something achievable to give definition and goals, and an escape. There were many reasons I found refuge in gaming as a child (bullying was indeed one of them), and even more why I enjoy it as an adult. It is a large part of my life, but it does not come at the cost of my relationships with romantic partners, friends or family: if anything it enhances them. Many of my best friends have been met through conversations about gaming, and it's an easy common ground to mention when meeting new people, as almost everyone enjoys games of a sort, even if it was marathons of Space Invaders at the arcade or playing backgammon at the kitchen table.
TLDR: No, gaming is not bad for your mental health. In fact, countless studies have suggested it improves one's mental and physical health. Individuals with psychiatric disorders enjoy all sorts of hobbies, and gaming might be one of the only ones that will help them.
