Hello, Semester 3!

(how are we on semester 3 already?!)

For my final semester I want to look at producing a game that helps to reduce symptoms of anxiety/stress. When I started this course I never imagined this is what I'd end up doing...but here we are. Anxiety and stress (particular the former) are things I struggle with pretty much everyday. Over the past six months it's pretty much got to breaking point, so, in my own little cathartic way I'm hoping that my work in semester 3 will help me tackle these issues head on. I guess this is my own self help project, maybe if I get the game made somehow it could help other people in a similar situation too.

Anyway! Onto the stuff that actually matters now.

I'm not particularly looking at something that explicitly states "play me I will reduce your anxiety levels", but something more subtle in the way it works.

My initial research will be looking into actions that are proven to reduce anxiety levels and then examining them to see how I could incorporate these into a game and/or mechanics. The list so far is as below, however I do feel like I've only just scratched the surface. I feel there maybe other, more abstract methods and actions that require a bit deeper thinking as they may be specific to the player/person in question.

• de-cluttering – tidying
• breathing exercises – slow and controlled – counting whilst breathing
• meditation
• distraction
• be artistic
• focusing on where the physical anxiety is and keep your energy there until it dissolves
• playing with sand
• making music
• yoga
• drawing things from your imagination
• relaxation – PMR progressive muscle relaxation, Dr Edmund Jacobson 1929
• visualisations – imagine a relaxing setting, colours, textures etc
• working through the worry – allowing time for the "worrying" thoughts  
• colouring books

I have also looked at a recent mobile game called, Flowy. This game is specifically designed and advertised as a tool to reduce anxiety and to aid in the reduction of panic attacks.

I'm going to continue to look into other games on the market (if there are any!) that do the same sort of thing.

An idea that Josh came up with was to look at real life methods (kite flying, jigsaws, fishing) and seeing if I could adapt those to form the beginnings of an idea.