Can Video Games Trigger Ptsd? What Does This Teach Us About the Condition

My name is Graham Walker. I am a professional psychotherapist and lover of all things video game. GameFeel is the podcast that explores what gaming and therapy can teach us about playing better and living better. In this third episode of series one of Game Feel, we ask can video games trigger PTSD? The seemingly obvious answer you might give is “they’re not real”; they are just games. This makes logical sense, but the truth of the matter is far more complicated. If I tell you a person can develop PTSD from the dreams or hallucinations that can happen when they are in a coma or under the influence of a drug, then this argument of “video games aren’t real” suddenly becomes a lot less solid.