PART 1: Twisting Out the Tension — How Solving Cube Puzzles Can Boost Mental Health - The DV Walking Wounded:
Kranj, Slovenia - April 11, 2015: Hands playing a Rubik's Cube game.Rubik's Cube is a 3D mechanical puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik
In a oppressive world constantly demanding instant gratification, solving something as deceptively simple as a Rubik’s Cube— or any twisty logic cube of any sort —can feel like an act of quiet, analog rebellion. With their bright rainbow-colored complexity and meditative turns, cube puzzles do far more than pass the time or collect dust on a shelf. They offer surprising multiple mental health benefits and can act as an unexpected therapy tool for a range of emotional and psychological challenges.
1. Anxiety and Stress Relief: Calming the Chaos
Cube puzzles can be remarkably grounding. Their tactile, repetitive motions and the need to focus attention away from intrusive thoughts can help reduce anxiety. Much like fidget spinners or stress balls, the physical manipulation of the cube provides a sensory distraction, while the goal-oriented nature of solving it encourages the mind to narrow its focus—creating a calm mental “flow” state. I personally utilize the standard 3×3 and the act of solving it over and over and over, gives great satisfaction and predictability, which calms my personal anxious demeanor. I have one in my desk at work, in my desk at home, in my purse, in my car, and in my boyfriend’s truck…okay, it might be my fidgety security “blanket.”
For individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), or those experiencing high daily stress, solving a cube offers an opportunity to slow racing thoughts and channel nervous energy into a harmless and productive activity. Plus, with the fact of how “non-digital” it is, it has a much lower risk of sensory overload.
2. ADHD: Channeling Focus and Impulse Control
For those with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), cube puzzles can work like a mini brain workout. The visual-spatial challenge requires planning ahead, holding patterns in working memory, and inhibiting the urge to make impulsive turns that disrupt progress. These are the very executive functioning skills that people with ADHD often struggle with. Cube puzzles offer the follow through that those with ADD/ADHD sometimes lack.
When used as part of a break from traditional work or study, cube puzzles can help train focus and encourage the kind of delayed gratification that benefits impulse control and strategic thinking. A person can challenge their mind with different types of cube puzzles, in order to keep their brain’s neural pathways firing and active. Puzzlcrate.com offers a wonderful subscription to new and challenging cubes every month. I will talk about that tomorrow in PART 2!
3. Depression: Small Victories, Big Impact
Depression often makes even the simplest tasks feel insurmountable. But a cube puzzle, while challenging, offers an attainable sense of progress. Whether it’s solving one face or completing the whole thing, each step is a mini-victory. These little wins can stimulate dopamine release—the brain’s reward chemical—and give a much-needed sense of achievement.
Furthermore, the structured nature of the puzzle gives a sense of order in times when a person might feel emotionally disorganized or mentally scattered.
4. Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies: Productive Patterning
While not a substitute for professional help, cube puzzles can serve as a safe outlet for individuals who struggle with obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors. The cube’s reliance on algorithms and precise patterns can satisfy the desire for control and perfection in a non-destructive way. In simple terms, an algorithm is like a recipe or a set of instructions that tell you exactly how to do something, breaking it down step-by-step. Think of it as a guide that breaks down a task into smaller, manageable steps — or as I often say, into “bite-sized pieces.”
The trick is to approach the puzzle as a form of engagement rather than compulsion—learning to enjoy the process of problem-solving rather than seeking to master it obsessively.
5. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Visual Thinking and Emotional Regulation
Many people on the autism spectrum find comfort in logical patterns, tactile input, and predictability. Cube puzzles provide just that—engaging the visual-spatial strengths many autistic individuals possess, while also offering a repetitive, soothing motor task.
They can be used as calming tools during moments of sensory overload or as cognitive training aids to strengthen pattern recognition and memory.
Why This Matters
Solving a cube puzzle might seem like a montonous, nerdy pastime or a parlor trick, but its impact on the mind can be profound. In a world where mental health resources are often inaccessible, unaffordable, or stigmatized, a simple puzzle can offer a surprising form of solace and empowerment.
Of course, cube puzzles are no replacement for therapy, medication, or professional intervention. But they are a healthy coping mechanism—one that doesn’t involve scrolling endlessly through social media or retreating from the world. They encourage patience, practice, and peace.
So the next time you feel down, overwhelmed, anxious, or unfocused, consider picking up that dusty cube from your shelf. With each twist and turn, you might not just be solving a puzzle—you might be solving a piece of yourself!
