Wanna know why Aspies are addicted to video games? Because video games never yell at us for making a mistake. Video games don't leave us out of their clique for being a little different. Video games have clearly delineated rules that don't change constantly. Video games are extremely stimulating and are much more interesting than sitting around and yakking all the time. Video games provide a challenge and can improve a person's IQ and hand-eye coordination. I agree that if you have an Aspie kid then you probably should limit his/her gaming time, but please STOP assuming that we're just completely wasting our time. Video games have probably saved a LOT of lonely, traumatized Aspies from killing themselves. Isn't that a good thing?
One of the best things about video games to me is that rule thing. I learn the rules of a video game, frame by frame. For example, Dark Souls. I know the rules. Now I can relax.
Londronable I can appreciate the choice in game; however, I often become frustrated with things such as "phantom range". These act outside of the game's set rules and I am forced to adapt. (I assume that you have had a few long sword or katana moments)
'Creating a safe home environment' - this is so true. When I moved away from home, had my own flat and had full control over my environment, routine, etc at the end of the day in a quiet setting away from people... I completely quit gaming. Had no desire at all to play them. As soon as I lost my well paid job and couldn't afford to live alone... gaming returned for several hours a day! It's the only way I can escape and pretend that I am in a controlled environment. I don't have any other outlet in real life.
Control is a big part of it for me. Games give me literal control of other people or characters but also I am able to control almost everything in the game from the safety of my couch. I can mess with options, i can mess around with sound setups and patches and the like, this gives me control AND change without any BIG alterations to what I am and where I am or that these changes will change anything in the REAL world. Only in the computer universe.
I really don't think the general public appreciates just how wonderful video games really are. They evolved from children's toys into one of the most layered, complex fields of entertainment out there. They make you laugh, they make you cry, they make you think, they make you socialize and build memories. The greatest artists and engineers of our generation will be influenced by video games.
spo0o0ky I'm a video game artist and I completely agree with you. Video games and movies are more than just entertainment, they are the form of art of our current time and unfortunately is not being seeing as one or valued as one.
If it's already that cool for you, I can delight you - games can be waaay better! They have deeper potential than other mediums like books, radio, movie. Woah-INTERACTIVITY! is enough to state that. For now they already climbed up to a level of netflix-alike and paperback novels, some are even higher. And they will blow you right away with awesomeness, - I guarantee that! - when/if: 1. Graphical and technical race would stop, so more resources would be placed in writing\artistry section. For now it's just rebuilding the entire engine and play something on it. 2. Players would vote with a bucks more precisely, willingly drown soap-opera and iterations without imagination. 3. Game-critique would overgrow a childish period of 10/10 and youtube-depth analytics. Just keep an eye on them.
Parents need to get into whatever their kids are into, at least a little. Especially if it's an obsession. I tell my son he's lucky I'm a gamer lol, because I get it. And I let my son's obsessions run their course, whatever they are. Sometimes parents need to chill and stop having to control every second in the day.
Hello Danny! Fellow Aspie here. First, wanted to thank you for posting this. I agree with everything you said. I did, however, want to add one more reason I've found that I played so many video games that likely applies to others as well. One of the main reasons I found safety in video games was that they had rigidly structured rules. Unlike the outside world, I could predict how the game would respond to my inputs. I was far more in control. That's where the safety comes from. I thought it was worth mentioning. :)
@@CNI2063 The problem with that argument is that all of those things tend to involve other people. This means rules can and will be bent, broken, ignored, or forgotten, and that human error will cut both ways. Nobody can promise me another driver won’t swerve into my lane, and hit me head on, which is against the rules.
@@CNI2063 I’m with you completely. I definitely don’t think video games can substitute for real life bonding and interaction. Games are more of a respite. A place we can go for relief when life is too much. After we’ve centered we would go well to venture out into the physical world again.
Thank so very much for this incredible insight. my son is now 26 and wasn't diagnosed until 18 ( he had been to many soecialists however Autism wasn't near as well known as it is now) He's great, independent, lives on his own and has a part time job as well as does an excellent job of managing his funds. I wish I would have had all this insight though, I wouldn't have felt so lost and frustrated my son so much. but still, i can use this information with him & others. thank you again
It's nice. When I was young, that's what I did. Go to school, learn, listen, go home, play video games. Avoid my unemotional father, and learn the hard way to be brave and coordinated through video games. Follow rules that are set in stone by logics, instead of real-life that turns it's head every step of the way. Even today, still facing the same issues as 20 years ago, unemotional father and given "Your a freak" stare by siblings. Refusal of understanding is worse than being unwillingly ignorant.
I'm an organizer for an autism group from the Meetup website. Lately, we've been having people who want to make requests for meetup ideas we can do, and one of the things I'm worried about is the only kind of meetup they'll ever want to do is one that involves video games. I know autistic people can be interested in many other things, but they sure do love their video games.
As a late diagnosed autistic (ASD1 Previously known as Aspergers) at age 50 last year, I have since Identified that my son (28) is also Autistic/Aspergers. We both have ADHD & SPD also. Your videos (Inclusive of those with the various psych professionals Holly Bridges (Author Reframe your thinking around Autism) & Prof Emmy van Deurzen. The kind of videos you make continue to help me understand both myself & my son so much better. Again, thank you for all your commitment to helping others & sharing your insights & tools.
i was never diagnosed with this as a child, now as an adult, i began seeing a therapist and she suggested that i look into aspergers bc she thought i may have it. this video makes a lot of sense. games have always been a safe place for me. and the outside world always told me games are bad. so yeah i didnt like the outside world bc it told me what made me feel safe was bad.
You hit the nail right in the head. Plus, I also like helping others with games when they get stuck or need guides to know what is need to be done next. It’s a win-win for me.
I used to play video games until my computer became bogged down with the stuff the other people in my family use it for. Now I watch cartoons or read. There are communities that form around these hobbies. Getting involved in fandoms (communities of people who are fans of shows and books) and clubs can help many people come out of their shell and learn social skills in a nonjudgmental environment.
Thankyou. Finally, someone explains it properly. I have High Functioning Autism, and i'm a big gamer, i play Second Life a lot, i roleplay in SL and my mother doesn't get it, nor does she like me doing it. She disapproves of the time i spend on it and i'm sick of telling her that i'm not addicted.
I also have Asperger's and I don't mind that you are playing video games but keep in mind that you have a great big world out there with lots of cool things. If you sit and play games all day then how can you grow and find yourself? For me it wasn't the addiction of video games but movies and television. When I was 21 I had a family member break that cycle by putting structure into my life and expose me to new things. After high school I learned I am what the type of Aspie who is good at math,
You're right. They are a safe place. No anxiety there. When I had high stress/low pay jobs, I had no social life because work completely exhausted me. When I wasn't working, I was in bed resting so that I could do my next shift. I started playing games on my phone to occupy my brain because I couldn't do anything physically at home.
I play a lot of games for the same reasons. Also many games offer some amazing creativity (Disney Infinity for instance), and it helps get out my frustrations and such!
That sounds completely familiar. When I was a kid, I used to create Dungeons & Dragons characters for hours, alone in my room to the detriment of everything else. And my parents kept screaming at me to do something with my life - and that just made me retreat to my room and to create more Dungeons & Dragons characters.
Because video games allow me to escape when I feel horrible. Where I don't have to be me for a little while and I can be in a completely different world where things make sense.
Thank you so much for making me feel normal. This is exactly how I feel about it. I also love sharing my experiences too but funnily enough a lot of people comment on how long some of my let's plays are. I just get so invested in the atmosphere and lost in the world. As well as fun it's a form of comfort and I also have made friends through gaming too. I know exactly what you mean about the feeling of safety it gives you and dislike of being harassed to leave the game to do something else. Another trace of Asperger's I inherit when it comes to videogames is when I play a game I'm always obsessed with playing a particular one over a certain amount of time than others before perhaps moving on or back to something else. For example I started Heavy Rain a while ago and got so sucked in to the gameplay and got so invested that I just wanted to keep playing, and I also wanted to let everyone else know about too. It's one of the reasons I so willingly got the difficult Gold All Endings trophy for it because I was just so willing to play the game several times.
I find them soothing. Some of them seem to release dopamine for me like social media does for nts. I don't see it as a bad thing- just that there is a place and time for everything and to not do them all day. He is so right: when life feels safe (mine has been becoming more so) then video games help with living my full potential outside of them. Self-esteem, mental simulation and exercise for the brain, and a healthy replacement for, say, alcohol or self harm resulting from stress. They are more akin to music to me than an "addiction." Music is also relaxing: soothing. He makes such great points. Really like everything he said. It's important for both children and adults to make sure we're getting enough sleep, exercise, and healthy nutrition as well as time away from the screen. I definitely think it's good to put them down for at least an hour before falling asleep. My thinking is clearer and my thoughts more original and creative after taking a break from any screen. But just like he said, video games can be an enhancement for us and actually engage our production in life outside of them. They can provide a means to having friendships for us, which is so important for kids and teens. I think Temple Grandin has a less favorable opinion of gaming because of the time in which she grew up. But they are not the be all end all... They are something enjoyable and healthy in moderation. Edit: And I love them! Been playing phone games lately. About to buy a new Playstation 🤩
This makes soooo much sense!!!!! The outside world is packed full of stress-inducing demands and honestly, if I could isekai into a video game world of my choice, I would. I would isekai into Sky: Children of the Light and just be a kid, fly around, wear pretty capes, play music, and ACTUALLY make a bunch of friends. If only I actually knew I was neurodivergent before going to college and crashing and burning. And my life is still burning and engaging in games or other interests like creative writing is my only safe place. When I have to think of reasons to keep on living, it’s writing, as well as video games I haven’t played or future seasons of shows I love. It all comes down to epic fantasy worlds and the stories that happen in them. That’s why I keep living.
Good golly, so helpful with my 8 year old, struggling to control the amount he plays but regardless, the video helped alot, especially the part about playing with him. Thank you
My brother has asperges and for the last 3 years literally wakes up at 10:30 every day starts playing computer before breakfast and finishes playing at 3 am in the morning . We follow all the steps this guy is saying and no result I think it's important to remember there is a personality underneath asperges and jus like anything once a drastic change is introduced then the mind has to adapt
My parents destroyed almost my childhood, they see videogame is taboo not alowed anytime to play. They said I should go and study in uni and become a doctor. After 30 years I was depressed because of them and others, but now they understand but my whole life is wasted, no job, no gf. I wish I could turn back time, but instead I continue a new road by myself.
We just found out my 22 year old is autistic and this video pretty much sums it up👏👏 She's been telling me for a long time that she's in defense mode all the time and I never totally understood what she meant. I totally get it now. Problem is, she couldn't be in a better home. We're all mild mannered, low key family who all goes about doing our own thing. Everyone gets along really well with the exception of her. When there's trouble, it's always her having a meltdown over the tiniest things that catch people off guard. She's the only one who creates any form of friction or drama in our house because everyone living here are young adults who are going through college and minding their own business. My youngest is 16 but he can't handle confrontation so he stays far away from his sister. That being said, I don't know what else I can do to make her come out of defense mode. I do allow video games as long as she's wants to keep things cool🤷🤷. New to this whole thing
My boys with ASD play a lot of video games and the therapist says it’s ok to not limit their screen time. The positive is that they are talking to their friends and having healthy communication with peers.
Aspies play video games because that's their way of experiencing a social life. They don't feel the judgement and so forth they would feel in the normal outside world in game world so in gamer world they develop friends connections and interact with people in ways that they would not feel comfortable doing otherwise. BTW Aspies are not the only ones who are deep into games. 90 percent of young people are and 90 percent of them will play games for hours on end. its not just an aspie thing but aspies are more LIKELY to be playing a game then say showing off a new car mod outside with their friends.
Videogames help calm me down. Usually online multiplayer is the best for me as I can interact with people from school before actually doing it at school because I'm Still working on my social skills
Xman Gameplay same too. 2 years ago my mom passed away and was waived from my job. And playing online multiplayer on PlayStation Network help me interact with gamers not only from America but U.K., Russia, Japan, etc. And also help me play fighting 🎮 s competitively like DOA 5 Last Round on the PS3.
i'm 52 and still play video games for hours but cannot play online, my daughter is my only friend on my ps3 as she is like me. i cannot play right now and getting pretty pissy, hand surgery so going to be another month. i do get going with facebook games and will actually not play if i cannot full screen it to block everything out. my chat is never on. both my daughter and i rarely interact with society but have friends online. she will be 35 next month and is living on her own, taking care of stuff like normal people do plus at 33, she learned to drive. temple gradin said, different not less. we are very capable humans.
i was 25 when i learned to drive and that's about what we play, rpg's. all about imagining you are that character on the screen and all the outside world is lost to me
I have Asperger syndrome and I haven't play video games since a couple months, before I also didn't game regularly. A few years ago however I played *a lot* of video games, especially pokémon.
I have aspergers, it was tested on me but apparently they didnt find anything out of me. Still i have researched aspergers for years and im sure that i have atleast mild aspergers. In my case this autism is almost only a good thing for me, im intelligent, im fast to learn things, i can read extremely well. But there are drawbacks like im an introvert and only have 1 close friend who is extremely close to me, sometimes it feels like i dont feel certain emotions, i cant work with people who are different than me. But im kinda happy that this is my case. As an introvert im having a nice life
Thank you so much for pointing this out(I know this is *2* years late though :/). I'm in high school now l, but when I was in middle school My whole life I feel was a joke because I didn't know what the symptoms were of Aspergers. All I want to do now is beat my past self whenever I think of my past weirding every around me, just sometimes crying for no reason, getting yelled at my mom because I did something that my Aspergers or ADHD had to be the blame for, when I was in 8tg grade I got emotionally angry whenever almost anything frustrating would happen, Even when I was little I wasn't self isolating myself as it was whenever I moved away from people. I actually loved being around people. Then I experienced the heck and suffering of being in middle school, teachers hated me, students always ganged up on me whenever I/someone else started an argument, always make me feel very uncomfortable fist bumping me and such. Video games was a place where I could be literally me but better! I'm I break something inportant in a game but I won't have to worry because the characters in video games would still love and care for you me no matter what. But times are getting harder... Games are more expensive I'm now slowly and slowly more limited, Video games like super smash Bros lv 9 CPUs with their perfect Shields and reads feel more frustrating then rewarding and feeling accomplished of that sweet combo you somehow did on your own, the internet is now racist with everyone shouting the N word, no one around me play video games I play, my friends been not playing with me as much as they would rather play other games such as Fortnite or Call of Duty, and no one around me has the same interests as me. I've never met another kid on this green wet earth with Aspergers. I wish there was a community where us aspies could all talk about our problems and we could no longer feel lonely as I have for the longest time of my life.
I have to disagree. You can be "safe" sitting in a closet, reading a book, or cleaning your room. Video games are fun for everyone. The reason Aspies play video games for long periods of time is because it is a form of stimming. Repetition is involved in video games and thus gives them a feeling of comfort and control. Aspies do not like change or anything that challenges them via executive functioning where they have to take new variables into consideration all the time. Games general have the same pattern and predictability. This is the reason Aspies will watch the same movie over and over.
+RubberWilbur Not all of us dislike change. I love change, it just depends upon what kind of change it is. New experiences in new games, music, movies, and shows or stories in general? Love it as long as it's within my ability to control when the change occurs and to what degree (even if that does mean I sometimes listen to a song 100K+ times in a year as I did for one back in 2014). You're not seeing something there though... Even just sitting in a closet there are an untold number of things that can happen in the real world. Meanwhile, in the game world (no matter what game world it is) you can learn exactly how everything works. You learn any given situation once and from then on are never surprised by how something in the game reacts because it can only act in certain ways (outside bugs etc. but even they can only cause certain happenings so you can learn those too). Never really thought of it in the way he presented it, but I can definitely see it in myself now that it's been brought to my attention. It's not an either he's right or you're not like you're presenting. You're partially right, but so too is he. The predictability not only gives repetitive stimulation, it is exactly what makes it safe. You even say "Repetition is involved in video games and thus gives them a feeling of comfort and control." Do tell... What is the point of comfort and control if not to feel safe?
No its about not thinking about the real world and mentally being immersed in another world. I can relate to what he's saying. I watch a lot of tv to distract myself and feel safe. I live in a dangerous place and my mom is a evil. Everytime I leave my house I could get shot. Like I said its dangerous where I live. Actually cops are way more dangerous than the thugs and gangs.
+Will Deus well Will you don't have to stay in that environment forever. I don't know how old you are but you can be completely self dependent and use your Aspie skills to work for yourself. Just think positive and look to the future. Remember you are unique and special and companies are looking for people on the spectrum do to lazer focus on a single task.
There an aspect that is missing here. Video games can be a good gasket for aggressions that we build up during the day while being assaulted by sensory abuse and rejection. Aside from that, they provide success moments in a shelled environment.
I am someone who has been playing video games since 7 years old and I am 17 now and I can say that it is my safe place because it doesn’t make me feel like if I do something wrong that I’m going to get yelled at for making that mistake and it makes me feel like I am accomplishing something. Yes I do have other hobby’s and chores I do but when I am on video games I feel like I can actually be myself without being judged for being different. Also video games don’t put me in anxiety filled situations.
I hear ya. But sometimes you must get out of your comfort zone. It's hard, but it has to be. You had to as a little kid. Otherwise you'd never learned to walk, talk and would still be in diapers.
My brother and I have aspergers. We played Minecraft for weeks straight. We ralely showed, ate, or slept. Mom was OK, as long as we took care of our selves
for me I'm an aspie and my dad hates me playing fps's but I play CSGO and it's great for my fine motor skills and he thinks it makes people violent lag makes us violent XD
I play them in order to break them. I have the most fun tryying to break a game. I guess it´s called play testing but back in my day it was called phreaking. It´s when you try to find the weakpoints in a system in order to get the goodies the system hides. When I was 12 I was phreaking/hacking food dispensers or laser barriers in my local university to pass doors. I think its often more fun than using the system the way it was intended. And no, I´m not a cheater. Cheating is not very elegant.
I feel that aspergers sometimes have a different language than me. ❤️❤️❤️. Not a bad thing because we ?normal? people have some STRANGE ways make sentences!!
I need answers about my 10 year old aspergers Nephew. He wants to be indipendent. He sneaks out the home and starts to walk around the neighborhood, we tell him no and come back which finally he does. He uses foul language alot, he now smacks, punches, hits when asked to do something he dosnt like. Will this get worse? I need to know
I like playing creative games like roller coaster tycoon and Minecraft and such because I like making and seeing my creation as well as not having to be good with drawing or LEGO.
I also need my daily gaming my husband also . And my daughter to . We keep in mind not to play all day . For me it's an hour in the afternoon . And sometimes an hour or 2 in the evening .
something i found out about myself (dont know if you have it the same) but whem i go out i am talking or moving. BUT for some kinde way im always thinking and analyzing others, who looks fun, what does there body say and so forth. im also very interested in persons who are willing to talk to me. and i find myself talking very mush but for some kinde reason real frendship doesnt come off. when i meet a lovely girl i talk and she feels listened to, and understood (but for some reason i wont talk about myself and i wont let her couse then i change it back to her). but im always so happy with the atention and im always thinking (not feeling) that im not making any move (i dont need sex i need someone thats willing to talk with me) but when they start touching me my mind stops thinking. and if this continous for long enough than i get a thought of does she like me? and from only talking i go for a move. but this fase could last for 20 minutes. i found out that as long as im not touched that im also not making my move and i ceep myself in the talk-mode. so for the girls, give him a long hug. thats what stops the tinking and starts the feeling. and for a suprise: let the past come back. give some pictures, go back to a place you met or do something he did with the friends (but you two didnt). i myself am adicted to the past. i feel the moments i had on that very moment and i remember the talk of that moment. nothing makes me more happy than being suprised with something of the past!
Hello Danny and Asperger Experts. My son is Aspie and I appreciate a lot your advises. I want to translate your video( subtitles ) to Hebrew in order to share with other parents and let them learn from you. Can you permit me translate your videos and let much more people know about your help? Yelena
Why don't we? I have Asperger's and don't play video games at all. My husband does not have Asperger's, but he used to play a video game all day every day long during long periods of time
Damn i was adicted to video games and still are when the school was still working now its sommer , i was like playing gta v online every day then my mum took away my controler and i was stresed even more and angry
That's a good sign because it means that you are willing to grow. For me it wasn't video games but it was watching movies and television. It took a family member of mine to limit the number of hours I watch tv.
I'm finding more into my adult life (as an aspie) I'm finding I need to buy a a Sony PlayStation 4, my mates got one and I tell him to bring it over all the time. (he is a big gamer too) lol
Another thing, video games get blamed for us "always doing something else" or "avoiding "reality" (AKA social interactions,") but in reality if we weren't playing them we would probably be doing something else that is " in our own world," etc. That's how I'm wired. I like to be involved in my own thing and usually others aren't interested in it, they would rather socialize. It's not the video games causing this, it's just autism.
I am autistic and Ihave an obsession with videogames. Currently obsessed with the NintendoSwitch. Can hardly afford games for it though:(. Coulddowith some help.
My biggest problem is being unable to socialize and think straight in social situations. I freeze up and my genius can't shine through. I have a high IQ but it doesn't sound like it when I speak from the anxiety clouding my mind.
I have a lot of characteristics that would make me look like I have Asperger S.. I too enjoy video games a lot, spending lots of hours gaming everyday. My IQ is pretty high though, when reading Uptodate I found out that high IQ can mimic Asperger Syndrome. Im in medical school and am learning german (Im Brazilian) in order to work in Germany as a doctor. Not only this is evidence to a high IQ, but many IQ tests that I took report an IQ from 130-150. I have a really hard time maintaining friendships. I never had a girlfriend. Ive never even kissed a girl, even though Im totally straight and feel strongly the need to have an attractive girlfriend. It just never seems to work out with the girls Im interested in. I prefer staying pure than having a girlfriend just for the sake of it. And Im reasonably good looking. These things make me believe I might have AS as well.
isnt it that everybody these days is addicted to games? i always teached myself to not use my asperger as an excuse. the world is harsh but thats realety i always go like i have to go even if its not fun it has to be done to become a better and more adepted person (typed befor watching)
Yeah look if I'm in my safe place, also known as video games, and the outside world is hostile, I ain't going to pay no attention to the outside world. Why should I? I mean if it's hostile why would I pay any attention to it granting it access to harm me. Why would I pay any attention to something that's hostile other than to of course go to where it's safe?
Wanna know why Aspies are addicted to video games? Because video games never yell at us for making a mistake. Video games don't leave us out of their clique for being a little different. Video games have clearly delineated rules that don't change constantly. Video games are extremely stimulating and are much more interesting than sitting around and yakking all the time. Video games provide a challenge and can improve a person's IQ and hand-eye coordination. I agree that if you have an Aspie kid then you probably should limit his/her gaming time, but please STOP assuming that we're just completely wasting our time. Video games have probably saved a LOT of lonely, traumatized Aspies from killing themselves. Isn't that a good thing?
One of the best things about video games to me is that rule thing.
I learn the rules of a video game, frame by frame. For example, Dark Souls.
I know the rules. Now I can relax.
Londronable I can appreciate the choice in game; however, I often become frustrated with things such as "phantom range". These act outside of the game's set rules and I am forced to adapt. (I assume that you have had a few long sword or katana moments)
You make a good point. If video games make you happy then go for it. : ) Good luck to you.
Atari2600Dork THEN WHY DID SKYRIM LAUGH AT ME FOR FALLING IN A TRAP
Aspies?
'Creating a safe home environment' - this is so true. When I moved away from home, had my own flat and had full control over my environment, routine, etc at the end of the day in a quiet setting away from people... I completely quit gaming. Had no desire at all to play them. As soon as I lost my well paid job and couldn't afford to live alone... gaming returned for several hours a day! It's the only way I can escape and pretend that I am in a controlled environment. I don't have any other outlet in real life.
Control is a big part of it for me. Games give me literal control of other people or characters but also I am able to control almost everything in the game from the safety of my couch. I can mess with options, i can mess around with sound setups and patches and the like, this gives me control AND change without any BIG alterations to what I am and where I am or that these changes will change anything in the REAL world. Only in the computer universe.
As a fellow aspie, I'm so glad I found this channel! it explains a lot.
What I like is that you have people who what we've gone through that can relate to us teaching social skills from the way of an Aspie.
I really don't think the general public appreciates just how wonderful video games really are. They evolved from children's toys into one of the most layered, complex fields of entertainment out there. They make you laugh, they make you cry, they make you think, they make you socialize and build memories. The greatest artists and engineers of our generation will be influenced by video games.
spo0o0ky I'm a video game artist and I completely agree with you. Video games and movies are more than just entertainment, they are the form of art of our current time and unfortunately is not being seeing as one or valued as one.
If it's already that cool for you, I can delight you - games can be waaay better!
They have deeper potential than other mediums like books, radio, movie. Woah-INTERACTIVITY! is enough to state that. For now they already climbed up to a level of netflix-alike and paperback novels, some are even higher.
And they will blow you right away with awesomeness, - I guarantee that! - when/if:
1. Graphical and technical race would stop, so more resources would be placed in writing\artistry section. For now it's just rebuilding the entire engine and play something on it.
2. Players would vote with a bucks more precisely, willingly drown soap-opera and iterations without imagination.
3. Game-critique would overgrow a childish period of 10/10 and youtube-depth analytics.
Just keep an eye on them.
Parents need to get into whatever their kids are into, at least a little. Especially if it's an obsession. I tell my son he's lucky I'm a gamer lol, because I get it. And I let my son's obsessions run their course, whatever they are. Sometimes parents need to chill and stop having to control every second in the day.
Hello Danny! Fellow Aspie here. First, wanted to thank you for posting this. I agree with everything you said. I did, however, want to add one more reason I've found that I played so many video games that likely applies to others as well.
One of the main reasons I found safety in video games was that they had rigidly structured rules. Unlike the outside world, I could predict how the game would respond to my inputs. I was far more in control. That's where the safety comes from.
I thought it was worth mentioning. :)
@@CNI2063 The problem with that argument is that all of those things tend to involve other people. This means rules can and will be bent, broken, ignored, or forgotten, and that human error will cut both ways. Nobody can promise me another driver won’t swerve into my lane, and hit me head on, which is against the rules.
@@CNI2063 Good point! There’s still an almost infinite number of single player games though.
@@CNI2063 I’m with you completely. I definitely don’t think video games can substitute for real life bonding and interaction. Games are more of a respite. A place we can go for relief when life is too much. After we’ve centered we would go well to venture out into the physical world again.
I kinda like having Aspergers....I know that sounds weird but in certain situations it helps
Brilliant! My neck is sore from nodding yes to so many things you said. Thank you!
Thank so very much for this incredible insight. my son is now 26 and wasn't diagnosed until 18 ( he had been to many soecialists however Autism wasn't near as well known as it is now) He's great, independent, lives on his own and has a part time job as well as does an excellent job of managing his funds. I wish I would have had all this insight though, I wouldn't have felt so lost and frustrated my son so much. but still, i can use this information with him & others. thank you again
Danny Raede, you are my hero! You have given me a great pearl of wisdom in helping me to understand my condition and why I am the way I am. :)
It's nice. When I was young, that's what I did. Go to school, learn, listen, go home, play video games. Avoid my unemotional father, and learn the hard way to be brave and coordinated through video games. Follow rules that are set in stone by logics, instead of real-life that turns it's head every step of the way.
Even today, still facing the same issues as 20 years ago, unemotional father and given "Your a freak" stare by siblings. Refusal of understanding is worse than being unwillingly ignorant.
I'm an organizer for an autism group from the Meetup website. Lately, we've been having people who want to make requests for meetup ideas we can do, and one of the things I'm worried about is the only kind of meetup they'll ever want to do is one that involves video games. I know autistic people can be interested in many other things, but they sure do love their video games.
As a late diagnosed autistic (ASD1 Previously known as Aspergers) at age 50 last year, I have since Identified that my son (28) is also Autistic/Aspergers. We both have ADHD & SPD also.
Your videos (Inclusive of those with the various psych professionals Holly Bridges (Author Reframe your thinking around Autism) & Prof Emmy van Deurzen.
The kind of videos you make continue to help me understand both myself & my son so much better. Again, thank you for all your commitment to helping others & sharing your insights & tools.
I honestly found this on the RUclips home page. Thanks.
I learned about "Asperger Experts" on Facebook but I did not know they were on youtube. These guys are geniuses.
Hello World: with Miyah who? Asperger people, or the asperger experts?
WinterBlaze Asperger Experts
i was never diagnosed with this as a child, now as an adult, i began seeing a therapist and she suggested that i look into aspergers bc she thought i may have it. this video makes a lot of sense. games have always been a safe place for me. and the outside world always told me games are bad. so yeah i didnt like the outside world bc it told me what made me feel safe was bad.
You hit the nail right in the head. Plus, I also like helping others with games when they get stuck or need guides to know what is need to be done next. It’s a win-win for me.
I used to play video games until my computer became bogged down with the stuff the other people in my family use it for. Now I watch cartoons or read. There are communities that form around these hobbies. Getting involved in fandoms (communities of people who are fans of shows and books) and clubs can help many people come out of their shell and learn social skills in a nonjudgmental environment.
Yes, indeed. other stuff! we didn't have online communities when i was a kid
Thankyou. Finally, someone explains it properly. I have High Functioning Autism, and i'm a big gamer, i play Second Life a lot, i roleplay in SL and my mother doesn't get it, nor does she like me doing it. She disapproves of the time i spend on it and i'm sick of telling her that i'm not addicted.
I also have Asperger's and I don't mind that you are playing video games but keep in mind that you have a great big world out there with lots of cool things. If you sit and play games all day then how can you grow and find yourself? For me it wasn't the addiction of video games but movies and television. When I was 21 I had a family member break that cycle by putting structure into my life and expose me to new things. After high school I learned I am what the type of Aspie who is good at math,
Hey I have high functioning Austim my dad tell me the same thing I like to play video games a lot on Xbox
You're right. They are a safe place. No anxiety there. When I had high stress/low pay jobs, I had no social life because work completely exhausted me. When I wasn't working, I was in bed resting so that I could do my next shift. I started playing games on my phone to occupy my brain because I couldn't do anything physically at home.
I may not be doing it on the outside but inner me is crying bc of how relatable this is to me. This is soo true.
having aspie, i love being able to show people this channel so they can learn about it
Rooty Roo The Kangaroo IDIOTTTTTtt
Rooty Roo The Kangaroo STOPPP
I play a lot of games for the same reasons. Also many games offer some amazing creativity (Disney Infinity for instance), and it helps get out my frustrations and such!
That sounds completely familiar. When I was a kid, I used to create Dungeons & Dragons characters for hours, alone in my room to the detriment of everything else. And my parents kept screaming at me to do something with my life - and that just made me retreat to my room and to create more Dungeons & Dragons characters.
I loooove this channel. I wish I could show this to my parents.
send them the videos, show them how to help you, etc.
Because video games allow me to escape when I feel horrible. Where I don't have to be me for a little while and I can be in a completely different world where things make sense.
Thank you so much for making me feel normal. This is exactly how I feel about it. I also love sharing my experiences too but funnily enough a lot of people comment on how long some of my let's plays are. I just get so invested in the atmosphere and lost in the world. As well as fun it's a form of comfort and I also have made friends through gaming too. I know exactly what you mean about the feeling of safety it gives you and dislike of being harassed to leave the game to do something else. Another trace of Asperger's I inherit when it comes to videogames is when I play a game I'm always obsessed with playing a particular one over a certain amount of time than others before perhaps moving on or back to something else. For example I started Heavy Rain a while ago and got so sucked in to the gameplay and got so invested that I just wanted to keep playing, and I also wanted to let everyone else know about too. It's one of the reasons I so willingly got the difficult Gold All Endings trophy for it because I was just so willing to play the game several times.
I have never been interested in video games but I used to watched hours of television.
I find them soothing. Some of them seem to release dopamine for me like social media does for nts. I don't see it as a bad thing- just that there is a place and time for everything and to not do them all day. He is so right: when life feels safe (mine has been becoming more so) then video games help with living my full potential outside of them. Self-esteem, mental simulation and exercise for the brain, and a healthy replacement for, say, alcohol or self harm resulting from stress. They are more akin to music to me than an "addiction." Music is also relaxing: soothing. He makes such great points. Really like everything he said. It's important for both children and adults to make sure we're getting enough sleep, exercise, and healthy nutrition as well as time away from the screen. I definitely think it's good to put them down for at least an hour before falling asleep. My thinking is clearer and my thoughts more original and creative after taking a break from any screen. But just like he said, video games can be an enhancement for us and actually engage our production in life outside of them. They can provide a means to having friendships for us, which is so important for kids and teens. I think Temple Grandin has a less favorable opinion of gaming because of the time in which she grew up. But they are not the be all end all... They are something enjoyable and healthy in moderation.
Edit: And I love them! Been playing phone games lately. About to buy a new Playstation 🤩
This makes soooo much sense!!!!! The outside world is packed full of stress-inducing demands and honestly, if I could isekai into a video game world of my choice, I would. I would isekai into Sky: Children of the Light and just be a kid, fly around, wear pretty capes, play music, and ACTUALLY make a bunch of friends. If only I actually knew I was neurodivergent before going to college and crashing and burning. And my life is still burning and engaging in games or other interests like creative writing is my only safe place. When I have to think of reasons to keep on living, it’s writing, as well as video games I haven’t played or future seasons of shows I love. It all comes down to epic fantasy worlds and the stories that happen in them. That’s why I keep living.
Good golly, so helpful with my 8 year old, struggling to control the amount he plays but regardless, the video helped alot, especially the part about playing with him. Thank you
My brother has asperges and for the last 3 years literally wakes up at 10:30 every day starts playing computer before breakfast and finishes playing at 3 am in the morning . We follow all the steps this guy is saying and no result
I think it's important to remember there is a personality underneath asperges and jus like anything once a drastic change is introduced then the mind has to adapt
Preach. This is why I love videogames.
Thank you so much... This is fascinating and makes SO much sense!
My parents destroyed almost my childhood, they see videogame is taboo not alowed anytime to play. They said I should go and study in uni and become a doctor. After 30 years I was depressed because of them and others, but now they understand but my whole life is wasted, no job, no gf.
I wish I could turn back time, but instead I continue a new road by myself.
Start playing super mario bros you'll thank me later
Thank you so much Danny, you helped me! I play minecraft all the time, I’m apart of your Minecraft server, it has helped me!
I know this is apn old video but wow. Insight to my child and his video game issues!!
We just found out my 22 year old is autistic and this video pretty much sums it up👏👏 She's been telling me for a long time that she's in defense mode all the time and I never totally understood what she meant. I totally get it now. Problem is, she couldn't be in a better home. We're all mild mannered, low key family who all goes about doing our own thing. Everyone gets along really well with the exception of her. When there's trouble, it's always her having a meltdown over the tiniest things that catch people off guard. She's the only one who creates any form of friction or drama in our house because everyone living here are young adults who are going through college and minding their own business. My youngest is 16 but he can't handle confrontation so he stays far away from his sister. That being said, I don't know what else I can do to make her come out of defense mode. I do allow video games as long as she's wants to keep things cool🤷🤷. New to this whole thing
My boys with ASD play a lot of video games and the therapist says it’s ok to not limit their screen time. The positive is that they are talking to their friends and having healthy communication with peers.
Aspies play video games because that's their way of experiencing a social life. They don't feel the judgement and so forth they would feel in the normal outside world in game world so in gamer world they develop friends connections and interact with people in ways that they would not feel comfortable doing otherwise.
BTW Aspies are not the only ones who are deep into games. 90 percent of young people are and 90 percent of them will play games for hours on end. its not just an aspie thing but aspies are more LIKELY to be playing a game then say showing off a new car mod outside with their friends.
Videogames help calm me down. Usually online multiplayer is the best for me as I can interact with people from school before actually doing it at school because I'm Still working on my social skills
Xman Gameplay SHUT TYLYOTLGKFKDJ
Xman Gameplay same too. 2 years ago my mom passed away and was waived from my job. And playing online multiplayer on PlayStation Network help me interact with gamers not only from America but U.K., Russia, Japan, etc. And also help me play fighting 🎮 s competitively like DOA 5 Last Round on the PS3.
i'm 52 and still play video games for hours but cannot play online, my daughter is my only friend on my ps3 as she is like me. i cannot play right now and getting pretty pissy, hand surgery so going to be another month. i do get going with facebook games and will actually not play if i cannot full screen it to block everything out. my chat is never on. both my daughter and i rarely interact with society but have friends online. she will be 35 next month and is living on her own, taking care of stuff like normal people do plus at 33, she learned to drive. temple gradin said, different not less. we are very capable humans.
i was 25 when i learned to drive and that's about what we play, rpg's. all about imagining you are that character on the screen and all the outside world is lost to me
I have Asperger syndrome and I haven't play video games since a couple months, before I also didn't game regularly. A few years ago however I played *a lot* of video games, especially pokémon.
I have aspergers, it was tested on me but apparently they didnt find anything out of me. Still i have researched aspergers for years and im sure that i have atleast mild aspergers. In my case this autism is almost only a good thing for me, im intelligent, im fast to learn things, i can read extremely well. But there are drawbacks like im an introvert and only have 1 close friend who is extremely close to me, sometimes it feels like i dont feel certain emotions, i cant work with people who are different than me. But im kinda happy that this is my case. As an introvert im having a nice life
Thank you so much for pointing this out(I know this is *2* years late though :/). I'm in high school now l, but when I was in middle school My whole life I feel was a joke because I didn't know what the symptoms were of Aspergers. All I want to do now is beat my past self whenever I think of my past weirding every around me, just sometimes crying for no reason, getting yelled at my mom because I did something that my Aspergers or ADHD had to be the blame for, when I was in 8tg grade I got emotionally angry whenever almost anything frustrating would happen, Even when I was little I wasn't self isolating myself as it was whenever I moved away from people. I actually loved being around people. Then I experienced the heck and suffering of being in middle school, teachers hated me, students always ganged up on me whenever I/someone else started an argument, always make me feel very uncomfortable fist bumping me and such. Video games was a place where I could be literally me but better! I'm I break something inportant in a game but I won't have to worry because the characters in video games would still love and care for you me no matter what. But times are getting harder... Games are more expensive I'm now slowly and slowly more limited, Video games like super smash Bros lv 9 CPUs with their perfect Shields and reads feel more frustrating then rewarding and feeling accomplished of that sweet combo you somehow did on your own, the internet is now racist with everyone shouting the N word, no one around me play video games I play, my friends been not playing with me as much as they would rather play other games such as Fortnite or Call of Duty, and no one around me has the same interests as me. I've never met another kid on this green wet earth with Aspergers. I wish there was a community where us aspies could all talk about our problems and we could no longer feel lonely as I have for the longest time of my life.
Thank you I feel the same way
I have to disagree. You can be "safe" sitting in a closet, reading a book, or cleaning your room. Video games are fun for everyone. The reason Aspies play video games for long periods of time is because it is a form of stimming. Repetition is involved in video games and thus gives them a feeling of comfort and control. Aspies do not like change or anything that challenges them via executive functioning where they have to take new variables into consideration all the time. Games general have the same pattern and predictability. This is the reason Aspies will watch the same movie over and over.
+RubberWilbur Not all of us dislike change. I love change, it just depends upon what kind of change it is.
New experiences in new games, music, movies, and shows or stories in general? Love it as long as it's within my ability to control when the change occurs and to what degree (even if that does mean I sometimes listen to a song 100K+ times in a year as I did for one back in 2014).
You're not seeing something there though... Even just sitting in a closet there are an untold number of things that can happen in the real world.
Meanwhile, in the game world (no matter what game world it is) you can learn exactly how everything works. You learn any given situation once and from then on are never surprised by how something in the game reacts because it can only act in certain ways (outside bugs etc. but even they can only cause certain happenings so you can learn those too).
Never really thought of it in the way he presented it, but I can definitely see it in myself now that it's been brought to my attention.
It's not an either he's right or you're not like you're presenting. You're partially right, but so too is he. The predictability not only gives repetitive stimulation, it is exactly what makes it safe.
You even say "Repetition is involved in video games and thus gives them a feeling of comfort and control." Do tell... What is the point of comfort and control if not to feel safe?
Video games are less realistic.
No its about not thinking about the real world and mentally being immersed in another world. I can relate to what he's saying. I watch a lot of tv to distract myself and feel safe. I live in a dangerous place and my mom is a evil. Everytime I leave my house I could get shot. Like I said its dangerous where I live. Actually cops are way more dangerous than the thugs and gangs.
+Will Deus well Will you don't have to stay in that environment forever. I don't know how old you are but you can be completely self dependent and use your Aspie skills to work for yourself. Just think positive and look to the future. Remember you are unique and special and companies are looking for people on the spectrum do to lazer focus on a single task.
+RubberWilbur Do you have aspergers? If the answer is no you have no room here :P
There an aspect that is missing here. Video games can be a good gasket for aggressions that we build up during the day while being assaulted by sensory abuse and rejection. Aside from that, they provide success moments in a shelled environment.
I play video games to have friends and not feel lonely,its a sad truth
Thank you!
I have aspergers and I does feel this all the time and even when I does tell them it's still the same
Sometimes it's hard for people to understand someone else's perspective. Just hang in and do the best you can.
I am someone who has been playing video games since 7 years old and I am 17 now and I can say that it is my safe place because it doesn’t make me feel like if I do something wrong that I’m going to get yelled at for making that mistake and it makes me feel like I am accomplishing something. Yes I do have other hobby’s and chores I do but when I am on video games I feel like I can actually be myself without being judged for being different. Also video games don’t put me in anxiety filled situations.
I hear ya. But sometimes you must get out of your comfort zone. It's hard, but it has to be. You had to as a little kid. Otherwise you'd never learned to walk, talk and would still be in diapers.
My brother and I have aspergers. We played Minecraft for weeks straight. We ralely showed, ate, or slept. Mom was OK, as long as we took care of our selves
Thank you!!!!
Lol when im out of defence mode im all like hyper and not shy when in defence mode i am shy so yea
for me I'm an aspie and my dad hates me playing fps's but I play CSGO and it's great for my fine motor skills
and he thinks it makes people violent lag makes us violent XD
I play them in order to break them. I have the most fun tryying to break a game. I guess it´s called play testing but back in my day it was called phreaking. It´s when you try to find the weakpoints in a system in order to get the goodies the system hides. When I was 12 I was phreaking/hacking food dispensers or laser barriers in my local university to pass doors. I think its often more fun than using the system the way it was intended. And no, I´m not a cheater. Cheating is not very elegant.
I feel that aspergers sometimes have a different language than me. ❤️❤️❤️. Not a bad thing because we ?normal? people have some STRANGE ways make sentences!!
I need answers about my 10 year old aspergers Nephew. He wants to be indipendent. He sneaks out the home and starts to walk around the neighborhood, we tell him no and come back which finally he does. He uses foul language alot, he now smacks, punches, hits when asked to do something he dosnt like. Will this get worse? I need to know
Explained well.
I play MC for hours and forget to eat, but sometimes I am able to moderate.
not only would I enjoy playing video games WITH someone else, but I also like playing games for an audience. especially super Mario world :)
Supermario and I go way back to 1990 when I was in day care. He's classic.
I like playing creative games like roller coaster tycoon and Minecraft and such because I like making and seeing my creation as well as not having to be good with drawing or LEGO.
I dont play video games much but I understand
I have a nintendo switch
I also need my daily gaming my husband also . And my daughter to . We keep in mind not to play all day . For me it's an hour in the afternoon . And sometimes an hour or 2 in the evening .
something i found out about myself (dont know if you have it the same)
but whem i go out i am talking or moving. BUT for some kinde way im always thinking and analyzing others, who looks fun, what does there body say and so forth. im also very interested in persons who are willing to talk to me. and i find myself talking very mush but for some kinde reason real frendship doesnt come off.
when i meet a lovely girl i talk and she feels listened to, and understood (but for some reason i wont talk about myself and i wont let her couse then i change it back to her). but im always so happy with the atention and im always thinking (not feeling) that im not making any move (i dont need sex i need someone thats willing to talk with me) but when they start touching me my mind stops thinking. and if this continous for long enough than i get a thought of does she like me? and from only talking i go for a move. but this fase could last for 20 minutes.
i found out that as long as im not touched that im also not making my move and i ceep myself in the talk-mode.
so for the girls, give him a long hug. thats what stops the tinking and starts the feeling.
and for a suprise: let the past come back. give some pictures, go back to a place you met or do something he did with the friends (but you two didnt).
i myself am adicted to the past. i feel the moments i had on that very moment and i remember the talk of that moment. nothing makes me more happy than being suprised with something of the past!
Well said.
I go for long walks in the woods because that's my "safe place" (away from humanity). Would live in the wild as a hermit if it were feasible xD
I play my Xbox to escape this world
That's because this world sucks.
Hello Danny and Asperger Experts. My son is Aspie and I appreciate a lot your advises. I want to translate your video( subtitles ) to Hebrew in order to share with other parents and let them learn from you. Can you permit me translate your videos and let much more people know about your help? Yelena
GOT IT. Thanks
Why don't we? I have Asperger's and don't play video games at all. My husband does not have Asperger's, but he used to play a video game all day every day long during long periods of time
Damn i was adicted to video games and still are when the school was still working now its sommer , i was like playing gta v online every day then my mum took away my controler and i was stresed even more and angry
im very intrested of video games witch i play it alot and i cant stop allways when i think about myself that why JUST WHY I WANNA STOP BUT I CANTT
I have Asperger's and now longer play
It is probably the only friend some of us have
what's your favorite video game?
Well explained.
My shield has been broken… I guess I need to make a change!!
That's a good sign because it means that you are willing to grow. For me it wasn't video games but it was watching movies and television. It took a family member of mine to limit the number of hours I watch tv.
Hi what do you do as a parent when your 15 years old son a very clever one lost interest in school.
Why do you charge money for the responsibility agreement? Why not a donation?
I used to MAKE video games. I never had the attention span to actually play them.
I'm finding more into my adult life (as an aspie) I'm finding I need to buy a a Sony PlayStation 4, my mates got one and I tell him to bring it over all the time. (he is a big gamer too) lol
I used played a lot now only few hrs BC have children if not played a lot
Yep hear him a lot that i do it
I like video games but I mostly listen to records all day.
Another thing, video games get blamed for us "always doing something else" or "avoiding "reality" (AKA social interactions,") but in reality if we weren't playing them we would probably be doing something else that is " in our own world," etc. That's how I'm wired. I like to be involved in my own thing and usually others aren't interested in it, they would rather socialize. It's not the video games causing this, it's just autism.
Exactly. Likewise, guns cannot be blamed either for bad things that happen
I am autistic and Ihave an obsession with videogames. Currently obsessed with the NintendoSwitch. Can hardly afford games for it though:(. Coulddowith some help.
My biggest problem is being unable to socialize and think straight in social situations. I freeze up and my genius can't shine through. I have a high IQ but it doesn't sound like it when I speak from the anxiety clouding my mind.
Fellow adult minecrafter! Hugs*
The games have a defined set of rules. Rules that don't change half the time :/
2:08 If a kid gets yelled at for knitting wrong, he'll go back to video games.
I have a lot of characteristics that would make me look like I have Asperger S.. I too enjoy video games a lot, spending lots of hours gaming everyday. My IQ is pretty high though, when reading Uptodate I found out that high IQ can mimic Asperger Syndrome. Im in medical school and am learning german (Im Brazilian) in order to work in Germany as a doctor. Not only this is evidence to a high IQ, but many IQ tests that I took report an IQ from 130-150. I have a really hard time maintaining friendships. I never had a girlfriend. Ive never even kissed a girl, even though Im totally straight and feel strongly the need to have an attractive girlfriend. It just never seems to work out with the girls Im interested in. I prefer staying pure than having a girlfriend just for the sake of it. And Im reasonably good looking. These things make me believe I might have AS as well.
A have asperges and I barely play video games.
I have Asperger's and I've always thought video games were stupid and a waste of time
everyone likes shooting games or RPG Game except me.
isnt it that everybody these days is addicted to games?
i always teached myself to not use my asperger as an excuse.
the world is harsh but thats realety
i always go like
i have to go even if its not fun it has to be done to become a better and more adepted person
(typed befor watching)
One word... "escapism"
If i only found out about this when i was 11-13
Yeah look if I'm in my safe place, also known as video games, and the outside world is hostile, I ain't going to pay no attention to the outside world. Why should I? I mean if it's hostile why would I pay any attention to it granting it access to harm me. Why would I pay any attention to something that's hostile other than to of course go to where it's safe?
Aspie gang