aliasBunny
pronounsThey/Them/Their
151written posts
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I ran into this from reddit a few days back and thought it might be interesting to bring over here. OP was asking if rping is good for their mental health, or if it’s healthy as a way of coping/expressing. I think rping can exacerbate anything, which is true for any hobby. It can make you an aspect of yourself or your life better or worse. Sometimes, it might be the only thing keeping you afloat. But just from speaking from exp, i cannot imagine it can motivate you to get out of it. Like say, an anime can inspire you to better yourself if you’re lucky. But rping? I think it’s a uh. Forgot the word but imo a terrible coping mechanism that will eventually be making the problem worse. I do believe it’s different if it’s talking to people like tabletop rpg. Text-based rping though, it’s a bit too much that makes you think it’s only real in your head. And that’s why it’s a bad pair with mental health. It’s too inner? If that makes sense. So how does everyone feel abt it? Maybe some exp to share too if anyone is comfy with that I guess i do have one- i did massively improve just quitting rping for a few years. But i think it’s true for any hobby or endeavor. Take a break. Change your pace. It’s not rping itself that’s an issue. But it is exhausting fr
My Practice is structured around anything anime/video game based because there are people that find it alleviating to experience such activities. Role-Playing is one of them. There is a Doctor called Anthony Beam in Texas who has written books on Mental Health and Geek/Gaming Culture. Althoughn these aspects can be negative (even anime), these aspects can be quite positive. I believe it is because the myriad of characters I play and interact with have given me the ability to take perspective of others and even create a reality seen through the eyes of my character. This in itself is a healthy enough tool where I may ask people I treat, "Let's take someone else's role in this Role-Play." That in itself is a real benefit, because you have to understand what is being said when Role-Playing:
I am taking a "role" or "character" I can identify with. Why though?
Is it aspects of that character you see in yourself? How would that character grow? How can you take away from that character's growth and their interactions and apply it to yourself? Not to mention, if other people and their characters are curious or find that character interesting; ask them why and take their perspective and take on things (whether agreed upon or not). Role-Playing, including Text-Based, does well in this.
A matter of fact, there is a Therapy Technique that utilizes Roleplaying called "Psychodrama" which takes on setting a scene, relieving it through your role or another person's role, and have a Catharsis based on what you learn. I am still trying to get training in that one and D&D-Based Group Therapy Techniques (Yes! There is Counseling/Psychological approved course in using D&D as a therapy tool).
On the other hand, you do have key points. There are people who use Role-Playing to escape from their problems or even not acknowledge them in exchange for the new reality. I learned about this (not only personally) but thorugh a TokyoPop fiction book called "Chain Mail: Addicted To You." Only one person was healthy in that story in how they approached the Role-Play. They had utmost joy in writing the story, even if it was imaginative. Although the other "3" writers had ultierior motives that thus caused real-life danger.
This is not to say Roleplay is dichotomic in nature (Good or Bad) but to open the perspective to look at it as any other tool or hobby. People can obsess about exercising through Body Dysmorphia, others can abandon social relationships in exchange for hobby-based relationships that are interpersonal (like sports groups or fandoms), and there are some people that are addicted to collecting as a hobby and mess up their finances.
It all depends on frequency, benefit, and how they apply the experience.
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