Axiety before playing.

(Eox) #1

Okay, I think I probably need help.

It’s and issue I have since like more or less eight years actually, and it can just prevent me from downright playing anything PvP related. It has nothing to do with my internet (though it’s a very poor one) or my hardware actually. Honestly I think a lot of you might think it’s the stupidest thing ever but I just can’t help it : I get anxious everytime I plan to play Dirty Bomb.

I just don’t know what the heck is wrong with me. Everytime I plan to play I just feel really anxious to the point of sometimes getting aches in my bowels and I oftenly end up not playing at all. I just don’t know what triggers that. I think it’s probably because I’m scared about playing poorly despite the fact that I am not that bad and anyway I should just focus on having fun. Today I just went to the point where that whole issue pissed me off : for once I end up with a pretty nice ping yet I am still not playing. Why ? Because I get worried about a video game. What’s wrong with me ?

I made this thread in order to seek help. Maybe there’s some of you guys that suffer from the same problem but managed to get over it. Help please ?

(onLooSe) #2

The solution is the same as with laziness - you need to force yourself just to start playing right away without delaying… After the first match you will get over it for the rest of the day.

If you start to “tune yourself” beforehand you are ending up just building up on your feelings.

(pumpkinmeerkat) #3

Convince SD to remove player levels.

Or you could always make a second account to warm up on when you’re unsure how you are going to play.

(Icecoal) #4

Are you playing with friends and fear to play poorly for them to see ? And you are not alone with that, I see this issue popping up more and more in all kinds of pvp games, especially mobas. It’s like onloose said , you just think too much about it. When you fear something you need to face it , otherwise it only gets worse like in your case. And don’t be angry at yourself , it’s not your fault.

(Eox) #5

[quote=“onLooSe;201614”]The solution is the same as with laziness - you need to force yourself just to start playing right away without delaying… After the first match you will get over it for the rest of the day.

If you start to “tune yourself” beforehand you are ending up just building up on your feelings.[/quote]

I have to admit that it’s usually much better after the first game I play, though I sometimes end up shaking for some reason (told you I have a problem). However since I use a kinda heavy weighted mouse this is not that much of an issue.

Actually I feel a bit better when I play with friends. I used to only play with them around though it didn’t prevented me from being anxious like crazy. I think we all know what we are usually able to so when someone has a bad day it’s not a big deal. Also we don’t play competitive so there’s no ranking that really matter. I still feel really anxious while playing with friends around, but it’s slightly more bearable.

(averagerussian) #6

I’ve been having an issue like this for as long as i can remember, especially when i had to play competitive games or cupmatches (not in DB obviously, i suck at db), all because my internet connection is awful, and it could disconnect or ping spike anytime. I find that one normal.

However if you need something to motivate you to launch the game, watch the game first. I always get so excited about playing if i watch twitch or some frag videos first. Or just find that one friend that puts you in a good mood no matter what and play with them.

Or are you just anxious when it comes to play comp games? Because no way i could play those, but i know i’m too inexperienced for them. The only way i could play a bit of competitive in dirty bomb without feeling anxious to the point where i don’t play at all, was by playing with a friend who makes me feel comfortable and make sure i’m on their team
or just stomp in pubs

(Eox) #7

[quote=“JUKING;201620”]I’ve been having an issue like this for as long as i can remember, especially when i had to play competitive games or cupmatches (not in DB obviously, i suck at db), all because my internet connection is awful, and it could disconnect or ping spike anytime. I find that one normal.

However if you need something to motivate you to launch the game, watch the game first. I always get so excited about playing if i watch twitch or some frag videos first. Or just find that one friend that puts you in a good mood no matter what and play with them.

Or are you just anxious when it comes to play comp games? Because no way i could play those, but i know i’m too inexperienced for them. The only way i could play a bit of competitive in dirty bomb without feeling anxious to the point where i don’t play at all, was by playing with a friend who makes me feel comfortable and make sure i’m on their team
or just stomp in pubs[/quote]

I don’t play competitive on DB actually. But I suffer from the same issues on almost every single PvP games. It’s also usually worse on games that require a good aim or games where I usually do not perform that bad. I don’t get stressed as much as a begginer, though I can still feel some anxiety.

The fear of my internet becoming crazy is something that I suspect to be one of the sources of my worries. I can clearly remember that I was less stressed when my parents and my sisters left the house for two weeks, leaving me the only person using the internet in my house. I could play without any lags or disconnections. I really felt better that time. Still worried, but much better. I think you’ve just put the finger on something.

(Merci1ess) #8

The way I see it, you put mad pressure on yourself to perform and I think a big reason for that is the player levels being shown in-game. I’m guessing you’re a pretty high level and you feel the need to perform in order to evade people’s criticism? Either that or just simply to feel good and satisfied about yourself. That would be my case. I think the problem here isn’t anxiety as much as it is stress although granted, stress can cause anxiety. For me, personally, I feel like I should do good and that stresses me out sometimes. Which is one of the reasons why if I do play DB, I can’t play it for more than 30 minutes to an hour. Around 2 or 3 games. Also, if you’re someone that likes to win, the terrible matchmaking makes it hard on everyone who does well. I’m always in a terrible team because the game somehow expects me to carry everybody.

The reason seems to be pretty obvious to me. You simply feel the need to perform so badly that the stress you’re putting on yourself is causing you to have anxiety before you even get into the game. I think the most important thing to do here is not to care as much and go into it with the sole purpose of simply having fun. Just do it… like Shia Labeouf says so well.

(onLooSe) #9

UPDATE:

I think you find DB pub games competitive on some deep mind blowing level :smiley: This shouldn’t be the case and I think what’s generally wrong when you start playing.

I don’t know your age, but back in the day when 90% of games were competitive I have found the solution and had the same problem like you do (even the shaky hands). When I started to play more high level of quake 3 arena and warcraft 3 (participating in clans and such) the guys were like: “dude you just logged in… don’t you want to go warm up for 10-20 minutes?!”. I’m doing this since more than 10 years in every multiplayer game to work my hand before jumping on to the ladder fights.

SD didn’t provide any warmup besides the idiotic public games so you need to work on your mind set that this is just a casual mode for warming up and actually it’s just this … to prepare you for the 50 minute ranked queue before you close the game :smiley:

I even warm up in Dark Souls for 10 minutes with some ravioli, bs rolls and parries before I jump in PvP. That’s the point in this procedure … to get your gaming on top and to relax before jumping in the action. GL man and don’t take pubbing serious at all.

P.S. all warming ups I did with clanmates and friends were actually total trolls and high skill useless manuevers with microing archers to oblivion or rocket jumping each others in some fun defrag situations… So trolling helps a lot to relax. You can consider this for your first game as well.

(BerylRdm) #10

Make fun of your failures aloud. That’s the best way. This is only a game, everyone has good or bad days, and there is nothing to worry about. Accept your fails and you will stop living in fear of them, my young padawan.

Btw, since you’re speaking about your connection, would you mind taking a quick survey for science?
http://forums.dirtybomb.nexon.net/discussion/32080/what-is-your-download-upload-speed
:slight_smile:

(Eox) #11

[quote=“Beryl;201633”]Make fun of your failures aloud. That’s the best way. This is only a game, everyone has good or bad days, and there is nothing to worry about. Accept your fails and you will stop living in fear of them, my young padawan.

Btw, since you’re speaking about your connection, would you mind taking a quick survey for science?
http://forums.dirtybomb.nexon.net/discussion/32080/what-is-your-download-upload-speed
:slight_smile:
[/quote]

Done.

[quote=“Merciless;201628”]The way I see it, you put mad pressure on yourself to perform and I think a big reason for that is the player levels being shown in-game. I’m guessing you’re a pretty high level and you feel the need to perform in order to evade people’s criticism? Either that or just simply to feel good and satisfied about yourself. That would be my case. I think the problem here isn’t anxiety as much as it is stress although granted, stress can cause anxiety. For me, personally, I feel like I should do good and that stresses me out sometimes. Which is one of the reasons why if I do play DB, I can’t play it for more than 30 minutes to an hour. Around 2 or 3 games. Also, if you’re someone that likes to win, the terrible matchmaking makes it hard on everyone who does well. I’m always in a terrible team because the game somehow expects me to carry everybody.

The reason seems to be pretty obvious to me. You simply feel the need to perform so badly that the stress you’re putting on yourself is causing you to have anxiety before you even get into the game. I think the most important thing to do here is not to care as much and go into it with the sole purpose of simply having fun. Just do it… like Shia Labeouf says so well.[/quote]

I must admit that the fear of doing poorly also affects me. Maybe I should think about messing around from time to time in order to vent that.

(ChaoticElf) #12

Back when League of Legends first came out, I experienced alot of anxiety whenever 1v1ing another player, considering you either won and things progressed ok, or you lost the first encounter and your entire team would rage at you for screwing up. What eventually took care of that was just constant playing. Slowly began to realize I stopped caring what people would say, especially when I came to the realization that I was the only one that knew if I made any mistakes, or if I really did just get outplayed.

If you get anxious about having to perform well every game, for your first game or two just play in a style that you know you’re going to not do well at. Screw around with melee only rhino. Sit at corners and wait to try and noscope people as a sniper. Get it out of your mind that you have to or are expected to do well. Who cares if you don’t carry one game? If you’re worried about backlash, people will find literally -anything- to complain about when things don’t go their way, regardless of how well you play. There’s nothing you can really do to ever change that.

Edit: apparently the censoring is more touchy than I thought…

(Szakalot) #13

my advice:

pick a trollolol class and start screwing around. Bayblade phantom/kira, quickslash aura, rhino, shotgun proxy, redeye PDP,

go on an objective 16 server and blast lvl1-5 to pieces. You will recall how much fun it is without the worrying about performing.

next level stuff:
pick a medic and go revive tryhard. Be everyone’s Jesus, like it was promised. Ignore kills, run away from enemies, only heal and revive. Nobody on your team will mind, and you will not worry about k/d & performing.

after that you should be able to play normally again

(averagerussian) #14

@Szakalot is right about playing tryhard medic. It works. It is what I actually do everytime my aim is off or my ping spikes. Pick a medic that you find it’s the most fun to play as (Phoenix for me, he is a bird especially when focusing only on revives) and not only will you be top score all the time, but your team will love you

(Tanker_Ray) #15

I don’t know how good your skills are, and only seen you in forums.

So I have nothing to say, but I promise no one will bash you just because you screwed one matchup, or played like noob with bottom score.

Even if someone does, it’s their fault, not you.(Unless you troll on purpose.)

All I can say is seek for ‘light’ fun like others already recommended, rather than serious fun that I always seek.

There is no need to fear defeat or other’s assessment.

You can do it! Cheer up! My forum mod Eox!

(HamanDinduNuffin) #16
(BananaSlug) #17

i know it will sound very stupid, but i had anxiety about playing pvp games, i was getting toxic very quickly, but then i simply realized “why should i care”

and then i started do dont care about my performance and other players

(D.C.V.) #18

Is it because you’re a moderator and there’s a high chance people will notice you? Do you feel compelled to be a good player because of it?

Maybe you should try creating a new steam account, use a completely random, forgettable name and play the game “anonymously” till you feel confident enough to go on your main. Be johndoe123. Be the bottom scoring Vassili. Nobody would bat an eye.

(Eox) #19

[quote=“D.C.V.;201695”]Is it because you’re a moderator and there’s a high chance people will notice you? Do you feel compelled to be a good player because of it?

Maybe you should try creating a new steam account, use a completely random, forgettable name and play the game “anonymously” till you feel confident enough to go on your main. Be johndoe123. Be the bottom scoring Vassili. Nobody would bat an eye.[/quote]

My in game pseudo is not similar to my forum account and I don’t share my steam account too much. The fact that I am a mod is not an issue.

(SnakekillerX) #20

Sometimes after a long hiatus from FPS games jumping back into gives me the shakes.
It isn’t that I am so much anxious to play the game but that my hands/mind are not use to that type of stimulus.

It might take a day or two of playing for me to get back to playing where I don’t feel like my body/mind is a direct hindrance to my actual capabilities.

Once you get to that point though (at least for me) its hard to stop playing and I need my daily fix of DB.