Animal Crossing and Our Mental Health

[@sporkzzz]

Literally miss 2020 animal crossing content so much 😢

[@skylarenby3554]

Animal crossing brings me peace. It let's me figure out how I want things to be and it let's me figure things out in many ways

[@hydrasplatling]

i got back into this game when my mental health crisis started and i feel sappy saying this but it helped me keep going, so so much i was removed from school because of the bullying i faced sadly, but this game and its content creators kept me occupied i wouldn't be able to express my gratefulness without getting embarrassed as im a veryyy shy person 💀

[@hydrasplatling]

AH the im proud of you brought me to tears i haven't heard it verbally in so long a partial input for the last part, im also autistic and i think it plays into my huge love for animal crossing since i was a baby ive LOVED animals dealing with bpd now i know i have it has been hard, so this game has really been great for me my mum nags me for it sometimes and my dad encourages me when im lost at what to do in the game this is sloppy, im literally abt to sleep thank you for this video ♡♡

[@mx.benzedrine]

First of all, this video is beautiful. It's so well done and your calming voice makes this video feel easier to digest. CW: Mental Illness, pet loss, gender struggles I first played ACNH in 2021. My mom ordered me my AC Switch and it arrived the same day I found out my family cat had to be put down as soon as possible to ease his suffering. Him passing away made me want to give my island a purpose beyond just being a cutesy game. I wanted it to be a way to remember him. Just being able to name my island after him in some way (Tabthania ((from Tabby)) ) gave me a huge step in healing. I had lost many pets before him, but I was closer to him than the others (fish, chickens). Tabby was the first animal I had ever pet. Autism made me scared of the new texture, but I did it. Having that connection and bond with him made it all the more harder to deal with when he passed away the next day. He was old. He was hurting. He was gone. I made it a mission to make my island in memoriam of him and all that he has done for me. So far, it's been calming to have that as a coping mechanism for that grief and grief that came later that year. A month before I got my switch, I learned that I was nonbinary. I was in heavy denial about it for a while. I was 19, I thought my LGBTQ identity was settled with just being pansexual. My entire life felt like it had been uprooted. Why was I just learning this about myself now? Why did it seem like such a shock? Being able to be gender ambiguous helped me accept myself after I denied it for that month. I got to be myself, have neutral pronouns everybody in-game used for me. It also gave me the freedom to experiment with a different haircut (that I settled with and feel so good with!) without making the huge change and risking not liking it. It was liberating and became my comfort game next to the Pokemon titles I had. Autism is also a huge part in my life and why I like this game. The 2020 pandemic threw my life out of whack. I was in 12th grade, just months away from finishing high school while being placed in a hotel due to a flood in my house. I was supposed to walk across the stage, have prom, and be with my friends. My brain was used to getting up, going to school, and going back home (or hotel). While social interaction is usually somewhat difficult, school was my place to socialize outside of screens. My routine was gone. Moving back in shortly after the pandemic started gave me something to focus on, but I didn't have anything to do. I just stayed at home. As evident by what this video is about, AC gave me a routine, something to do. Animal Crossing is escapism in its purest form. It's a beautiful game, and I hope to play the older games somehow.

[@ghostreyn]

This is an interesting video. I have only recently gotten in to ACNH because seeing the world go back to what it was has been way more stressful for me and I needed something that I could enjoy with out feeling rushed. Our world is far too fast paced and it is frustrating that we can't slow it down, but in this game it feels that I can. If I only do some fishing one day and talk to a couple villagers it's fine. My depression has been so much worse since quarantine has ended, I watched some Animal crossing vids and decided to give it a whirl, and been very glad I have, I have been missing less work and I do thank this game right now for that.

[@OMGKAngeL]

we dont need mental health, just colorful talking animals

[@sporkzzz]

Literally so true

[@floraljazz]

this right here

[@alinatr2693]

I'm not really well rn,my mom doesn't understand why I play so much acnh,but real life is really tuff for me rn,and in the game I can just do what I want and if something I build bothers me,I can just change it and It's fixed. I can complete tasks and even If I just catch a fish I still need,I have done something for the day😅 It sounds so dumb,but I love trading and interacting with other players,because the majority just plays to have fun 😊

[@Lichen8404]

Animal crossing is the only game that is just so calming. The music, the art style, lack of enemies that aren't villagers you don't like. It's very nice to just work on something for a while

[@theamandafiles]

i can’t put into words how proud i am of you. you are brilliant & well-spoken & everything the world needs right now & i just love you so much.

[@danee3413]

This is wonderfully written Salem!!

[@raeinorshine_06]

I just started playing about 4 months ago and Omgosh it’s helped me so much. My bf started making his island a while back to distract himself when his grandmother passed away. I lost my brother to an overdose so life was so hard. I made a memorial for him on my island and I go there everyday and just sit down, that’s my time with him. I love AC! I wanna get another switch in case something happens to the one I’m using 😅 I just couldn’t go without it!!

[@michaelgorski69]

18:16 wow thank you 🙏🏼 Also can relate.

[@interstellar2013]

I recently got into animal crossing, I dont believe you could have said it any better than you did. playing the game has helped with my many mental illnesses like social anxiety & depression, its funny to think about how much this game and its community have brought me and I will forever me greatful for this game.

[@thecreepythecozy8891]

Such an awesome script, and I love your voice. Thank you for making this.

[@aratinatophat]

I think I might’ve had depression for a bit without realising it haha, gonna seek someone to talk to lmao thanks for actually explaining the feelings and experiences of depression that isn’t just “you’re just sad” 😎

[@sporkzzz]

Hope all goes well 😋

[@nikolenook]

i really enjoyed this video, you made great points! it’s amazing how much animal crossing can help us. 💕

[@raeforest]

why this video make me wanna cry ?????? the little daily tasks that animal crossing provides has definitely helped me through my mental issues as well.. for some reason for a long while there, it gave me something to actually look forward to and wake up every day?? i just.. yeah.. opening up animal crossing to feel that these little digital animals are the only ones that understand me, is something that i think a lot of people can relate to. love these types of videos as well of yours

[@lemoniestlemon6959]

This went straight into my “Stuff I Love” folder, and I will definitely be showing my therapist this video. You articulated everything so well!

[@Qwinnlan]

Salem! essay style content suits you amazingly! Your soothing voice, subtle and calm humour and (girthy?) opinions really all came together to form a perfect gift for my sub box! I love the usual content, but having something a bit deeper and different is thought provoking and warmly welcomed! thanks for another awesome video!

[@MaybeSalem]

Thank you SO much- that means the world to me!

[@MySnakeSomnus]

Well, you made me cry. My worst depressive episode since the game was released came last winter and I couldn’t even play because I didn’t want to pretend to be happy for my imaginary animal friends. I couldn’t even stand the thought of it. I relate so much to so many of the things you said in here. Thank you for this.

[@catsbiie6691]

I wasn't able to get my hands on a switch during the pandemic so I played Stardew Valley. I think the same holds for that game too.

[@tautum]

i did a presentation a couple years ago about how animal crossing saved my life so i really appreciated seeing this video today 💛💛💛 great work salem, you’re so well spoken!!

[@brewsaughmighty7024]

I second this! Definitely subbed, listening while I play acnh atm too. :)

[@MaybeSalem]

that’s so lovely 🥺 I’m sure it turned out wonderfully. thank you for the kind words 🥺

[@jessiematrix]

you are so incredible salem. I love you so much ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ClintBNeff]

ACNH has definitely helped me with my mental health. But more importantly it has introduced me to all my Besties, whom I love dearly! 🖤 I’ll forever be grateful for this game, it’s changed my life!

[@popppy113]

this video is so well thought out and Salem seems so genuine when they say "im glad you're here" it means a lot ❤

[@treacherous-doctor]

this is remarkably well-written and engaging with some excellent points. i loved listening to this

[@sporkzzz]

Love ur PFP 😍

[@MaybeSalem]

thank you so much 🥺

[@treacherous-doctor]

@@sporkzzz thank you bestie i like yours too

[@an.ge1]

I have surprisingly not have been stung by a mosquito in acnh. However, I have like 20 mosquito bites on my legs irl lol

[@grimfaery1248]

this was such a good video!!!! and really well made too

[@Cherry-vg4bp]

first of all, i really really enjoy your video essays, i think this type of video really fits you so well! and now it’s time to talk about myself because i love talking about myself🎉 during the pandemic, i definitely hit an all time low with my mental health. i just entered 11th grade, i had tons of new teachers, subjects, and expectations, all cut short by the lockdown. during that time, i didn’t have the energy to do any of my assignments, i couldn’t even OPEN my mails to check if my teachers had sent new assignments or messages or anything of that kind. i woke up anxious everyday, had to cry when i heard the phone ring in fear that it was my school calling my parents. overall pretty shit time i’d say. i had a very small selection of things that kept me going though. acnh was one of them. i didn’t engage with the community really, but the game itself was so calming to me. everyday there were these easy things to do, and if i missed them, it didn’t matter. the visuals alone already made me so so happy, everything just looks cute and soft, music was calming and cute and silly, overall this game just stimulated?? my senses??? enough to make me feel more at ease. i could do what i want, and i couldn’t to anything wrong, because there was no wrong way to play. it didn’t cure my depression, but it kept away looming negative thoughts at least for a while. and then, at times, i felt like it was too much positivity. like i didn’t deserve it. i remember when isabelle would greet me in the morning saying that it was already wednesday. half the week was over, half the work was already done! soon you’ll get your well deserved weekend! surprisingly, that always heightened my anxiety. sure i had work loads in game to make my island look pretty and my villagers to feel happy, but in real life i had done nothing, just ran away from my tasks. so, that’s a thing that happened i guess,,, now i’ve graduated school, i’m still alive, and mentally i’ve been doing the best ive been since 2019 or something. im still not out of my depression completely, and i how have a new “enemy” i have to fight (capitalism, adhd, potential autism), and surprisingly ive found myself playing a lot of animal crossing again. it still gives me the same joy as it did in 2020, if not more, because now i kind of know that i deserve to be happy and play games i love or that calm me down, even if i don’t have the energy to tackle the big tasks (tm) in real life just yet.

[@MaybeSalem]

Cherry, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me 🥺 I’m so sorry that load of anxiety and depression was placed on you. I’m so proud of you for getting through that, and I’m glad animal crossing has been able to help 🥺

[@mojinageorge]

i love you so much for this salem… you are so insanely special to me! this was really well put together and explains the problems perfectly!

[@myon9431]

Tbh I'm a little jealous of everyone that has had their mental health made better by NH, it did nothing for me in that regard, maybe even the opposite if I'm feeling dramatic. Every past game has helped me a lot though I can only play them through emulation rn and I don't really like that. I really regret buying NH

[@wyrmghost]

Animal crossing> therapy

[@wyrmghost]

/j Feel I should add

[@sporkzzz]

@@wyrmghost somewhere in a different universe this is /srs

[@hannam.814]

Wow, what an incredible, well researched and amazingly explained video. I hope you give yourself a lot of credit for it.

[@MaybeSalem]

thank you so much Hanna, I really appreciate the kind words 🥺

[@camigittins]

YAAAAY SALEM!! ❤ hope you’re doing good today bestie!

[@baileyquigley2389]

Salem this is so awesome!! Such a great video! You really put all of this into words so perfectly!

[@simmer7663]

I think that KZbin is trying to tell me and my friend something.

[@goth_orcling]

Beautifully explained! This video is a masterpiece!💜

[@GojosFutureExWife]

This was the perfect thing to listen to going home from work, thank you bestie! 🖤🥰

[@MaybeSalem]

thank you so much Baillie

[@becplayz]

Disclaimer “I am stupid” can I have this on a t shirt please? 😂😂😂 thank you for this video, so amazingly well done 🙂

[@KatieCozyway]

I just love you and also animal crossing and also you and also

[@MaybeSalem]

Katie I LOVE YOU

[@alfredo1260]

Thank you Salem

[@tomysoulsociety]

no cus why did lucky (the villager lmao) lowkey save my life 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@XxShitty_dinosoarxX]

I wasn’t expecting to cry during this wth

[@an.ge1]

My ex introduced me to the Animal Crossing series. After we split up, I've been playing this game more and it has been helping me cope with the breakup. Acnh really provided me a way to escape my feelings even just for a short while. Sorry, if this doesn't make sense. I can't really word things well

[@MaybeSalem]

I’m so glad that animal crossing has been able to provide some comfort for you!!

[@MewmiNya]

i like tom nook ):