Suffering in Video Games: A New Perspective on Pain
I still remember the day I started playing Hollow Knight: Silksong, a game that had been eagerly anticipated for years. As I delved into its dark world, I was struck by the eerie sense of eeriness and the unsettling feeling of dread that permeated every moment of gameplay. The journey through Pharloom, the corrupted underground bug kingdom, was not unlike my own life at the time - a constant battle against pain and suffering.
My experience with brachial neuritis, inflammation of the nerve path that travels from the base of your neck down to your hand, had left me feeling drained and broken. The diagnosis came as a shock, and I was forced to confront the harsh reality of my condition. But in playing Silksong, I found an unlikely solace - a game that would teach me how to live with pain, rather than try to overcome it.
As I navigated the twisted tunnels and dark forests of Pharloom, I began to realize that suffering is not something to be feared or defeated; it's simply a part of life. The game's narrative, which follows Hornet, a masked spider on a quest to save the kingdom, is not one of triumph over adversity but of embracing the uncertainty and fragility of existence.
The journey through Pharloom is not an easy one - it's a slow and painful process that requires patience, resilience, and self-awareness. The game's developers have crafted a world that is both beautiful and terrifying, with creatures that seem to embody every fear and anxiety I've ever experienced. And yet, despite the sense of dread that pervades every moment, there is a strange sense of freedom in playing Silksong.
For me, the game has become a way to explore my own suffering - to acknowledge its presence, observe it, and learn to live with it. It's not about persevering through pain or overcoming it; it's about finding ways to coexist with it. In doing so, I've discovered that acknowledging pain is the first step towards learning to live with it.
The experience has been transformative, teaching me valuable lessons about self-awareness, patience, and resilience. Playing Silksong slowly, over months, has allowed me to develop a new relationship with pain - one of acceptance rather than fear. It's a lesson that I believe applies far beyond the world of video games.
As I near the end of my journey through Pharloom, I'm left with a sense of gratitude for this game and its impact on my life. Hollow Knight: Silksong has taught me that suffering is not something to be feared or defeated; it's simply a part of life - one that requires patience, resilience, and self-awareness. And in embracing that uncertainty, I've discovered a newfound sense of freedom and peace.
I still remember the day I started playing Hollow Knight: Silksong, a game that had been eagerly anticipated for years. As I delved into its dark world, I was struck by the eerie sense of eeriness and the unsettling feeling of dread that permeated every moment of gameplay. The journey through Pharloom, the corrupted underground bug kingdom, was not unlike my own life at the time - a constant battle against pain and suffering.
My experience with brachial neuritis, inflammation of the nerve path that travels from the base of your neck down to your hand, had left me feeling drained and broken. The diagnosis came as a shock, and I was forced to confront the harsh reality of my condition. But in playing Silksong, I found an unlikely solace - a game that would teach me how to live with pain, rather than try to overcome it.
As I navigated the twisted tunnels and dark forests of Pharloom, I began to realize that suffering is not something to be feared or defeated; it's simply a part of life. The game's narrative, which follows Hornet, a masked spider on a quest to save the kingdom, is not one of triumph over adversity but of embracing the uncertainty and fragility of existence.
The journey through Pharloom is not an easy one - it's a slow and painful process that requires patience, resilience, and self-awareness. The game's developers have crafted a world that is both beautiful and terrifying, with creatures that seem to embody every fear and anxiety I've ever experienced. And yet, despite the sense of dread that pervades every moment, there is a strange sense of freedom in playing Silksong.
For me, the game has become a way to explore my own suffering - to acknowledge its presence, observe it, and learn to live with it. It's not about persevering through pain or overcoming it; it's about finding ways to coexist with it. In doing so, I've discovered that acknowledging pain is the first step towards learning to live with it.
The experience has been transformative, teaching me valuable lessons about self-awareness, patience, and resilience. Playing Silksong slowly, over months, has allowed me to develop a new relationship with pain - one of acceptance rather than fear. It's a lesson that I believe applies far beyond the world of video games.
As I near the end of my journey through Pharloom, I'm left with a sense of gratitude for this game and its impact on my life. Hollow Knight: Silksong has taught me that suffering is not something to be feared or defeated; it's simply a part of life - one that requires patience, resilience, and self-awareness. And in embracing that uncertainty, I've discovered a newfound sense of freedom and peace.
. As someone who's also struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome (TBS), I can attest to how gaming can be both a blessing and a curse 
. On one hand, it provides an escape from the constant discomfort and anxiety that comes with living with TBS. On the other hand, it can be triggering for some people, especially those who experience heightened pain or sensory issues 
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. By presenting pain as a fundamental aspect of life, rather than something to be overcome, it encourages players (and viewers) to reevaluate our relationship with discomfort 
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. We need more games like Hollow Knight: Silksong that acknowledge the complexities of human experience and encourage players to explore their emotions, rather than just pushing us through levels or quests 
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like it's saying that pain isn't something we should fear or try to overcome, but just learn to live with it 
. I think it's also pretty awesome that the games devs created this whole world where you can experience those feelings in a safe space 
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. it's like, acknowledging pain isn't the end of the world 
"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." - C.S. Lewis
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BEATING LEVELS OR WINNING BATTLES, IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO LIVE WITH THE THINGS THAT ACHES US. 
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH BRACHIAL NEURITIS FOR A WHILE NOW AND IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH THIS GAME HAS HELPED ME SEE MY CONDITION IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT. 
I FEEL LIKE I CAN BREATHE EASIER NOW AND APPRECIATE LIFE IN A WAY THAT I HADN'T BEFORE. 
Playing through Hollow Knight: Silksong really hit me hard, you know? It's like the devs understood how to tap into our deepest fears and anxieties. The whole experience feels so immersive, it's like you're right there with Hornet, navigating these dark tunnels and forests. For me, it was like they took all my pain and suffering from real life and just... put it in a game 
. But in a weird way, that's actually kinda liberating? I mean, the game doesn't try to fix everything or offer some neat solution; it just kind of accepts pain as part of the deal. And that's kinda what we need more of in our lives, right? Not trying to overcome or fear our struggles, but just... learning to live with them, you know? 
. But this game is different, it's like it's speaking our language, you feel me? 
It's not about winning or losing, it's about surviving and finding a way to live with the pain 
and we all just kinda... empathized with each other 
. We can play it during study breaks and actually learn something 
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. For me, it's all about finding that balance between facing your fears and accepting the fact that pain is just a part of life 
I mean, who wouldn't wanna immerse themselves in a dark world & explore the twisted emotions that come w/ it? 
️ For me, it's all about finding ways 2 coexist w/ pain, rather than trying 2 push thru it. The devs of Hollow Knight: Silksong did an amazing job creatin' a world thats both beautiful & terrifying, makin' u confront ur deepest fears & anxieties. But instead of tryna defeat them, the game's all about embracin the uncertainty & fragility of life 
But seriously, I think it's awesome that Silksong has become more than just a game for you - it's a tool to process your emotions and find peace in living with pain 
. Have you noticed how the game's atmosphere changes throughout the journey? It's like you're walking through different stages of emotional healing 
but this article makes me realize it can be so much more than that... it's therapy in game form 
. It's not an easy journey or anything, but if playing a game can help me process my emotions and find peace then I'm all for it 
. for me, games like silksong are more than just entertainment - its a way to process emotions and experiences that might be hard to tackle in real life 