Video Games Better Than Morphine

[Nakosis]

In my interview with the Navy’s head of Addiction Research, Commander Dr. Andrew Doan, he stated that there is an endorphin-increasing mechanism that’s not entirely understood; he embraces the notion of screens acting as “digital pharmakeia” (Greek for pharmaceuticals), a term he coined to explain the neurobiological effects produced by video technologies.

Brain imaging would eventually confirm that burn patients treated with SnowWorld virtual reality (VR) were experiencing less pain in the parts of their brain associated with processing pain. These stunning findings have led the military to further pursue the use of virtual reality and video games as a quasi-digital drug to help treat pain.
Video Games Stronger Than Morphine: U.S. Military

I can attest to this, as a chronic pain sufferer, while playing video games I don't feel notice the normal pain I feel. It's really gone for the one or two hours that I'm playing. I knew this worked for me, I didn't realize how well it worked for others. It'd be nice to be pain free all of the time without drugs. I'm not sure how this works or I wish I could figure out how to block the pain without the video games.

I wonder if I could get my doctor to prescribe video games so I could get my wife off my back about them?

 

[SomeRandom]

That's interesting. I wonder if the same can be true of something like music.
Or does visual media release more endorphins than non? Is that what they're saying?
If it promises potential then I say study it.
What's the worst that can happen anyway?

 

[Nakosis]

That's interesting. I wonder if the same can be true of something like music.
Or does visual media release more endorphins than non? Is that what they're saying?
If it promises potential then I say study it.
What's the worst that can happen anyway?

Video Game addiction Duh, duh, dum...

 

[Jumi]

True, when I had the worst pain episodes the best I could do was immerse myself in some activity. The drugs prescribed by the doctors were nearly useless much of the time and didn't seem like a nice alternative to get hooked onto. Solving increasingly difficult puzzles as a method of pain relief seemed both good for the condition and something useful. I'd think mathematics or solving physics problems could reach a similar level as games or playing instruments. It just depends on how much you can get into them.