All games for wounded are not the same

This may be a good idea for some wounded however, not a wise thing to give to traumatically wounded veterans. They may like to play these games just like the rest of their peers but that does not mean these games are good for them.

Older games are better because they sit together and spend time with each other.

Veterans form Gaming Clan group to reach out to military
Gadsdey Times
By John Davidson
Times Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, October 26, 2013

Recruiting commercials may say otherwise, but life sometimes can be a bit dull for the average service member on an average day. The motto “hurry up and wait” permeates daily military life. There’s a lot of downtime, whether it’s standing by at the barracks for official word from higher-ups, or being caught between shifts on deployment.

One of the ways service members kill time is by playing video games. Taking part in that activity while waiting to officially get off work is almost a daily routine, and the natural competitiveness between soldiers, Marines, sailors or airmen has spread the hobby throughout the military.

Now, two Alabama veterans are creating a gaming community specifically for former service members.

The group, known as the Veterans Gaming Clan, combines that love of games with a community of like-minded people who can provide support for each other that most outsiders cannot.

The group began as a few beta testers of the Xbox 360 version of a game called “World of Tanks.”

As some of the testers got to know each other, they learned about their respective military backgrounds and a bond was formed. Eventually, a community designed to serve veterans was formed.
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A few years ago I went to Walter Reed and brought some of the Cracker Barrel Peg Board games with me. Many of the wounded soldiers were happy with them and talked to their roommate about being challenged. They were able to spend time together instead of isolating with a remote control in their hands. These games are fine for others but not advisable for everyone.

This game is a brain teaser. No big shocker but I usually leave three pegs in with no way to get them out. While this video shows how it can be done, it isn't as easy as you think it is.


It feeds the mind in a good way but does not increase adrenaline the same way video games do. There are many games better suited for combat wounded soldiers recovering from wounds.

Video games like Call of Duty can cause problems for some wounded with PTSD and the reports go back a while after veterans were experiencing issues with this type of game.

Veteran's Group Warns Of The Post-Traumatic Stress Dangers Of Call Of Duty

"The scariest part of PTS is when a veteran experiences symptoms such as flashbacks, or feelings of panic and depression, yet unknowingly brushes it under a blanket of machismo," said Gresford Lewishall, vice president of the organization. "Veterans either play or have exposure to the games and subsequently feel like they're back in Afghanistan or Iraq in life or death situations.

Their heart beat accelerates and they feel a sense of unease come over them."

Stay Strong Nation's goal is to make veterans aware of the potential danger of games like Call of Duty as potential PTSD triggers, while educating civilians on the potential problems so that they can avoid unknowingly exposing their soldier friends and family.

There are also issues with virtual reality that needs to be exposed.

Efficacy of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in the Treatment of PTSD

In this sense, virtual reality has been used as a tool for exposure and has achieved positive results in the treatment of various anxiety disorders including specific phobias, social phobia, panic disorder and PTSD. Even though this resource has encountered some difficulties because it raises questions about affecting the therapeutic relationship and struggles with personalizing exposure for individuals with different traumas, its use has yielded many benefits.

Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) facilitates the emotional engagement of patients with PTSD during exposures to the multiple sensory stimuli made possible by the virtual environment, bypassing symptoms of avoidance and facilitating control on the part of the therapist. The sense of presence provided by a virtual environment that is rich in sensory stimuli facilitates the emotional processing of memories related to the trauma.

This technological apparatus allows gradual exposure to the feared environment according to the needs of each patient. In addition, it can be used in situations where time is limited, as well as in situations that are difficult to control or unpredictable or that could put the patient at risk if the exposure were performed in a real situation.

Finally, exposure in a virtual reality environment allows for greater methodological rigor in clinical studies as it allows for the standardization of the duration and type of exposure for all patients.

The objective of this article is to conduct a systematic review of studies that have used virtual reality in the treatment of PTSD. We aim to verify the efficacy of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for patients diagnosed with PTSD.