Videogames combat phobias!

[CapitanGarlic]

Yes, now it's official. Half-life and other games can conquer your fears, or at least that's what cnn says:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/fun.games/10/17/videogame.phobias.reut/index.html

Regular, off-the-shelf computer video games are an effective method of treating people's fears, using a style of therapy that exposes people to what scares them in a controlled setting, according to a new study released on Friday.

...

The researchers used the game "Half-Life" to create a spider-laden environment for arachnophobic people, and "Unreal Tournament" to simulate heights for acrophobics and tight spaces for claustrophobics.

Well, there. I thought it was neat.

[The Viceroy]

Hmm, I played half life to death, completed it, and then went off to play a real painball game, thinking it would be just the same (afterall, paint won't kill you).

How wrong I was ..

After 5 minutes id been hit between the eyes, and it slowly dawned on me ... I was dead if that was real.

Never did seem to pick up the courage to charge after that.. those that did, had the bruises to show for it later.

Brilliant day though, have to say if you've not done paintball before, you have to try it out. Just don't expect half life to give you any advantage..

[chequita guevara]

Neat.

[Space05us]

yeeeeah, NO. Ive played plenty of games with spiders and heights in them and Im still very afraid of both.

[Lorizael]

I got rid of my fears by going into isolation for five weeks and then meditating heavily upon all my faults. I used to have to restrain the urge to bolt from spiders. Now I think they're cute.

[:) Smiley]

So does Civ do anything?

[Zero]

One problem to this kind of approach: I have acrophobia while playing video games. I cant stand having to see my character fall off a height thats tens times higher than his height

[Zero]

Originally posted by The Viceroy
Hmm, I played half life to death, completed it, and then went off to play a real painball game, thinking it would be just the same (afterall, paint won't kill you).

How wrong I was ..

After 5 minutes id been hit between the eyes, and it slowly dawned on me ... I was dead if that was real.

Never did seem to pick up the courage to charge after that.. those that did, had the bruises to show for it later.

Brilliant day though, have to say if you've not done paintball before, you have to try it out. Just don't expect half life to give you any advantage..

How typical. I knew some losers who thought they could be good at paintball/sniping in real life just because they took great command with their mouse and keyboard. They make me laugh. At least you learned

At least you got shot between the eye for you first paintball experience. If you were wearing a decent face mask you wouldnt have felt a thing. My first time playing skirmish w/ modified airsoft guns, I was shot by an automatic shot that went all the way from my cheek down to my neck to my thigh at point blank range. and I was only wearing a T-shirt and goggles you wear in shooting ranges.

[st_swithin]

Don't play Spider-man.

[Az]

At least you got shot between the eye for you first paintball experience. If you were wearing a decent face mask you wouldnt have felt a thing.

precisely.

Oh, and you're both right. Sure video games don't make you an elite fighter or whatever, but that's not what the article claimed. It claimed that it helps to conquer your fears.

And what's with the knowledge that you'd be dead if you were hit by a real bullet? OF COURSE YOU'D BE DEAD.

[alva]

And what's with the knowledge that you'd be dead if you were hit by a real bullet?

I think what he means is, that how surpising easy and quick one can get killed...and that bullets don't discriminate.

[The Viceroy]

Thanks Alva .. yes, thats exactly what I meant.

I did have a face mask on, and it still stung like hell.

I don't think I went into it thinking id be ace though, what I was talking about was being fearless ..

[Case]

Originally posted by Smiley
So does Civ do anything?

Yeah, it causes you to lose your fear of building up an empire from the stone age

[Az]

I think what he means is, that how surpising easy and quick one can get killed...and that bullets don't discriminate.

Yeah, well, I don't think that thinking about death while playing paintball is smart.

which remind me... faded liked paintballing.... *sigh*

[geeslaka]

I no longer have any fear of seeing myself from outside myself.