by Connie Nuttall
Dungeons and Dragons has proven to be a vital therapeutic tool as it creates a safe space for a troubled individual to help create and develop crucial social skills, as well as help with depression and anxiety.
The opportunity for people to create their own world or character can give them more freedom since it provides them with an escape from their own reality and a displacement from troubling feelings. It can take away mundane pressures and anxiety that can occur with a sense of failing, while the risks are lower. Players are engaged in the detailed descriptions of the worlds, quests and monsters narrated by the ‘Dungeon Master’ (DM), along with their imagination where others can influence and control the experience. It acts as a form of communal therapy.
Some of the key - but difficult to teach social skills that come from participating in Dungeons and Dragons are aspects of socialization like appropriate communication, forming friendships, empathy, leadership and diplomacy. As players are in a group that have to fight together to defeat challenges produced by the DM.
I think socially it has a big impact, helps you work with other people as a team and just get to hang out and have a good time with others, with the right group it can leading to lasting friendships and puts people in a positive mental attitude. Also, things like leadership skills, talking to people, thinking tactically/outside the box and many other general skills come from playing Dungeons and Dragons, that really help in everyday life” states Danielle Revitt.
Having sessions of Dungeons and Dragons means that socialisation is more manageable for the players, easing them into becoming confident around new individuals and dealing with choices produced by not only the game, but in life too. Playing an amazingly skilled character of their own creation can help push and motivate themselves to become like their creation. It also gets them away from technology and into a hobby that would improve their creativity and originality, inventiveness and imagination.
Alex’s Story:
“Before starting Dungeons and Dragon, I suffered from terrible anxiety and had trouble making friends. I would rarely go out the house unless it was for work and just kept to myself. But it impacted my life in a positive way. I have met some great friends, whom without joining I would never have encountered, since they’re older. Playing as both a character and a DM helped boosted my confidence from being and incredibly shy girl and helped me take more of an initiative role in social situations.”
Dungeons and Dragons therapy can change lives and in Leeds there are various places – such as ‘Geek Retreat’ and ‘Travelling Man’ - in which an individual can conquer their insecurities through Dungeons and Dragons. Leeds Beckett University have a ‘Geek Culture Society’ where new Dungeon and Dragon groups are always forming and accepting people of all levels, from beginners to the most experienced.
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