Don’t worry man. I feel you. AW II obviously scared me as well. But my first Control playthrouh was hell. I literally stopped the game on the fake credit scene, thinking it was the end, because at that point I was havig panic attacks LOL (I have a history with anxiety). Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, but all those subjective concepts, teasing real life, are indeed scary. I usually don’t mind monsters for example. What really triggers me are thought experiments, things that twist your brain and fuck you up, not giving you an answer. I think that’s why Control is so “scary”. It’s the cosmic/unbearable kind of horror. Discovering things the human brain can’t begin to comprehend. It’s scary as shit. Fear of the literal unknown.

After a while I did finish it all the way through. Twice, actually. It’s one of my all time favorites.

But not having answers, being left with the doubt, theorizing about what’s real and what’s not, that’s insanity-inducing. And, weirdly enough, those seem to be the kind of story that I get most involved with. I used to avoid them due to the anxiety attacks I usually get. But today I just go through them, it’s worth it 😂 I’d like to think of it as a sign that the game made me think and even understand how reality is subjective. Also, it is just a great piece of art and exemple of good writing, in my opinion.

So, don’t worry if you are scared. If the story is worth to you, keep immersing yourself in it. I just finished Alan Wake II, got those same anxiety attacks, but I keep pushing. I’ve been very active in this subreddit discussing theories. It turns the anxiety into something nice. Into admiration and awe. (No pun intended)