I've dealt with depression/anxiety for some time and I've found that playing a game of X-wing calms me down and really lifts my spirits unlike anything else. After telling my doctor, counselor and psychiatrist that during X-wing 'downtime', I experience increased symptoms- all 3 instructed me to "play everyday".

I avoid perscription meds and I'm attracted to natural remedies so this is great news for me and my player friends. I plan on playing as much as possible now... for my health!

Anybody else out there get major therapuetic benefits from this awesome miniatures game (or other games)?

I think any other Star Wars game would be great medicine too.

Dude, hell yeah. Gaming as social activity is fantastically therapeutic, especially boardgaming as any trashtalk is opt in/between friends. You are always in a personal group.

I can think of a particularly riveting game of Eldritch Horror that happened a while ago that was so epic in badassery that my friends and I still speak of it.

This game is fun, and a form of therapy ... Now if I could just get more games in than two every two weeks I'd be better as well...

That's really interesting, and thanks for raising the subject.

I was just told by my doctor that i have symptoms of depression and seems like i've been suffering for years without knowing what it is.

I've found that x-wing is pretty good at helping lift mood but I'd add that it's best to avoid tournaments when really low! Went to one recently and couldn't fly well at all and the opponents i was facing weren't the "fly casual" type which is fair enough at an event like that. Games with friends where winning really doesn't matter are totally where it's at though

Anybody else out there get major therapuetic benefits from this awesome miniatures game (or other games)?

I think any other Star Wars game would be great medicine too.

Have you ever tried playing a tabletop RPG? I think the beneficial effects of games are for a large part due to the social interaction, i.e. simply being among people and sharing something. RPGs tend to put more emphasis on that social aspect.

Everyone has something that recharges their batteries. Once you find that thing make time for it.

Unless it is meth. Don't do that.

I've got a fever... And the only prescriptions is more....Xwing?!?!?

Get it in writing. Let us know what medical insurance you can find that will play for your PLastiCraK Prescription.

People in CA, WA, OR, and CO can get scripts for cannabis, who will be the first to fill their starviper Rx?

We need JBR7 to post here...

Jeebus, I almost made this exact thread a couple days ago.

It's been a rough semester. Classes are kicking my ass, and my personal life is kinda borked right now (living with exes is just lovely). I hadn't played in months. The last couple nights have been particularly bad, but between panic attacks my roommate had me teach her to play, because she thought it might help calm me down. Once I could breathe easily, we moved into the living room and played the tutorial scenario. It went very well. We played until 6AM. She's hooked, bought the TFA core set and a Firespray she could paint. By morning, I felt so much better.

Life's complicated. But X-wing helps.

Well we are group animals so doing things in groups like playing a boardgame or just sit around talking is good for us, we are not made to be loners. Also all games either sports, video or minature is great for the mind since it get's do work with problem solving and that's something it's made to do.

Doing something and being active no matter what you do is super important. It's not healthy just staying home, one of the best ways to handle depression or just small periods of feeling down is cured by going out and doing "something". Doing social activites gives us attention and/or appreciation (hopefully) and it boosts our ego and well being. Even though we need to be alone sometimes, sitting at home and not talking to anyone several days in a row is probably the worst you can do if you are depressed or felling bad. Trust me I know.

What also hurts is when you have 3 to 5 squads bouncing around in your head that you want to fly, but can't ...

On staycation, thinking I may go play a round of golf...

Just to get outside...

Been trying to get my friends to play xwing outside too, but not on a golf course...

Edit: also sad is looking at the corvette and the raider collecting dust sitting in front of the tv ... Want to fly em sometime..

I've dealt with depression/anxiety for some time and I've found that playing a game of X-wing calms me down and really lifts my spirits unlike anything else. After telling my doctor, counselor and psychiatrist that during X-wing 'downtime', I experience increased symptoms- all 3 instructed me to "play everyday".

I avoid perscription meds and I'm attracted to natural remedies so this is great news for me and my player friends. I plan on playing as much as possible now... for my health!

Anybody else out there get major therapuetic benefits from this awesome miniatures game (or other games)?

I think any other Star Wars game would be great medicine too.

I've developed symptoms of depression due to being unemployed for two years after graduating as an aircraft mechanic. X Wing has helped me to stop drinking and being depressed. It has also helped me to remove a few negative people from my life and meet new friends. At the risk of sounding like clickbait, I've even lost weight.

What really turned the tables for me, however, was when I started writing for an online star wars portal. I've wanted to be a SF writer ever since my early childhood, and star wars feeds my inner child better than an ewok stormtrooper special. Suddenly, I can smile and laugh again and meet people without feeling pressure. Women look at me again, even blue and orange ones. TL;DR I've never felt this good since graduating.

I find it helps keep the mind distracted away from things.

When I feel really stressed or whatever it does help calm the nerves.

I think doing anything that you really enjoy will help in that regard

That is wonderful. Now if you can keep yourself from having a green dice aneurysm you'll be set my friend. Am I right fickle?

Both this and playing the Star Wars RPGs. I'm hoping Armada will be another "therapy' too.

In fact, Star Wars Rebels and the Original Trilogy movies really bring out my happy in ways that nothing else do.

I've nicknamed it: "therapeutic warfare"

I hate my job and I'm lonely significant other-wise. X-Wing is a great distraction for me.

Also explains the incessant complaining about Fat Turretwing, haha.

Hmmm. And this thread coming right after I had to miss game night. Now I'm depressed.

[i'm kidding ... slightly.]

On the positive side, yesterday I spent an hour plus reorginizing my ships, ship tiles, dials, bases and pegs ...

And should be golfing in a couple hours ..

Thinking about squadron builds got my through my parent's burial earlier this week. It's amazing how strongly we can focus on something fun/positive to push aside the negative.

Um... I wonder if we could make X-Wing tax deductible as a form of private therapy?

I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety about 12 years ago. Like the OP I have refused to take prescription meds as I don't want to ruin my liver or become dependant. For a long time skateboarding was my outlet. This changed a few years ago. For a number of reasons including injuries, age setting in and my business partners (we used to build concrete skateparks) screwing me for £10,000 resulting in car and house loss; skateboarding began to loose it's appeal and sense of escapism. For about a year I had no idea what the f**k was going on in my head. I found it very hard to focus and my classic means of escape was now a reminder of all the problems I had to deal with due to being too trusting/stupid. Booze and weed were prevalent. I drove my GF away and ended up with nothing. No where to live, no car, no GF. Just one hell of a hangover & debt.

It's been a slow process rebuilding my life but the one thing that has really helped me has been gaming. Since starting X-Wing it's given me an outlet that taxes my brain but not my body and a new community of great people. I've begun painting and playing Batman Miniatures too and just invested in Armada. Other than the occasional internet idiot; the gaming community has been great! I've met a ton of people just as geeky as me, have just started an X-Wing league out of our local gaming club and have enjoyed attending tournaments. I don't drink or dabble in other substances any more. I work hard in my new job and look forwards to getting to the FLGS or club to test my brain out against my fellow geeks. I've also found my sense of self worth increasing due to seeing my progression and improvement in painting. It's weird how such a personal thing to improve on makes you feel so much better about what you can achieve in life.

It may sound a bit stupid but I honestly think X-Wing helped save my life. Maybe that's a bit dramatic but it certainly helping me a lot with building a new & happy life. I'd like to end with a witty comment just to lighten the tone a bit but honestly can't think of one

Um... I wonder if we could make X-Wing tax deductible as a form of private therapy?

Get the government to pay for our plastic crack? Sounds like a plan to me.

I used to have a very serious problem with video game addiction. I'm doing so much better now, and a big component of my recovery was finding other, healthier alternatives to online gaming. X-Wing was one of the games that filled that void in my life -- it allows me to immerse myself in a challenging strategic game in a fantastic universe while interacting socially with others.

I'm really glad to read how many other people have brought positive changes into their lives with this game

... changes into their lives

And livers. Don't forget those.

Hey i get stressed at work and I will take some time to run through squad builds or practice some moves in Vassel. It also is a distraction when something is bothering me allowing me to clear my head and come up with a solution to the problem without stressing about it. It is amazing how that can work sometimes. I just now need to find time to play more than once a month.