For depression: Pokéballs instead of pills?
If you struggle with depression and also spend a lot of time playing video games, you may be working toward a level-up in more ways than one. When you play a video game, your brain gets a targeted workout for its motivation, goal-seeking, and learning muscles. The reward pathways are strengthening, which makes you feel invigorated. These regions of the brain that are hyper stimulated in game play are the exact parts that are underused and weakened in the case of depression.
Could gaming be an under-utilized tool in fighting depression? Perhaps. This sort of use would be subject to a separate game of balance. One pitfall is that too much gaming can quickly become a crutch of escapism. Gaming brings with it further chance of isolation and inactivity — elements that only feed depression.
Does augmented reality (AR) eliminate this concern? AR location-based games like Ingress and Pokémon Go, which launched in select countries worldwide over the last couple of days, require you to get out and about. You must flex your legs along with your hippocampus, and you may even interact with other players — IRL.
Where’s the potential? To me, the most exciting possibilities hinge on its therapeutic capabilities. “Gamifying” your life to help you out of tough times isn’t wholly new, but AR directs you away from your couch and introduces additional natural anti-depressants like spending an hour in a park chasing down Pidgeys, Eevees, and goofy Magikarps.
I’m already seeing examples of this lightening effect playing out. One Reddit user was able to find the motivation to get out of their house after fighting a bad depressive slump and found new beauty in their tired old course through their neighborhood.
Others have made new friends.
In my own Facebook feed, old high school friends are getting back together “IRL” to look for Pokémon around town. They’re breaking the habits of years of interacting through half-hearted “likes” and hastily typed birthday wishes. Some skeptics see sad gamers who have lost control of their lives. I see examples of people getting out into their communities. They’re exercising. Exploring.
While conventional measures against depression may be hard for some to come by, anyone with a smart phone could benefit from motivating AR games. As a quick and free download in the app store, it could have considerable impact. It could hardly be more convenient to someone who’s struggling to complete simple day to day tasks. Maybe this is just the nudge someone needs to take back control of their lives.
As for me, I haven’t played Pokémon since I was 11 (ok, if I’m being honest, I was probably closer to 14 the last time I played Pokémon Snap). Since downloading the game yesterday, I’ve caught 28 Pokémon. I’ve also learned something about a nearby house on the National Historic Register — which serves as a Pokéstop, and I was really eager to get out for a walk in my neighborhood — something that has started to feel like more of an obligation lately.
I’m excited to get outside again today to test out some more Pokéstops and get some sunshine along with a re-up on Pokéballs. I’m even more excited about the possibilities of AR and how it will change lives.
