If we were cavemen, we’d find fire. If we were living in the North, we’d make hunting supplies. We make due with our environment as we adapt. In our hands, we possess a device capable of accessing nearly every single byte of information with the touch of a button or vibrations of sound waves or even eye movements. We can watch rockets zoom into space in high definition or contact loved ones with one simple touch of a button. Of course, we can also surf for hours entertained by wide-eyed kittens. It’s amazing what our minds can comprehend but this isn’t a science debate. Coming from the minds of forward-thinking people like you and me is the app called Pokemon Go, an app both loved and hated, which very well could be the app to change how we view mental disorders despite the stigma mental disorders faces even in our progressive age.
In our age of technology, many are coming out of their shells to grasp their creative sparks and create something from nothing ranging from drawings to YouTube channels to novels to coding and they embrace the Internet to share it. With technology often comes the word ‘entitlement’ which can be seen in some cases but isn’t fair for everyone. When someone has an idea, sharing it is a wonderful idea especially a shared idea. For years, Pokemon lovers have waited for an app like Pokemon to come out as an app and to be able to interact with their environment in real time. What does Pokemon Go have to do with mental disorders? Like being friends with someone with a mental disorder it requires patience and so the answer will require patience. What we like are comforts. For some, that’s the familiar and Pokemon breaks this pattern. Already people have disliked Pokemon Go. Some claim Pokemon Go is making children lazier, less aware and overall, less social unlike not too long ago when many children socialized more and social disorders or simply being an introvert wasn’t widely accepted. In this age of technology, which has its setbacks and downfalls like anything, mental disorders have long been kept away much like many introverts and it’s 2016 meaning, it’s time to change that. Writing and art have often been looked down as careers just like people with mental disorders have been knowingly or unknowingly hurt by people out in the world and because many mental disorders have the symptom of isolation, if they are already an isolated person, going out may seem impossible. Why go out and face discrimination at work for missing because you had to go to the hospital for something they can’t see or deal with the looks and whispers which anxiety disorders heighten? And then they’re subjected to being deemed lazy and unproductive by nearly anyone who steps in their house and sees dishes everywhere or unwashed clothes. Living with a mental disorder isn’t always Tumblr’s idea of ‘just get out of bed and do it!’ however, Pokemon Go is promoting people with mental disorders to believe in themselves and take hold of themselves and not just go through the motions.
It wasn’t Pokemon Go’s intention to help those with mental disorders and it wasn’t their intention to get people hurt playing the game. Pokemon Go puts a warning on your screen to be aware of your surroundings. Accidents happen but what this app is doing is promoting wellness. The app is a comfort and going out in the world and finding something you like, you may find another person who has the same game and it’s easier to strike up a conversation with someone. It might promote you to check out that store you always wanted to go. It promotes independence in children and for anyone on the autism spectrum, it would be perfect! Imagine it in the classroom where 90% of children on the autism spectrum are visual learners. Imagine so many branches the app could adhere to! Using books and tools for your learning journey, like a bike and fishing pole, are essential when on a Pokemon journey. When people see achievable goals that are relevant to them, they will soar in their dreams. Outside, being able to wander if that particular child doesn’t have a good sense of danger will promote self-esteem in them. Families can watch but know their child has a map of where they’re going. If someone is angry, the app may prompt them to go for a walk and cool down if a notification buzzes from their phones. Therapy doesn’t always work for people and one person from Psych Central reported that it was a great alternative for them until they find a better therapy place. It also encourages exercise if someone has depression or paranoia and it helps them be active. It’s an active distraction. Instead of eating the sadness away or doing unhealthy habits, it’s active and promotes you to exercise your mind, body, and happiness. Isn’t that wonderful?
Engadget invites you to remember someone with depression will find it difficult to get up in the morning let alone out of the house where so many people still don’t agree certain disorders are valid. And if you have multiple ones well you can forget validation. We live in a world of support and negativity. However, Pokemon Go outweighs the cons. It takes you out of the house and into new places and eases you into comfort. Imagine kids at school will find a common ground with others. It’s not a far cry to say it will change the way we see mental disorders. If someone sees two children getting along and one of those children had never had a friend before and the mother starts crying, people will be compelled to know why.
Of course, therapy is still available for anyone who needs it and Pokemon Go should be a cultivator of new, good habits but there should be other coping methods as well in case the server crashes or what have you. So no matter what game it is, if you see someone hopping up and down all excited for no apparent reason, go over and ask them what happened in the game. Phones will always have their negative and positive sides but awareness of mental disorders is crucial to say there’s more good than bad to it. There’s no bad at all in it and what we have right now is this app that has already helped so many people and will help more. So let’s change the face of how the public sees mental disorders, whether it be invisible or visible, multiple or one, by simply encouraging people who have whichever disorder to download it. Unfortunately, my phone cannot handle it but my brother’s phone can and I have observed him and my friends play it up close. You never know how much good it could do unless you show someone the pathway and see if they’ll take it. It’s one step but it’s one step in the right direction so why not give Pokemon Go, a go?
