How To Cure Your Depression After DDLC

You are not any worse of a person because a video game upset you. You have empathy and did what the creators wanted, which was to feel a connection to the characters even though they are imaginary. Just guessing, but you probably couldn't do Undertale's genocide run either. That is not a bad thing! So don't run around calling yourself weak because you can't handle jumpscares, suicide, or psychological abuse.

If your concern is that you didn't feel anything, that's fine too. Visual novels don't work for everyone, and you don't have to get emotionally involved. Plenty of other content is out there, and you don't need to have a tidal wave of feelings for every story. Don't feel guilty because you played a video game just as a game, while other people seem more affected.

All of this goes double if you're a minor or have emotional difficulties and you tried despite the warning. Don't go around thinking you brought it on yourself, and don't think that you have to push yourself to be "tough." You are not at all the target demographic, and there are other bits of media out there that will give you the same feeling that other peope have from this particular game.

There are real people who care about you, even if you think otherwise. Life exists outside of the game. Natsuki doesn't have an abusive father, Yuri isn't self harming, Sayori isn't suicidal, and Monica hasn't killed anyone, because they all are fictional. If you or any of your friends have any of these problems, you are real and you matter.

Find someone to talk to. Tell an inside joke to your friends. Talk about the weather in your area on a forum. Remember that life is still happening.

Dwelling on guides probably isn't helping much, especially if it just reminds you of the game without giving you closure. If seeing memes has helped you with things in the past, go ahead and look through the "artwork" section on Steam and replace some of the images with laughter. But please, just take a step back and look at something else if you keep feeling bad.

There is a purpose to sad stories, but there is also a purpose to happy stories. Stories can help people express things that they can't otherwise, and help people connect to each other. Find a mindless action thriller, a romantic comedy where everything turns out okay, or a true story that has all the ups and downs of real life. Listen to black metal or impressionist symphonies or electronic dance or whatever puts your heart in the right place.

The happy feelings aren't fake, just like your feelings from DDLC aren't fake: they're affecting you even if the characters are fictional. Don't feel like you're lying to yourself when something tries to cheer you up or remind you that other, more positive experiences exist in the world.

Not only does it get your hands moving, it makes sure that you aren't hungry. The epinephrine realeased from an intense game creates a sugar high in your bloodstream, and coming down from it can feel awful, physically and mentally, if you don't have food and drink handy. In Literature Club style, make yourself some cupcakes and a nice cup of tea.


Here is a handy recipe to get you started: (If you live somewhere without a kitchen, you can buy a mug cake and make it in your microwave!)

• 1 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
  
• pinch fine salt
  
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  
• 1/2 cup sugar
  
• 1 sticks (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
  
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  
• 1/3 cup milk
  
• Your favorite frosting, for topping

Special equipment: a 12-cup standard muffin tin or two 24-cup mini-muffin tins, cupcake liners

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and position a rack in the middle of the oven. Line one 12-cup standard muffin tin or two 24-cup mini-muffin tins with cupcake liners.

Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl.

In another medium bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until light and foamy, about 2 minutes. While beating, gradually pour in the melted butter and then the vanilla.

While mixing slowly, add half of the flour mixture. Then add all the milk, followed by the remaining flour mixture; take care not to overmix the batter. Divide the batter evenly in the prepared muffin tin.

Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean, rotating the tin about halfway through baking time, 18 to 20 minutes for standard cupcakes or 10 to 12 minutes for minis. Cool the cupcakes in the tin on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and cool on the rack completely. Frost and decorate as desired.

The double-edged sword of a visual novel such as DDLC is that it is in second person, adding to immersion. Watching a Let's Play allows a level of separation between the character and the audience, as the game's script is directed at another person. Plus, they often invoke a level of comedy, much like the difference between watching a scary movie alone under your bedsheets and watching that same movie with friends with the lights on and popcorn flowing. If you want to see the story (as the game truly has a lot of thought put into it and some funny tributes to dating sim cliches), or if you keep thinking about the game days after you've played it, watch a playthrough for some closure.


Hopefully you'll feel a little better after following this guide, and this game won't leave as bad of an impression. Thanks for reading!