Life can feel a lot like a game. Sometimes you are the hero, confident and ready to take on the next level. Other times, it’s like the controls stop responding, the screen freezes, and you’re left staring at the ‘game over’ message.

If you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, or feeling like you don’t belong, this post has found its way to you. These struggles are real and they’re more common than you think – especially for people who care deeply, think deeply, and get lost in the worlds we love.

This guide is here to help you understand why you might be feeling the way you do and give you some practical ways to feel better. It is intended as supportive guidance, not a replacement for professional help. Think of it as your personal RPG walkthrough, with tips for levelling up your mind.

For a long time, I thought I just had to push through, grind my way through life, like in those side quest you have to keep coming back to. But slowly, I started to realise that constantly over thinking, can overload your mind. It does not mean you are weak. Not at all. It just means we need ways, tools, to navigate these challenges and restore our energy.

Facing the Mini-Boss In Your Head

Anxiety has always felt to me like a mini-boss battle that just keeps re-spawning. Every social interaction, every new challenge, it can feel like a dungeon I am not ready for. And, honestly, my brain used to to run through every worst-case scenario on repeat.

“What if I mess up?” “What if they judge me?” “What if I fail?” It is exhausting, like you are fighting enemies that aren’t even there!

One thing that actually helped me was thinking of anxiety like a status effect in a game. It drains your energy, yes, but with the right tactics, you can recover. Deep breathing became my, ‘Energy Blade’ against anxiety.

Sitting up straight, slow breaths in through my nose for four counts, hold for four, exhale for six, it gives me almost instant relief. Honestly, two minutes of this breathing technique and my world clams. My mind softens, and I can step back, think and feel.

Meditation: Mana Recharge

When I discovered Meditation, it became like a secret menu I could access any time in my journey. A place where I could pause, recharge, and regain a some mental mana. I would imagine a world that brings me peace: a sunlit countryside, a massive library filled with ancient knowledge, or maybe even the endless cosmos. I could hear birds or the crackle of a fire. Sometimes I’d imagine a companion nearby, a character from a game, or a pet, someone offering kind, reassuring words.

 

Even a few minutes of this seemed to make me feel better. My focus sharpened. My mind calmed. I could face whatever came next with, well, maybe not perfect calm, but enough to not melt down. It reminded me that even if the real world feels overwhelming sometimes, there’s a safe spaces in my mind where I can recover and prepare for whatever the day may bring next.

Depression: Trapped In An Invisible Dungeon.

For me depression feels like being stuck in an invisible dungeon. Even the smallest things can seem impossible. Over time, I found taking notice of ‘small wins’ helped a lot.

Making a daily list; get out of bed, drink some water, send one text to a friend, gave me something to track and focus on. A little sense of accomplishment, even when the big stuff feels impossible, it made daily life manageable, and some how, over time, it became fun.

I called it my ‘Small Win Tracker’. Each completed task felt like defeating a mini-boss. Confidence grows, morale restores. Seeing those small wins accumulate reminded me I’m still moving forward, even if the bigger journey feels like a mountain. Every chore or task, every act of self-care, it felt like unlocking achievements, giving me energy to do more.

Light, Action, And Healing

Some simple things also made a big difference. Ten minutes of sunlight felt like grabbing a health potion. Rewarding myself for doing something, like taking a short walk in nature or a TV break, re-inforced progress. Over time, these repeated small actions helped me level up my mental health. Breathing exercises, Meditation and my Small Win Tracker, they all became new, powerful tools in my inventory. Even when life throws a tough boss at me, I now have strategies I can rely on.

Finding Your Guild

Another thing I learned is that no hero really completes the journey alone. Social exclusion makes you feel like an NPC sometimes, watching everyone else live exciting lives while you sit on the sidelines. So I started seeking out my guild: I joined, online communities, fan fiction groups, tabletop meet up nights and eventually even organised a Comic Con trip with a few new friends.

Connecting with people who shared my interests, it changed things. These interactions made me feel like I belonged somewhere. Stepping out of my comfort zone, joining a new community, attending fan events, it helped me find my party. Reaching out, connecting, can lead to beautiful friendships that last a life time. Try it, put it on your small win tracker!

Your Quest Continues

If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or just feeling alone, you are not broken and you are not alone. You are the main character in your story. Every thing you do counts, you just being here, counts!

Life has tough bosses, side quests, and many glitches, but each challenge you face and overcome, proves your inner strength.

Take a deep breath. Press start. Keep going. You’ve unlocked new skills. You’ve built a stronger tool kit. Keep exploring. Keep trying. Your story is yours to write, and please remember,

You are special. You are worthy. You are loved. Always.

If you would like to learn more about the techniques mentioned you can claim your free fillable PDF copy of ‘A Geeks Guide To Levelling Up Your Mind’ by entering your email at: https://www.craftorb.com/freeguide

With Love,

Luke.

www.craftorb.com

Thank you Luke for such a brilliant guest post! As you all know retro gaming, role playing/Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer is a big interest of mine, so I was delighted to be able to include this on “Cyber Geek Girl.” I love the small wins tracker and have even started one myself!

About The Author – Luke Wetherall

Raised on Retro gaming, MTG, D&D, Warhammer Battles, and the good old days when the internet used to scream into life, I run a website called Craftorb, designing and making gifts for your perfectly nerdy self and the Geek’s you love. Visit www.craftorb.com for more information.