From Ruth Hill
I can confirm, from personal experience, that post-traumatic stress can be moderately alleviated by Tetris (17 January, p 12). Having had two nervous breakdowns in the last five years, I needed (and still need) to find some way of suppressing my thoughts, memories and flashbacks of trauma.
Not being a drinker and being too middle-class to have access to illegal drugs – and finding prescription drugs ineffective – I was fortunate to stumble across the distraction of Tetris – which I played day and night for many months. I played to the extent that I acquired repetitive strain injury. I find it requires such extensive spatial and visual brainpower that it disengages my capacity for verbal thought and brings relief from anxiety and flashbacks – until such time as exhaustion overtakes me.
Upon waking from my restless sleep, disturbed by nightmares borne of terrible memories, I turn immediately to the Tetris I keep on my bedside table, which provides further relief until I pass out once again.
Ferring, West Sussex, UK
