“People assume the barrier to gaming with LC/ME is physical.” This, for everything.
I was telling my friends how I hadn’t driven in months, and one friend assumed it was because of anxiety. I was an anxious driver in high school. But I said, no, actually driving is a highly cognitive task for me now. It’s really similar to a video game in that way. I had actually driven to see them, yay for good days, and I initially found conversations wonky as if I was a bit drunk.
The question “can I stop” also hit like a ton of bricks. I think this is why I sometimes shy away from doing something creative. With hyperfixation, I can and want to go 4 hours without eating, using the bathroom, or thinking about a single other thing. It will be glorious, and I will pay for it later. 20 minutes of art-making just doesn’t do it for me, unfortunately. And yes, there's a middle ground, but I won't find it, not even with timers lol.
It’s such an interesting and important callout, that modern gaming isn’t built for those with a broken battery. Glad the Switch 2 did it differently, whether intentional or not. What you said about a slow taper really resonates as well - I’ll usually listen to an audiobook when I get home, rather than shocking my system with pure rest. I’d never thought much about why, it just seems to comfort me!
I spent a summer obsessed with Zelda as a kid. I’m too tired to tear up today, but the part about Link’s vista made me well up internally. “My body stays where it is. Something else in me does not.” Beautiful, Fred.
I will finish the back half of this another day, but didn’t want to lose the feeling. xx
Lisa, thank you. I hope you’re well. Keeping this short because it’s been a rough week, but I didn’t want to leave this sitting.
The driving thing is exactly it. Everyone reaches for anxiety because that’s the explanation they have available. Nobody thinks about the load. And the hyperfixation problem is real. The middle ground exists in theory. I have not found it either, timers or no timers.
Glad the Link piece landed. Take the back half whenever you get to it. No rush. xx
I'm so happy you have these resources! Thank you for using your energy to help us consider ways of finding or creating accessibility and enrichment.
I've watched my grown kids play the Zelda games, so I know how beautiful and engaging they are. But it hadn't occurred to me that they can serve as a holodeck/VR experience. :)
“People assume the barrier to gaming with LC/ME is physical.” This, for everything.
I was telling my friends how I hadn’t driven in months, and one friend assumed it was because of anxiety. I was an anxious driver in high school. But I said, no, actually driving is a highly cognitive task for me now. It’s really similar to a video game in that way. I had actually driven to see them, yay for good days, and I initially found conversations wonky as if I was a bit drunk.
The question “can I stop” also hit like a ton of bricks. I think this is why I sometimes shy away from doing something creative. With hyperfixation, I can and want to go 4 hours without eating, using the bathroom, or thinking about a single other thing. It will be glorious, and I will pay for it later. 20 minutes of art-making just doesn’t do it for me, unfortunately. And yes, there's a middle ground, but I won't find it, not even with timers lol.
It’s such an interesting and important callout, that modern gaming isn’t built for those with a broken battery. Glad the Switch 2 did it differently, whether intentional or not. What you said about a slow taper really resonates as well - I’ll usually listen to an audiobook when I get home, rather than shocking my system with pure rest. I’d never thought much about why, it just seems to comfort me!
I spent a summer obsessed with Zelda as a kid. I’m too tired to tear up today, but the part about Link’s vista made me well up internally. “My body stays where it is. Something else in me does not.” Beautiful, Fred.
I will finish the back half of this another day, but didn’t want to lose the feeling. xx
Lisa, thank you. I hope you’re well. Keeping this short because it’s been a rough week, but I didn’t want to leave this sitting.
The driving thing is exactly it. Everyone reaches for anxiety because that’s the explanation they have available. Nobody thinks about the load. And the hyperfixation problem is real. The middle ground exists in theory. I have not found it either, timers or no timers.
Glad the Link piece landed. Take the back half whenever you get to it. No rush. xx
Never any rush to respond either. Sorry to hear it’s been a rough week, I’m doing okay. Reach out anytime, we’ll talk then 🤍
Thank you for this beautiful piece.
This is excellent and well worth the very costly effort. Thank you for writing it.
I'm so happy you have these resources! Thank you for using your energy to help us consider ways of finding or creating accessibility and enrichment.
I've watched my grown kids play the Zelda games, so I know how beautiful and engaging they are. But it hadn't occurred to me that they can serve as a holodeck/VR experience. :)