I am a therapist who clinically specializes in working with anxiety & writes academically about the intersection of video games and mental health. I also have a passion for de-stigmatizing therapy, challenging therapeutic cliches, and breaking...

I find that gaming is the only time when im not anxious and can actually focus on one thing. What something i can do to apply this ti the rest of my life?

I love this question because I frequently help people do this.

Take a look at what skills you're applying in video games, because they can directly translate somehow. Is it helpful to know that you have attainable goals? Perhaps you feel more at ease knowing that you have space to mess up/die? There's something calming about something being on your terms - in this case video games. They can be a wonderful reminder to persist through adversity and also that mistakes inevitably will happen, so there's no need to apply so much direct pressure on yourself.

Also - talk to people about this. Invite them into what video games mean for you and that they help with your experience. People you trust should be able to support you and help you find ways to translate it. A therapist who understands video gaming could do this as well!

My 13 year daughter suffers with anxiety and depression, which sometimes results in self harming. I try and help her with find ways to “get out of her head” as I call it. She’s an amazing artist so I encourage this. However, am I just putting a bandaid on it and not really helping her out? She won’t go see anyone, says she’d rather just talk to me. I don’t want to force the issue for fear of creating more anxiety.

That makes a lot of sense - and I appreciate that you care so much about her and her anxiety. This is a common theme in my practice: let her know it's okay to be anxious. And when her anxiety tries to convince you otherwise, hang in there and be loving, warm, and supportive. Anxiety actually diminishes if you acknowledge it and have a good relationship with it rather than an oppositional one, so I would caution you way from coming at it with "go away, anxiety" as a response. More of a "hey - i see you're here - what are you wanting for me? How can I listen to you but also be boundaried about the way you are influencing my interactions?"

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If it gets severe enough - I highly recommend therapy. Especially if you feel lost - she may not like it, but her safety is more important and she will thank you some day!

Hi Dr Mick, my therapist passed away unexpectedly over the summer. I want to find someone new, but want to make sure I find the right fit. What is the best way to do this? Are there things I should be on the lookout for?

Shop around! It's like a primary care physician. If you don't gel with a therapist, move to the next one. There's no shame in it, and nobody says you have to stay with one once you find it.

I recommend asking friends and family if they've had good experiences to start. Then, check psychologytoday.com and narrow your search down to the issues you'd like to talk about. Read the profiles and see who speaks to you and give them a call! Trust your gut if it doesn't feel right - you're under no obligation to continue with somebody that doesnt make you feel safe/heard

My SO and I play video games or D&D as our main hobby and have for the 8 years of our relationship. While we do go to family gatherings and a few parties a year we tend to not stay long as neither of us enjoy engaging in social activites in large groups.

However sitting down at a table with a few people and playing D&D or gaming for hours is fine and we have a great time when we aren't at work or doing the necessary things in life (eating, sleeping, exercising, medical stuff, etc)

Our parents accuse us of wasting our time but we enjoy spending this time with each other and a few close friends. What's your go to response of gaming in general being a waste of time?

I obviously think it is NOT a waste! If you love it, and it's a shared experience with you and your SO - more power to you :)

Extreme anxiety can be completely paralyzing for some people. As someone who knows people with anxiety is there anything you can do to help someone else through an anxiety attack?

I know I can make them worse, but can I also make it easier?

Also how unhealthy are video games for children?

Awesome questions!

Yes - you can help. The most important thing, above anything else, is to reassure the person that it is OKAY to be anxious. We don't get to decide our feelings - they happen. They tell us something. Anxiety is actually a highly protective emotion and it's there for a reason. So, hang in there with the person - encourage them to hang in there too. Anxiety becomes far less of an overwhelming emotion if you have a good relationship with it rather than an oppositional one. In fact, avoiding anxiety or trying to stuff it makes it worse over time.

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And that question is hugely dependent on context. In my experience, video games are more harmful if parents or guardians don't take the time to discuss them and monitor what their children are doing, both in game and online.

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Additonally - if the person is having a full-on panic attack, grounding is the way to go. Touch them (if that's okay) and direct their focus either to you or to something tangible. Be soft, warm, and reassuring and whatever you do, do NOT get angry at them or short. That makes it worse - panic attacks bring a lot of shame for people. Also don't reason with them - just be emotionally supportive until they calm down on their own :)

My girlfriend had a lot of issues with anxiety and depression over the years. I've always thought that if I could get her to play a game that she enjoys, it could really help her.

Do you have any advice for beginning the process? How can I help her over the first hurdle of finding the right game for her and trying it.

Awesome question - I agree that it could help!

BUT make sure you remember that video gaming is a skill, and that any time a person learns a new skill it induces anxiety. If she is already anxious, this will probably be even more pronounced. Hang in there with her - be patient, remind her that it's okay to be anxious. She'll get better! Video games are a fantastic way to fight through distress tolerance. Your love and support will go a long way - give it a shot!

Understand that it will probably be anxiety-inducing. Video gaming is a skill, and one that takes time to develop, so if she is already experiencing anxiety that will likely ramp up. So, the game itself doesn't matter so much as your support through that anxiety will. Be patient, be caring, and let her know it's okay to be anxious and that she is capable of figuring this out even if it makes her anxious. And make sure you don't put pressure on the games to be a "cure".

I absolutely agree that it could help - and i wish more people would look at it as an option! Good luck to you :)

Any tips / mental exercise that you could recommend for immediate relief from anxiety / obsession of a thought?

Thanks so much in advance!! 🙏🏼

Remind yourself that it is OKAY to be anxious and that the anxiety is there for a reason (often protective). Remind yourself that you are capable of being productive and the person you want to be even if anxiety is around, and that a compassionate heart and mindset toward your anxiety will go a long way :)

I find it interesting that games that give me anxiety like X-COM are far more enjoyable than life giving me anxiety via unfortunate circumstances. Is it because video games present the player with inherently winnable (usually) scenarios? Or is it something else?

A big part of this is because you are making the choice to play a video game, so the anxiety is essentially at your own will. Real life anxiety, unfortunately, doesn't work that way (at least not often!).

There is also probably something to the idea that you are inherently able to challenge the anxiety or situation and come out on top - but that actually is a beautiful metaphor for handling anxiety in real life! You can do awesome things and be anxious at the SAME TIME, which is usually a foreign concept to people when i first make the suggestion.

How often do you experience the "Hi everybody! Hi Dr. Mick" Simspsons joke?

This is literally the first time, lol

What was the most surprising thing you found in your research?

The wide variety of roles video gaming can play in people's lives without others knowing it. And how infrequently people talk about those roles and the deeper meaning people make out of video gaming. It truly is misunderstood by many who do not play video games!

I love video games! So does my 17-year-old brother, who is on the spectrum and completely addicted to them. He’s doing a little better, but how can my parents allow him to use video games as a good stress-reliving outlet while balancing a healthy lifestyle that includes less dependence upon his games?

Talk with him! Be involved! Take the time to understand why he likes the games and what role they play for him. My guess is there is a lot of engagement on levels that your parents or others might not readily recognize. If limiting gaming, people need to know what they are actually limiting rather than just quantity.

My dad absolutely refuses to believe that therapy helps. Even though I'm living proof that it does, he thinks all the time I spent at therapy was wasted money and pointless. How do I get him to at least understand the upsides of therapy?

That can be a tough battle. I think, as much as you can, listen to the vulnerability behind those defensive meaning making systems. Therapy and the idea of it brings up a lot of shame for people...shame worth listening to. If you can do that, there may be a chance he will come around (at least to the idea - even if he may not go himself).

I've seen arguments claiming that media like certain video games leads to greater stress, anxiety, and anger, and others saying the exact opposite - that these games provide a healthy outlet for emotions that might lead to such problems. I gather from your description that you probably lean toward the latter. But do you think there are certain games that provide a better release for stress and repressed emotion, and that some should be avoided? And finally, do multiplayer games show any appreciable difference in the effect, either positively or negatively?

So many good questions here.

1. Yes, the opposing viewpoints are in large part because of a relatively small amount of literature about the issue. I really wish more people would do it. I think it depends largely on what a person is trying to get out of playing games and what role/purpose they are serving in the person's life. Also, if gameplay is left unchecked by parents of children, for example, it can run along a path that might not be so great.
2. Yes, i fall toward the latter because i think most people don't take the time to really consider the role video games can play in a person's life. This is SO HUGE and cannot be understated.
3. I think it depends on the person - i wouldnt say any game is better than another. It depends on what kind of fulfillment the person is seeking/getting and what kind of emotions and behaviors are being rewarded/punished
4. It depends on the social engagements that happen in them - how does the person interact with strangers, what do they use the online space for, etc.

My boyfriend uses video games constantly. He says he uses them to unwind after work as we both have stressful jobs, but I worry that the video games are taking over our relationship and causing conflicts and even more anxiety for him because he gets very emotional over them. Any tips for finding ways for him and I to de-stress together?

This is a wonderful question.

Talk. Communicate openly. And be supportive. Cliche, maybe, but this goes sooooooo far. The game is likely filling some sort of role, may even be deeper than you realize, so that's worth having out on the table. Ask how you can work as a team to handle what anxieties your relationship and you individually are facing, and of course, seek couples therapy with somebody you trust if you need it! There's no shame in it!

When you say video games, do you mean people who say they use it as a device to cope or people who go overboard and lose touch with reality? Being as busy as I am now, video games are one of my last hobbies I can pick up and go as I please all while decompressing for a bit. That being said, what demographic do you see most? Mid-20s men?

For video gamers, I see a lot of adolescents, but adults are sprinkled in there too. Mainly cismales. However, I do find that a lot of LGBTQA+ people use video games to explore identity and have a safe space to feel comfortable and explore interacting with the environment in a way that's closer to their truth. In fact, I'm in the midst of writing a paper about using video game characters as transitional objects when facilitating the coming out process!

Hello! Thank you for making an effort to reach those that don't even know that they are in a risk group yet. Addiction to playing video games is very real but often overlooked as weakness of character or weakness of will or just laziness.

I myself struggled with coming to terms with my addiction. Even moderate doses of gaming can easily turn into all night runs that leaves me exhausted and barley functioning.

My number one factor in succeeding in staying away was when I became a father. My kids and family and work take up my whole life, and I let them. It's wonderful.

My 5yo is just getting into video games herself, she plays Minecraft and occasionally apps like Toca Kitchen or Lego games. I'm afraid that if I engage in playing to much with her I might slip into old habits and just keep playing.

Do you have any suggestions or strategies that I can apply to help myself avoid relapse? I don't want to limit her game time only because of my own history. She currently gets 1h of gaming after dinner and chores, before bed.

Thank you!

First of all - congrats on being a father and for working through your addiction! I'm glad they've been a wonderful addition in your life :)

Your willingness to monitor yourself and be open to the idea that you could "slip" is a huge strength. I would encourage you to seek a therapist out for support in that endeavor if you need it! And as far as her limiting her - it's your prerogative as a parent! I think healthy boundaries and consistency and your mindfulness of her wellbeing are all great!

Hey Ryan,

Education psych grad student and teacher here. In my recent experiences, I have found that many parents are teaching their children to be more egocentric, and less flexible and adaptable to environments. For example, we have parents who believe its their job to dictate to the teacher what their child will and will not do, and if their child has negative behaviors, the parents will quickly victimize their child. What are your thoughts on this?

I see this a lot. Parenting is so hard, and it's ripe with vulnerability. I think parents outsource the lack of control they feel into trying to control the environments their children are in such as school (this obviously doesn't apply to all parents - but I do see it frequently). This is a huge issue that is honestly difficult to grasp and address in a reddit comment, but I do think parents are often quick to avoid holding their children accountable because it doesn't feel good to do that - but from a behavioral standpoint it's necessary - as is consistency across contexts!

Is CBT still the most “cutting edge” /effective therapy for anxiety?

Can a person with anxiety really ever fully recover?

What’s the simplest advice you could give to help me stop being so damn anxious???

Yes - CBT is one of the empirically supported and overall tends to get positive feedback.

And depends on how you frame "recovery" - anxiety is a part of life! It's all what we tell ourselves and how we manage it and build a relationship with it.

Stop telling yourself you have to stop - build a more partnered relationship with your anxiety - understand why it's there (often protection) and remind yourself that you can set boundaries with it, but that anxiety is a part of life that all of us face. It gets louder when we try to avoid it!

What's your favorite video game?

Well, I do have a destiny tattoo, so I would probably have to say that.

But I also have an N7 tattoo - so Mass Effect is in there. Star Fox 64 too. And the Division! So many good games.

Do therapists have a boss? Are there metrics that each therapist has to meet? How does your work grade you on your performance?

Ummmm not really. More of a practice owner. Depends on the practice in terms of metrics, but we make a living based off of how many clients we see a week. Honestly, insurance companies are more of a boss than anything - reimbursement rates and such are a pain to figure out and dictate a lot of times how much income we pull in.

I grade my performance on whether people keep coming and I frequently ask if therapy is working for them. People have the right (and absolutely should) bail on a therapist if they aren't meeting their needs and especially if they therapist isn't asking for or attending to feedback

What do you think about self-therapy?

I think we could all use an outside perspective - most therapists have a therapist of their own!

It's hard sometimes, we get wrapped up in our own stuff and we bias ourselves and put pressure on. I do think that finding outlets like video games can be helpful though!

I cannot stop thinking and recently my conversations are running some what dry, I seem to have lost my confidence. I think almost constantly and it's effecting everything, my ability to take in information an even silly little things like playing games, I've started playing pretty poorly. My thoughts are getting scarily violent at times and I've been having suicidal thoughts so strong I actually see the image. What do I do and how can I stop this?

First of all - if you need to talk to somebody about suicidal ideation, the national suicide prevention hotline is available 24/7 if it becomes intrusive to the point where you may act, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

I would encourage anyone experiencing this to seek out professional help - there is no shame in it! Psychologytoday.com is a great place to start.

I am suffering anxiety attacks all the time. They either paralyze me or make me walk around the house for an hour or so. I smoke weed to cool my nerves. I am currently going with a very good therapist and Ive seen progress. But weed always seems to work better than the meds Im given. Whats your take on this issue? Also my therapist is anti-cannabis so he wants me to quit smoking lol

I've heard this frequently. I'm glad to hear that something helps calm the anxiety - though in my experience, anxiety can actually build to be more intolerable over time if a person doesn't give themselves a chance to see that they can handle it without aid. Anxiety management is mostly distress tolerance, and people do much better with anxiety if they have a more amicable relationship to anxiety and show themselves that they can still be productive and be who they want to be even if anxiety is hanging around. I'm not anti meds by any means, but I do advocate for people hanging in there with how miserable anxiety can feel a bit longer than they might realize they are able to do to show themselves that it really isn't as horrible of an emotion as it seems - in fact, it's often a protector!

Hey Ryan, my life is constant stress (probably because i don't know how to act when another human being speaks to me)... I go home and immediately get on my Madden football game to go head to head with other players (instead of going to the gym or learning something useful with my time)... just recently I've learned that the first thing I do is go home and play video games because it gives me an opportunity to win... where in my real life I feel like I lose all the time. I like how I have to think of schemes to win a football game and how even though the players i have suck i can use them the right way and win.. I feel like a god when I do that. However..

I start yelling at people over the mic (often times even kids and I'm ashamed of it) but it helps me release my anger and frustration in my real life. A bunch of F*** Y**s and you suck! I'm tired of doing this. It seems like I can't stop either... I tell myself day after day I won't go home and play... aaaaaand I'm yelling at 12 yr olds again. Any advice for someone like me?

First of all, I appreciate your willingness to share - as you might expect, i would recommend seeking somebody out to talk to about this! Sometimes it feels safer to be angry at anonymous people in contexts we feel as if we have more control in. There are some strengths in the skills you identified that somebody could help you take advantage of outside of Madden. Your anxiety is worthy of validation - and believe it or not, we all have control over what we tell ourselves about it and what we do with it - a good relationship with it helps it be a healthier process!

Hi, Dr. Mick!

I'm a guy who needs therapy. My hurdles are twofold. One, my wife is very much a 'man up' kind of personality whenever I am feeling down.

Two is that I'm so cynical (or broken, I don't really know) that I can't trust a therapist. They are there in a chair telling me what I want to hear because that's what puts the insurance money and copay in their pocket. Anything good anyone says to me is (in my mind) placating, and that includes someone who I'm paying to say those nice things.

Is there a way out of the catch 22 here?

Hey dude, as a therapist myself, no one is paying us to say nice things. And if that’s some therapist’s basic MO, they suck. We should help you recognize what you are doing well (that maybe you don’t realize), as well as help uncover what’s holding you back, flaws in your thinking, propose different options for behavior, etc etc. It’s meant to be challenging but eventually fulfilling. Positive reinforcement is an important part of the process, just like in training dogs lol.

If you really want to seek therapy and its benefits, just try to find someone with a good fit to your style. Therapists come in all sorts of personalities, not just the quiet, touchyfeely stereotype. Sorry for the ramble :)

^^This! Thanks for the assist icecop!

Can we hear some examples of these therapeutic cliches and why you feel they are harmful?

That we only are out to collect insurance money - that we will only tell you what you want to hear - that we are these old people that sit in a room and analyze and judge you - that therapy has to be uncomfortable and push you past your limits in a way that isnt safe - that we are all trying to work on our own issues through others - etc.

Personally, I have a hard time with how formal the process can be - in the sense that a therapist wears a suit, assigns a bunch of academic reading, stuff like that. We are people too - people that care deeply and want to help you find what's best for you and facilitate that process.

Yes, there are some not-good therapists out there, for sure - but I love the idea of challenging the status quo about therapy, it's accessibility, and the overall environment it happens in

What is your experience when it comes to dealing with social anxiety, and what methods of treatment have you found to be most successful? It seems like a very common mental health issue, which is becoming more and more prevalent, yet is widely overlooked or downplayed in some way.

Great question - social anxiety is a bit unique because the immersion and building of distress tolerance is a bit more difficult and has far more variable of an environment and potential reaction.

Exposure can help this a lot, but it needs to be scaffolded in a way that goes just ever so slightly beyond the person's pace. It's helpful to work on baby steps with types of social environments, and sometimes it's helpful to fixate on the "facts" and observable feedback that often suggests that you aren't in the spotlight in the way you might think, and that there's a lot of room for flexibility. I think of social anxiety as being the result of "too many options" as opposed to "not enough" in terms of how to interact with people. Start small and be willing to actually internalize feedback that suggests you're cool to be around. That's a general description but the best I can come up with without a specific case!

What's your thoughts on meditation as a treatment for anxiety and depression?

If that's your jam, go for it! There are therapists who are truly excellent at using this. There's no one-size-fits-all treatment for anxiety and depression, but i wholly advocate for acknowledgment and building a good relationship with it!

Hello Dr_Mick, you're doing great work helping people with anxiety and about that I had one question: seeing as you are into gaming, do you ever see a means for games, actual games, to have content that could act as a guide to people with anxiety [and other] disorders, such that they could use it to deal/cope with that experience?

Have you read 'Gateway' [1977, Frederick Pohl]?

That is a pipe dream of mine to advocate for using games to build distress tolerance. Video games provide a lovely platform to set goals, handle adversity, and fight through pressure - external and internal. I hope some day i can have big enough of a platform to build awareness toward this.

I have not - I'll check it out, though!

I saw an article saying that playing Tetris helps with anxiety. What are your thoughts on this?

It certainly can! Video games in general can help build distress tolerance - Tetris is no different.

These days I tend to wake up in the mornings with horrible, nauseating anxiety that almost paralyzes me and doesn't go away til the afternoon. I've had anxiety problems all my life. But how do I stop this one? :(

That's a super tough question for me to answer without knowing you or working with you as a client, but I will say that you might consider taking time to listen to it. The drive is often to make it go away, but that makes it worse over time. I know it might seem counter intuitive, but listen to what it wants for you, and the vulnerability behind it.

Hi doc, thanks for your time. Have you dealt with Avoidant Personality Disorder alot and if so, do you have any commonly successful advice for someone who is just about understanding what this is and how best to proceed with it?

Thanks for everything you do.

I do not have much experience with that, to be honest. I would recommend seeking a thearpist (if you havent already) that does have experience with it. The little I know of the disorder is that anxiety can be quite co-morbid with it. But, at the end of the day - there is NO shame in the diagnosis, especially if it helps you (or the person you're talking about) find the support and help they need and deserve :)

I feel anxious especially while playing games, I've been trying to game more but I just can't lately.

Is there a way that daily anxiety causes depression?

How is anxiety affected by long term abusive parents?

What about if there are negative association of games as waste of times and such for the parents

Yes, anxiety can be linked with depression if it is maintained in such a way by ourselves or by others as "not okay". that can feel very isolating and lonely and breed depressive symptoms. Among other things that are case-by-case.

Abuse brings along with it a lot of internalized messages that we carry. As kids, the only way to make sense of abuse is to be ego-centric. When we become adults, our brains develop to a place where we make meaning of that. It's hard to detach from those messages, which is why a therapist can be super helpful in figuring that out.

As far as the message about video games - spend some time asking yourself what your truth is - and live it even if it means you might go against the narrative of your parents! You don't have to carry that message if that message is invalidating to your experience.

How much of anxiety and depression do you think is associated with nature and how much with nurture?

Hard for me to say in any way scientifically - but from my clinical and lived experience, nurture plays a MASSIVE role. They way we maintain anxiety for ourselves and others is often what allows it get to a place where it feels insurmountable. I can tell you that nurture is what often plays a role in managing anxiety and making it better though, for whatever that's worth!

I feel that a lot of people want to be in therapy but struggle to know where to begin. Also, in the US there is the idea that therapy is extremely expensive and therefore not an option for people without healthcare. What steps would you suggest people take to find a therapist? What options would you give to people with limited income?

The very first thing i would suggest is to talk to friends and family to see if there is anybody they trust. Next, try a site like psychologytoday.com - you can filter to find exactly what you're looking for.

There also may be a sliding scale clinic in your area - especially if you are near a university with a counseling or MFT program. Google "sliding scale therapy" with the name of your area and see what comes up!

I was recently diagnosed with ADHD-PI and i’m currently on 38 mg of Concerta. Since starting my culinary course however, i’ve noticed i’ve had a few panic attacks (hyperventilation, sense of impending doom, crying). I have no history of anxiety until now. Do stimulants cause anxiety, or have I just simply found myself in bad circumstances?

Stimulants can induce anxiety - I would make sure you talk to your therapist/psychiatrist/general practitioner to see if the way you are experiencing it is normal or if it might be worth a shift. They'll know how to address this with you!

What are some good strategies to get over avoidance coping?

I would recommend finding a therapist who is trained in exposure therapy/CBT and would be willing to go at your pace with that/ also encourage you to slowly push past thresholds and build up distress tolerance!

Do you have any hypotheses or posits about what has caused the increased frequency of anxiety/anxiousness as a mental health issue in contemporary society?

Social media is a huge part of this - I don't think anxiety gets enough representation in the media or in general. ALL of us have anxiety, but NONE of us are generally allowed to talk about it. We are told it's shameful or that if you're anxious you can't do great things - but that isn't true! I think it's because we've set an impossible standard and that gets reinforced over time. That's why I'm trying to do my part to break that down!

I am interested in learning more about your upbringing/education career. I find myself with a passion for helping my IRL and gaming friends with anxiety. I have been juggling the idea of returning to schooling to grab a higher degree from my bachelors in arts. What did you go to school for and what did you do after schooling to get where you are today?

I got my bachelor of science in human services which laid a foundation then i went for a masters in marriage and family therapy which trained me to conduct therapy. After that, i decided i wanted to teach supervise and do research so i pursued a PhD. I encourage you to look into it! there are many careers available in mental health so pursue the one that speaks to you the most :)

To answer the last question - a LOT of networking and not being afraid to advocate for my interests and what I believe in. It helps when academia becomes soul crushing (it's difficult)

Life was all good until one day I got sick, then very sick. 4 years later I'm almost completely bed bound with a rare degenerative disease. I lost my job, my friends, my hope of raising a family, and all my then recreational activities. Video games are one of the few ways I have of maintaining a social life, and are absolutely the only sense of adventure or pride I ever get anymore.

Fairly often people will conduct polls in game related reddits asking if people are depressed and I hate it. It feels like all depressed gamers are lumped together with the conclusion inevitably being drawn that gaming causes depression. I'm not disputing that I'm depressed (now) but I want people to recognize that gaming is one of the very few positive things I have left and have HELPED me instead of harmed. I think, like therapy, gaming also gets a bad stigma in this way and I'm happy to see educated people like you u/dr-mick setting the record straight.

I wanted to ask, do you ever recommend video games to non-gamers who are seeing you as a therapist?

First of all - thank you for sharing. That sounds like an immensely difficult time and process. I'm also glad that gaming has been helpful for you, and I hope that if you have a therapist or are interested in finding one that they will see that as a strength and not suggest you shy away from it. Gaming absolutely has a bad stigma (so does therapy) so the combo can be a double-whammy.

Though I don't do it often, it's something I would absolutely consider. It never hurts to suggest or ask if they might be interested!

Hello and thank you for doing this. Do you have advice for someone who wants to begin treatment but is worried about being put on the wrong dosages/types of medicine (while looking for the right one) and the problems that could come from that?

That is a fantastic question. Find somebody reputable. Psychiatrists live and die by word of mouth. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or like it's moving too fast, either let the therapist know or stop seeing them (if they are unresponsive to that).

Sometimes meds are trial and error - so find a person that you truly feel comfortable with who can also take the time to explain what to anticipate and why they are doing what they are doing.

Do you have any thoughts on the recent overwhelmingly popularity of fortnite?

It builds a HUGE sense of community. It's tugged on all the right strings - it's cool to know, cool to be good at, it's popular on Twitch. The sense of belonging in fortnite is amazing.

How would you recommend I try to help a schizophrenic adult that doesn't listen much and loves video games? Muchas gracias. English is not my first language.

I would recommend seeking out a therapist who is qualified to work with schizophrenia and also has some knowledge about video games. Be supportive if there is resistance - the idea of therapy can bring up a lot of shame for people.

What games do you play personally?

Destiny, No Man's Sky. The Division, WoW are my staples right now. Wanting to get into Divinity 2!