Whether it’s in a game or in real life, stress happens from the unexpected and things outside of our control. But when faced with difficult situations in RL, we can’t turn it off and walk away. What can we learn from video games and TTRPGs like D&D about stress management and dealing with anxiety in a crisis? Here are 14 techniques to reduce anxiety and stress management for geeks and gamers.

In Darwyn Cooke’s The New Frontier comics, the Martian Manhunter, or J’onn J’onzz faces fears and rejection from the humans. But through his connection with King Faraday, J’onn J’onzz finds goodness in humanity. Through the story of the Martian Manhunter, we see that it is our compassion and empathy that make us the best version of humanity and ourselves.

Have you ever enjoyed huge RPGs like Skyrim, Fallout 4, or The Witcher 3 with numerous side quests? Side quests can be a great addition but they can also distract from the main story. What about in real life? The side quests in life often distract from our real-life main quest too. How can you find a balance between working on your dreams and completing those real-life side quests?

We have big ideas and dreams. We imagine how much better our lives will be. But for all our daydreaming, many of us never get started. What are the reasons we don’t follow our dreams? We need to understand what’s behind the excuses we tell ourselves. It takes courage to follow your dreams and we must face some difficult truths. But knowing how to overcome fear and pursue your dreams, you can finally live the life you imagine.

Over a third of gamers have experienced anxiety and stress-related issues. Stress happens to most of us but there are times that it is too much and we feel overwhelmed. Here are 12 techniques to center ourselves for when stress and anxiety have sent our minds spinning.

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or just looking to make your special someone smile, a thoughtful gift can completely brighten their day. But when you think about romantic gifts, does your mind only go to the traditional options? Try one of these geeky versions to let them know you see their true nerdy nature.

“Life is a game.” Gamification is a powerful tool to motivate us by making tasks more fun and enjoyable. Companies have used it for over 100 years to encourage us to buy their products and schools have found great success gamifying education. But what is the science behind gamification and how does it work?

Most tabletop role players would tell you of the camaraderie and self-confidence they gain through playing games like D&D.  But researchers have taken notice as well.  Beyond the entertainment value, TTRPGs are a healthy habit to form, granting many benefits for improved mental health and encouraging our personal development.

Superheroes are, by their very nature, special. They exhibit incredible powers and hold themselves to incomparable moral standards. They exist to show us the best possible versions of ourselves. But the X-Men in particular serve to remind us that sometimes we all struggle with self-acceptance and feeling different. But that it is our own uniqueness that makes us special.

Quests in games provide goals, help us progress our story, and develop our character. What if we could do earn experience points and complete quests in real life? There are plenty of real quests that we can take to improve our stats and have some fun along the way.

Here is a list of 25 real-life quests for nerds, geeks, gamers, and would-be adventurers to get you started on your adventure.

Whether video games or tabletop games, we enjoy the immersion, interesting questlines, and magical creatures of role-playing games. But next to it, our reality may feel anything but an adventure. Boring responsibilities, difficult challenges, and some days life is anything but fun. 

But what if we thought about real life as an RPG?   While it may seem like a novel idea, changing our mindset and thinking about life as a game can produce real benefits to our lives. 

Whether you enjoy to explore and set sail along the Sword Coast,

Or prefer the view of the Golden Sea from your ship’s high sternpost,

For those that seek the Sisters’ snowy peaks in the Spine,

To others that Giants of the Black Ash try to confine,

Whether you play in the frigid lands of Icewind Dale,

Or it is the barren lands of the Bandit Wastes that you travail,

This is my blessing and holiday desire,

For you, the adventurer, for next year to acquire:

Gaming has been blamed for a variety of negative impacts with studies showing a correlation between gaming and mental health issues. But as a gamer myself dealing with anxiety and depression, I’ve always felt that gaming made me feel better, not worse. More recent studies have shown that while there may be a connection between gamers and higher levels of anxiety, it is not necessarily causation. And in fact, gaming has been shown to be beneficial and help symptoms of anxiety and depression in many people.

I can’t see dice.

I can’t see grid maps.

I can’t read spell cards or manuals.

I can’t operate a character sheet.

When I was first invited into a game I certainly didn’t expect to face my worst fear. I absolutely never expected to overcome it.

The holiday can be a wonderful time of the year. But this time of year can also be a great source of anxiety.

And as a gamer, I find that I would much prefer to spend those cozy winter days online in a dungeon than participating in the festive season. And I am far from alone in seeking this Scrooge-like escape. Here are some ways to use gaming and other tips to help with holiday anxiety.

When you live authentically, you're acknowledging who you are and the things that make you unique. It can provide an inner peace that can never be achieved otherwise. But the pressure to conform when we live in a world of social pressures and expectations. Here are ways to find your own path and pursue your authentic self with conviction.

The holidays are just around the corner, and it’s time to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list, including those you spend time around the tabletop with. But what to get that dungeon master that has everything? Or that fellow player that always seems to roll a natural 20 on their charisma checks? From D&D to other TTRPGs, here are some unique gift ideas for the tabletop gamer in your life.

All Green Lantern had to do was think about something and his ring would make it real. But it’s more than creativity, the ring that runs on willpower and courage. And for me, the Green Lantern has come to mean overcoming fears, both external and those the reside inside of us.

We strive towards big dreams and exciting ideas. But sometimes, it feels that we aren’t getting any closer to our goals. Each step is met with someone telling us our victory is in another castle. How do we find the motivation to keep going despite the frustration? Here are some of the best ways to keep you in the game and ready to level up.

We spend our lives wishing for adventure. But those wishes are in sharp contrast to our everyday lives of routine and often full of mundane tasks. But what if real-life adventures are possible and available to you right now? What's your ideal life of adventure and what's holding you back?