I am always behind with the trends. I didn’t start watching Skins until the series had finished, I only started watching Stranger Things when Season 3 came out and I only started playing Pokemon Go last month. As a child, I collected the Pokemon cards, and I even had a favourite Pokemon (Pikachu, obviously). So I’m not quite sure why I didn’t give Pokemon Go a shot when it first came out. I didn’t really have any friends who were into Pokemon, so I guess I just didn’t have anyone I could go on Pokemon adventures with.
A couple of months ago, my partner and I started watching the original Pokemon series. And I finally decided to download Pokemon Go. Peter already had it because he’s a nerd (I mean that with lots of affection). And honestly, we have had so much fun going on Pokemon adventures together. We’ve walked miles and miles to catch Pokemon, join in raids and battle at gyms. We always look forward to coming home from an adventure to organise the Pokemon that we’ve caught, and to listen to the sounds they make.
Having an anxiety disorder has really affected the amount of energy that I have, there have been times when I’ve just wanted to stay in bed all day. Even doing a small amount of reading can be really exhausting. Playing Pokemon Go requires very little mental effort, and it’s taken me out of the house to visit new places. It’s surprising how much walking I’ve done, you don’t really seem to notice it when you’re catching Pokemon. I’ve actually found it quite energising! When my OCD is getting too much, it has been really helpful to have something to focus my mind on. Of course, I’m not suggesting that Pokemon Go is a substitute for therapy and/or medication. But having something that you enjoy doing can supplement them!
OCD, the PhD and Me 