I play games for the same reason I read a lot (I read more than I play nowadays due to time constraints), to distract myself.
I was raised by my paternal grandparents and aunt since I was an unfortunate accident for my young father at the time. My grandfather passed away 6 years ago, this past January, my grandmother passed away (after several years suffering from Alzheimer, she fell, broke her hip and after that a ton of health issues showed up and she didn't make it), right now me and my aunt are still living where I was raised, my grandparents house, but my father and other aunts, basically want us to sell the house ASAP. They never helped my grandparents, or cared to visit them (they all live close by, a 20min drive, but they only visit on Christmas and New Year (it's my grandmother's birthday).
Sorry for the rant, but yeah, I'm at the point where I just play in order to avoid thinking. When I'm at work, I'm distracted by work, when I'm at home... I stick to games, model kits, reading... If I stop for too long and start thinking, I probably will end up doing something I'd regret.