Breakfast Topic: WoW as rehab
by Andrew Ross 
Aug 7th 2010 at 8:00AM
When my fiancée and I first met, we exchanged stories, talked about our career choices and what we've gone through over the years. After some time, WoW came up in our discussion. I explained to her how I first got started in WoW and how it has actually helped me quite a bit over the years. When I first started playing, I was recovering from a major surgery and was mostly confined to my house. You can only watch the same movies and read the same books so many times before you're bored with nothing to do. Enter WoW -- and everything changed.
All of a sudden, I had a connection to the outside world. Not only was I talking to people from all over the country, but I was also making myself think. Every move I made had a consequence to some degree, and much like everyone else, I learned early on that murlocs are not your friend. Fast-forward nine months and I was cleared for work and school. I went back to work and started my fall quarter refreshed and eager to learn. People were asking if I had really had surgery, because they couldn't tell a difference.
Unfortunately, I fell ill a year ago and was off work yet again. WoW was my saving grace (next to my fiancée, of course), and it helped me keep my head above water. I had a connection to the outside world, was able to talk to friends that lived hours away and wasn't sitting around the house bored out of my mind.
Games are more often than not given a bad reputation, blamed for poor academics, addiction, marital problems and more. What if a game is used as a recovery tool? Do you know anybody who has used WoW or any other game as something to help them recover from a surgery or illness?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Brouck Aug 7th 2010 8:15AM
I was put on strict bedrest for a sports hernia until I was able to have the surgery. With the recovery time from the surgery it resulted in about a month that I was to stay home and do as little as possible. Playing WoW at that time kept my mind going and prevented me from wallowing in self pity. Being an active, outgoing individual, being confined to my house was near torture, thankfully WoW provided a new outlet for me.
Scougelord Aug 7th 2010 8:15AM
Although I don't know anyone in real life who used WoW "as rehab", I once knew a guild member who got into WoW when his leg was badly broken in a work accident.
Aureliusz Aug 7th 2010 8:19AM
I don't know anyone personally, but I remember being in a raiding guild with an awesome guy who was wheelchair'd (don't recall the injury). He played a lot and was pretty fun to raid with. WoW was pretty much all he did for the time I knew him. I didn't get to know him all too well before I moved on, but he seemed to be pretty happy with his circumstances.
Korb Aug 7th 2010 8:20AM
My story isn't about illness or recovery but a little different.
I had an 8 year relationship that came to a screeching halt. She found someone else and it devestated me. We have a child together and it tore me apart to have to seperate from him.
In my offtime I was depressed, lonely, drinking, partying all the time to try and feel better. I decided I needed a change and started to play WoW. Now I get to have a social atmosphere, met some great people, and have fun without spending tons of money and becoming a drunk.
Now don't get me wrong, I still lost a good chunk of a paycheck to support and don't see my boy as much as I'd like.... but I can assure you, I have the time and money now to spend every minute I have with him doing things and watching him grow.
marco Aug 9th 2010 5:28PM
My situation is similar to yours, though to a lesser degree. I recently got out of a 2 year relationship (no kids involved), and found myself tremendously depressed. I still kind of am. WoW has provided an EXCELLENT distraction for me. I knew I loved this game, but I uninstalled it back in January because it was affecting my performance in college. Its summer now so there's not a whole lot to do (making the whole ex-gf thing a lot worse) but playing WoW in the meantime has lessened the blow tremendously.
Rakah Aug 7th 2010 8:27AM
Posts like these are a little odd imo, cos although the post is great there isn't really much you can comment about unless you somehow relate.
As a side note there are many people with disabilities that gain a better sense of freedom with wow.
Dril Aug 7th 2010 8:37AM
I'd rather have the occasional post about stories rather than everything needing to be commentable. Sometimes just reading people's stories are nice. Me likes stories.
Lissanna Aug 7th 2010 9:03AM
Sometimes, it's nice to be reminded that this game isn't the root of all evil. I mean, when I moved across the country for school, I was able to keep in touch with friends & family through the game. A lot of people can relate to WoW being a social outlet, even if they aren't confined to bedrest. :)
ambermist Aug 7th 2010 9:20AM
I agree with Lissanna about being able to relate even if you haven't been injured or ill.
I'm a stay-at-home mom to two children, one of whom has special needs. With limited money available and our current circumstances, I don't get a lot of "grown up" time. During naps and bedtime, I can log on and play and talk to other adults, and it helps me keep from feeling isolated and lonely.
Besides, I also just like reading people's stories sometimes.
lisapoisso Aug 7th 2010 11:40AM
You might enjoy some of these stories:
http://www.wow.com/tag/disabled
Tribunal Aug 7th 2010 8:30AM
I knew a woman who was on bedrest because she was pregnant with triplets, she said she got a lot of alt leveling done :)
Nasgul Aug 7th 2010 11:12AM
And now, she'll have three alts to level to 18 simultaneously. Best of luck :)
Ametrine Aug 7th 2010 1:37PM
Nasgul wins teh thread.
kooda Aug 7th 2010 8:08PM
Multiboxing.
Despil Aug 7th 2010 8:37AM
actually,yes. a friend(guildie) had a severe car crash,nearly died, and he was super excited when he could start using his fingers to run around azeroth again :) made his hospital stay that much less painfull
Allison-knight Aug 7th 2010 8:38AM
I know someone who used this game as rehab of another sort when she was getting over an addiction to prescription pain killers. The friends she had became her support group, and the game helped her deal with the physical withdraw through distraction (and something to do when the chills and cramps wouldn't let her sleep) and then the longer, mental part of the withdraw in a similar manner. Between a strong social network for support and an obvious stimulus/reward replacement (=D), it was the only thing that had really helped.
Drayik Aug 7th 2010 9:45AM
Well... If you consider depression an illness, WoW kept me sane for two years.
Mahgo Aug 7th 2010 12:38PM
I hear you bud, WoW has not only kept me reasonably sane, its also kept me alive.
Kole Aug 7th 2010 2:21PM
Same for me. I have used my time in WoW to come out of my shell a bit, to be more social which in turn is helping me in real life. Otherwise I would have been on the fast track to becoming a homebound agoraphobe.
Darky Aug 7th 2010 2:55PM
I here you, atm I am basically stuck at home because of a severe case of a mental illness (which people never believe i have because its cliche so i won't mention it) but anyways it has kept me sane and distracted from the fact that i have failed year 12 and that i have godly idea what i am doing with my life, the psychologists/psychiatrists help too but i dont see them nearly as often ;P