Just a quick update since I don’t think it warrants its own video: I cut out caffeine this past week and my OCD-based anxiety symptoms have pretty much vanished. As I alluded to in the video, everyone is different, everyone has anxiety caused by different things, and in no case do I believe there’s a single “fix”. But in my case a combination of getting better at letting go, leaning into things that make me happy, and cutting back on stimulants seems to have helped immensely. I wish you all the best with whatever you’re working through, and please remember you can always drop a line here if you need to talk.
Great video, I think that people having a point of enjoyment and having hobbies they can lean into really do help, as we associate happiness or joy with them. Personally making up army lists most days helps keep my mind occupied 🤞.
My OCD manifests in a similar way along with the some of the monk like habits and Autism. Generally speaking life could be better but Wargaming does good for me because it can be literally the most methodical and orderly task you can do, which can provide some peace. Thinking of plans for future projects or what do do with current ones get me through the day and when I get home even when I can't hobby for whatever reason watching a few videos before bed can sometimes be the only thing that give me a reason to wake up in the morning.
Well, that was mostly helpful. My only criticism is reddit. That's where I go for anxiety apparently. Like a simple thread that quickly devolves into a competition of grievances that have absolutely nothing or very little to do with the topic at hand. I think it would serve everyone to compartmentalize a bit. Cuz I want to talk about my games not your politics. Not every conversation leads to, "this is why the world sucks and the part you contribute to it" Food for thought to anyone who reads this.
Yeah I’ve never contributed there, what I’ve found helpful from consuming Reddit threads on anxiety is what I described in the video: seeing other people describe having my exact symptoms was immensely helpful in understanding that I’m not going through something unique. It provided hope that if others described getting better, or shared methods that helped with coping, that there might be something to help me too. It’s not about Reddit, specifically, it’s about community, and knowing you’re not alone.
Thanks for the video. I’ve been struggling with sleep apnea and have been on leave from work since January. It’s been a stressful, anxiety inducing time. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your comment, sorry to hear you’ve been struggling with sleep apnea - physical sleep disturbances are almost worse than mental ones, since there’s so little that can be done to stop them. Do you use a mask? I know they’re kind of daunting but several people in my family with sleep apnea swear by them.
Great video. I have rough ADHD that fits only one half of the pop-culture definition/presentation. Your story of OCD is super familiar. Brains can suck; glad you have a space to reflect and affirm. Positive thoughts! Thank you for creating this thread to give folks a place maybe less funky than a Reddit thread
Cheers, can absolutely relate to only fitting half of a mold, so to speak. I’ve realized that our desire to categorize, especially when talking about anxiety, stems from an innate desire to control and “fix” things. As I said regarding sleep I’ve found a great deal of comfort in focusing my energies into letting go and trying my best to roll with whatever happens. It’s easier said than done, but it gives me a lot of hope. Thanks for the comment, always a safe space for sharing your thoughts here.
Most people surely experience these thoughts from time to time, and some struggle on a daily basis. Training the mind, like the way you describe, is a great way of aiming to tackle any negativity. Well done, and as always, you're great to listen to! Regards, Steve
Mindfulness has been huge for me in training myself to detach myself emotionally from thoughts. Just let them come and go like leaves on a stream, as I once heard it referred to. Also it’s a silly insight but dehydration seems to play a role in the low level feeling of body strain, which seems to trick the brain into thinking something is off/might be anxiety.
Great video - you made some excellent points that effectively dealing with anxiety is usually not a logic game (although having an idea wtf is going on is always helpful!). Loved that you pointed out the paradoxical effect of letting go of control/no longer fighting against it. Wishing you more wargaming, better sleep and more calmness (not in that order 😄)
Thanks so much! Yeah I’ve found the concept of letting go cured not only my sleep issues, but has helped immensely with my general feelings of anxiety during the daytime as well.
Been there many times and it stinks. Sorry you've gone through it all. Recently I've been almost spontaneously pep-talking to myself, so glad to hear it works for you
We are only human .... everyone is different but also the same ...... keep up the amazing work bro and remember.... when in doubt... the bits will always be there ... 💪🔥🤘❤️🙏
Thank you for this. Guess I can share this: getting into this hobby about two years has been great for my mental health. Aside from the meditative aspect of it, which is great on its own. Complicated projects at work tended to cause loads of anxiety, procrastination, and panic attacks, which led me to believe I just wasn't able to perform that kind of work. Until my wife pointed out to me one day that I basically run several projects at once when I'm hobbying, without any issues. And she was right. So now I try to approach 'real life' like I approach my hobby. Not taking things too seriously has paradoxically lead me to becoming much more stable and dependable. All because of wargaming in a weird way.
Totally relate, thank you for sharing this. You’re absolutely right that the core issue at work seems to be one of fear of losing control, or as you aptly put it “taking things too seriously”. I’ve also found the hobby has been great for not only my general mental health but my work life, as it’s helped me to better break down large projects and approach things more methodically and slowly.
Thank you for sharing. I suffer from depression (since I was a child actually) which often leads to insomnia (among other things) and I have found wargaming does help. I did not get into wargaming until my mid 40s, and which I had found it sooner! It is almost a meditation/Zen like feeling for me. I just started Gunpla this year as well as a change of pace/try something new, and it does the same thing for me. Thanks again for this video.
Thanks for the comment, agree that this hobby is super meditative in a way I didn’t always find even with traditional painting. I think the small scale, and the fact that there are usually games to think about these figures existing in, helps add a layer to redirect and slow thoughts.
My breakthrough came with the realisation that low days don't last. They'll pass, If you let them. I'd say to myself 'okay, today's not a good one, let's get through it, try to do helpful stuff, and see how tomorrow goes'.
Completely agree with this, it helps immensely with anxiety spiraling into depression (which in turn causes more anxiety). I even do this sometimes on a smaller scale by breaking up the day “ok it’s an anxious morning, let’s see how you feel by the afternoon.”
Thanks for sharing, the wargaming hobby can be very theraputic - I myself suffer from Asperger's Syndrome and Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Wargaming has helped me break through the social barriers these issues present, through it I have developed a number of life-long freindships and even making related content is helping me with my speech pattern issues! Thank you for starting this conversation.
Thank you for sharing, and I totally agree about the therapeutic nature of this hobby. In addition to painting models being inherently relaxing and the social aspect of wargaming being overwhelmingly positive, I even think the escapism of disappearing into a miniature world we have control over is healthy in moderation. I wish you all the best and am here if you ever need a chat!
i definitely find brief moments of relief by just noticing the smallest of silly things around me. taking a bite of food and a crumb falls on the table. seeing a bug crawling on the ground. wiping off dust from the top of the computer monitor. living in the moment isn't always possible, but like another commenter has said here: you have to train the mind daily. try to examine every little stain on the wall, they all have a reason for being there.
Great comment, and what you’re describing is top level mindfulness. Many of us have a tendency to multitask, which keeps the mind racing for people like me. Mindfulness is all about slowing down and paying deliberate attention to what you’re doing and the things around you. I like your particular angle of seeking silly things like crumbs and dust, I’ll keep that in mind for my own practice!
i had extremely bad anxiety for about 2 years, like bordering on panic attacks in my own home for no reason the only thing that calmed my mind was model making
Thanks for sharing this. I can relate to just about everything you've touched on here. I have spun myself up into thinking I was having a heart attack, going to the ER, etc. Recently, thanks to a history with severe asthma and allergies (not nearly as bad these days as it was when I was a kid), I have certainly tricked myself into thinking things are much worse than they are (ragweed season + wildfire smoke sending me to the doctor, getting "lungs look and sound great" appraisals). Hasn't exactly nipped the doom vibes in the bud - but what has helped is the "ego death" mentality you mentioned. "I feel like this right now, so what, it's fine, who cares" -- has certainly helped quite a bit. And prayer, with thanksgiving. Sorry to hear you go through this -- and thanks for posting this!
Thanks so much for sharing, and can definitely relate. I’ve had minor back tension spiral into full blown panic attacks because I feared it was something medically serious, or it spiraled into the “am I getting anxious” feedback loop. Found this cool resource that helps with the root, underlying fears at work here: www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/common-fears/fear-of-losing-control#:~:text=Common%20compulsions-,When%20people%20with%20a%20fear%20of%20losing%20control%20in%20OCD,escape%2C%20or%20avoid%20these%20fears. Basically working on “letting go” seems to be the way forward, as it proved so helpful with sleep disturbances.
@@Dan-ds8sf That’s a fascinating article - and very helpful! Lately I have definitely noticed my compulsion to look for the magic bullet/perfect solution. Letting go seems to hit the nail on the head and a way out of that ugly cycle.
The sad things about this is you are getting where you can't remove all your GW bits and organize them because they are becoming more specialized in their assembly...I missed the old days when you could mix and match your models with different bits and they would fit. Anyway.... My cure for anxiety is sorta different I either teach myself something new (usually hobby related) or I volunteer...my problems tend to go away when I'm helping people who don't know where their next meal is coming from...it's not for everyone but it works for me.
Thanks for the comment! On GW, their shift to essentially making sprues of one-pose models is a big part of why I shifted over to alternative manufacturers. What drew me into the hobby is exactly the kind of customization and kitbashing you described. I also agree about perspective being an incredibly grounding force. I have a brother in law from Ireland who says that if everyone in the world could get together at a great big table and out their problems in front of them, you’d be very grateful to be able to remove yours as quickly as possible when you see what other people are going through. Volunteering is a great way to achieve that, but short of that, just getting out and talking to people also helps slow down the doom loop of “this is the worst thing I’ll never feel normal again”. Again, it’s not about finding a cure or a single magic bullet, I think it’s about finding dozens (or hundreds!) of small ways to help make things just a little bit happier and more relaxed.
