Is it alright if I stamp this at the top of my thread since it seems a lot more well thought out than anything I said? 
Sure 
I also ran it by Vrak last night after I posted it seeing as I was talking about him. He replied with a 
so I assume there were not factual errors in it.
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IMO ever since a Crowned Eagle swooping down and carrying off your baby to feed it’s young stopped being an every day concern for families as well as silly things like lions mauling and eating you or your entire village starving to death because volcano god was mad that the mental health of humans has probably been skyrocketing.
The mental health crisis of today is truly nothing compared to times when a family member living more than a 2 days walk from the mud shack you shared with 15 people could mean you would probably never ever see them again, or expecting to lose a little over half your children to plague.
Today is great. Life is, quite literally, the very best it’s ever been for the human race. I can expect to never be murdered. In fact, I can expect that nobody I know will be murdered. I don’t have to worry about wolves, famine, or even scratching myself when I shave and dying from a simple curable infection.
Our biggest concerns are that we might die early because we are too safe and lazy and have too much food so we eat outselves to death. Imagine! Doughnuts are deadlier to us than that Crowned Eagles from the first paragraph that almost certainly killed many thousands of our shared relatives over the last 30 millennia or so. A DOUGHNUT!
We are on a video game forum complaining because the thing we waste some of our extra time and money on is less good than some of the other video games we waste some of our extra time and money on.
So, I don’t think our mental health is really at risk. We are in the best possible position of any living thing in the entire known universe, and that’s a great spot to be in.
Achievers
- Planner (explicit)
- They set a goal and aim to achieve it.
- Opportunist (implicit)
- They look around for things to do, but they don’t know what these are until they find them.
Explorers
- Scientist (explicit)
- They are methodical in their acquisition of knowledge.
- Hacker (implicit)
- They have an intuitive understanding of the virtual world, with no need to test their ideas.
Socializers
- Networker (explicit)
- They assess other player’s capabilities.
- Friend (implicit)
- They enjoy their company.
Killers
- Politician (Explicit)
- Their aim is to get a big, good reputation.
- Griefer (implicit)
- Their vague aim is to get a big, bad reputation.
Definitely an important topic to talk about and let others know that we are here in it together. A big thing I feel isn’t discussed often enough is how important the mental health of the family members and caregivers of those who are suffering from mental illness or other disabilities that require constant attention. It is tough and it is taxing. The sacrifice people make to take care of those they love can have a quite substantial impact on their lives and their overall happiness.
I think people don’t talk about it because they want to be there and help and maybe it’s naturally in some peoples blood to be giving and loving like that, but I’ve watched my family -especially my mother- let this stress overwhelm her before ever saying a word. These things build up inside but it’s ok to let it out. It’s ok to share your burden. 
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Richard Bartle talks about each type in greater detail, he talks about the ‘killer’ types and the sub group of griefers, he explains that if you allow this kind of player to run loose it will ruin your game.
He also groups cheaters with this group and says the same, they will ruin your game.
It might help if your emotional health is affected poorly by strangers on an internet game, to use some ‘self talk’ therapy and remind yourself this is just some stranger that has NOTHING to do with you.
Now guild drama can be different as they do not feel like strangers after playing together for a couple years, for that I personally just quit organized group content, as there will always be ‘that person’ and I do not choose to spend my time with that sort of person.
I don’t think it’s about praise or patting ourselves on the back in the end it’s about spreading information to those who need it or maybe not even know they do. Maybe some people DO approach it the way you say and I’m sure there are lol. These things are trending. But for those who face these issues on a daily basis I think it’s a good time for them to speak about their experience and just be honest which is something many don’t get that leisure or don’t feel it’s appropriate to do.
Like my boss and I were setting up a mental health awareness board at work and we just started talking about our experiences in the past with bad psychologists haha. It was a random discussion but it was sort of eye opening that we both had bad experiences of professionals actually telling people that they don’t need help or taking advantage of younger children by not really treating them in the time they spend together.
Wouldn’t ever have thought I’d have a talk like that with my boss but it was nice to connect over something slightly more personal like that. People don’t normally just say “oh yeah I see a psychiatrist “ out loud lol.
I understand your anger. A part of me feels the same way. I hope it’s ok but I’d like to share something that has recently really upset me. So I have normally avoided social platform things outside of the WoW forums for the majority of my life. I never felt a lot of what is on these things is important or real. But I did download TikTok on my phone around 6 months ago.
Ever since I do spend a decent amount of time flipping through it to watch funny videos but there is a thing on there that really makes me upset. And the funny part is when I ask about what it means or if it’s related to something I have experienced those people become very offended and attack.
Have you ever heard of “shifting”? I guess it’s a thing that people are claiming to do where they leave their reality to enter a new one and often it’s a fantasy setting like on a anime or a movie. Well back then when I was younger I developed maladaptive daydreaming disorder as a way to cope at home. Being able to get my mind off the reality I lived in was the only thing that made me feel ok. WoW is a big part of helping me cope too. So I ask people what is the difference between vividly daydreaming and shifting?
They get mad and say that I’m offensive and it’s nothing like that. It’s a special thing that only few can do. There is like a huge following of people that like to watch others “shift” and tell their stories using movie clips and makeup. I’ve lost years in my dreams. I lose most of my sleep because I’m daydreaming. Can’t stop because I get urges to do it, it makes me feel good. It’s this thing that doctors are starting to recognize but it’s not like a real disorder they can diagnose people with really. I don’t need a doctor to tell me I have it because it’s rather obvious…
But I was so curious to talk about it with others because it’s not something that others would normally speak of.
And I get told I’m offending them? Lol I am mad. I’m mad that people are pretending to do something on social platforms to get views and making others think it’s real. I’m mad that there could be people like me out there who think it’s not a issue but some sort of wild gift. Young people will believe it because they want too but it’s not a gift. It’s a way to deal with problems that turns into its own problem.
Ugh. I dunno. Am I wrong to feel angry about something like this?
I turned very bitter for a time. I typed things to people in bg’s that might have got me shot if it were face to face. I thought nothing of it until those cyber-bully commercials came out and I realized it really was harming some types of people. I stopped doing it.
So if I can’t commit to being helpful at least I can commit to doing no harm.
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Chemical imbalances in the brain have MUCH to do with mental health. One thing I love to do is have plenty of vitamin D & tan in the next couple days. This helps the body produce serotonin in abundance. Omega-3 is another important thing I make sure to consume, preferably natural wild caught salmon. Multi-vitamins can be good but remember to take them with food or milk. A lot of these boys / men these days have a zinc / potassium deficiency; mainly do to overindulgence in a certain activity or a bit too frisky with the S.O. 
Metal content in drinking water is a big one. There’s been a link between crazy people & metal contamination.
That would be lead. Thankfully that is easy to test your water for. Most home improvement stores sell test kits for it.
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Well I’m very aware people be cray.
We can’t forget about cadmium. mercury, aluminum, arsenic etc…
I don’t even drink tap-water myself, even my cat gets reverse osmosis:)
Mine started in school, I was socially awkward but empathetic to the despise I felt from those around me. I was the kid who always finished the test first and got 100%'s. When it was reading out loud time I couldn’t understand the poor readers and would read ahead and then ‘daydream’.
I’m now 63 years old, I still daydream even sometimes consecutive daydreams unrelated to each other. I imagine folks that it seems I know as I could tell you details of their lives. It’s crazy but it makes for writing fiction tons of fun.
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Imagine typing an essay about toxicity in the playerbase, and starting it off by namecalling and insulting everybody else you play with.
Ever think that maybe the problem isn’t the “masses”?
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Why would that be ok? Holy crap, no.
There are simulations out there online. I thought a toy that simulated the condition would bring awareness to the issue.
I think Mental Health Awareness should pair with Mental Health Responsibility.
Sure, it’d be nice if people were more understanding, but it’s also everyone’s own responsibility to not lash out on to others no matter what’s going on or even if you just had a bad day.
While there are games and simulations out there that directly delve into mental health issues, those are best used with guidance from healthcare providers, or with full knowledge of what people are getting into.
There is nothing “toy” like about schizophrenia, at all. That would be dangerous, not helpful.
The first post in this thread has been updated with a quoted post of the things in game for support.
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My favorite t-shirt. ‘You are just jealous because the voices talk to me.’ < tongue in cheek >
In Europe the medical profession has a genetic test for schizophrenia, it is a physical ailment that affects a person’s ability to reason. In the USA it is a ‘catch all’ diagnosis for inept medical professionals.