[dannnyds]

Originally Posted by Cordance

Music will almost always help change your mood might take you a while to get the right kind of music that helps you be less stressed after a while of playing you wont need the music any more. If you find your getting stressed again for another reason you can go back to it.

Wow it really did (kinda). Decided to play a 2vAI with a mate against 2 hard ai's while listening to CCR fairly loud. They pushed us twice and we held off while expanding but after my mate lost his expo he left me T_T. But i kept going to see how far i could get taking on 2 hard ai's on my own. I expanded again and pushed the main of 1 and took a fair chunk of it and was then pushed back to my bases. I held there for ~10 mins but in the end my economy was not all that strong (had a heap of gas i didn't need :s) and there was too much coming at me.

replay if interested: http://www.sc2sea.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=388

The shaking also was not as bad as it could have been given me being alone with 2 hards (which i feel is ~ >= a real person kinda nerves for me).

[Highlander]

I used to shake really badly whenever I was laddering and still do sometimes.

I really agree with a lot of the advice posted above.

A little trick I used in addition was to create a ritual that would help me to be calm, focus and feel ready.

I clear my desk, align my play area, make sure the missus doesn't need anything, get my ideal nighttime beverage (mocha in winter, water/mojito in summer) and so on.

It helps me to not only relax, but helps to make the overall experience a little more special and fun.

(This doesn't solve the issue, but getting your own ritual that works for you might help just a little.)

[rezyn8]

It used to make me feel sick if I contemplated going on the ladder, and that was before I even fired up SC2 on the PC!

But, as a lot of people here have stated, win or lose, it doesn't matter. Just ensure you are learning and are having fun.

You do need to go into a game with a plan however. EG: When I push I want Stim/Conc and 2 tanks, expand when I push, transition depending on the push result. In other words find a build order that suits your play - work on it so that you can pull it off without thinking - this will instil confidence in your own abilities and play.

I also listen to music in the background (not too loud!) to help calm me. I recommend the the TRON Legacy soundtrack - a lot of calming tracks but also some to help get you fired up.

On the learning side of things. I review my losses to find out what I did wrong and what my opponent did right (also helps with casting ) and I keep track of what I do in a spreadsheet with various notes on builds etc.

We are all students of the game. Laddering is like Uni exams, if you have studied and are confident of the subject you will blitz it - if not then of course you are going to feel feel nervous and anxious!

[Geekpeek]

It's just love of the game. We want to show off our skills and that turns into performance anxiety. Some other members suggested ways to control the anxiety. I'm sure you can, but I believe they'll always be there in the background somewhere.

And that's just love of the game man.

[Zanderax]

The nerves are what make the game fun for me. When I'm having a really intense match I get shaky too and the adrenaline starts pumping and it's just the best fun you can have. But if you don't like them then try a sedative or just remember that if you lose someone else wins or if you win someone else loses

[jobmercy]

Im still going through this as well. I kinda have the same feeling as grubby. I want pretty records, I hate to see my match history full of skulls, and I get frustrated when I lose, then end up losing some more because the feeling of frustration, stupidity and anxiety with anger stays there..What I usually do to get back in control is to just let go of anything in your mind and just play the game the best way you know. I usually play during weekends, co'z it's less stressful for me, and I can concentrate more. pop in some favorite tunes while playing. I have a headset and an earphone on all at the same time to keep out noise. And to get out of frustration, I play SF as my other game..Killing someone virtually is good for your shakes and fears. Rep points if you agree on this! LOL..have a great time laddering and don't mind die'ng..even pros die horribly in game..and we're not pros yet..

[TcaTX]

Ive had this problem and I still continue to have it. The way I make it go away is to stop focusing on winning, just play a group of 5 games or so, then take a break, then play some more. Just focus on improving and as you get into the groove the nerves will disappear.

[VB_HpK]

As most of the people above me had stated, music! Use Grooveshark/ iTunes or something. And take a little break in between games no matter if you win or not. This is for you to chill down. But yeah i got nerves when i started laddering too. It should be gone when you are used to laddering a lot!

[ToRsupapower]

well, this may help and may not (also may make me sound obnoxious, which helps me in a way if you see) basically when i join a game i think to myself, "damn, what a scrub i'll beat this guy anyday" and if it loose that game its, "wtf how did i loose to this scrub? better keep playing" but sometimes i go on some bad tilt and donate my points until a win a game and then i can safely turn my pc off, because if i log onto starcraft 2 to ladder it has to be off a win or i feel nervous i will be demoted.

[ToRsupapower]

Originally Posted by dannnyds

Wow it really did (kinda). Decided to play a 2vAI with a mate against 2 hard ai's while listening to CCR fairly loud. They pushed us twice and we held off while expanding but after my mate lost his expo he left me T_T. But i kept going to see how far i could get taking on 2 hard ai's on my own. I expanded again and pushed the main of 1 and took a fair chunk of it and was then pushed back to my bases. I held there for ~10 mins but in the end my economy was not all that strong (had a heap of gas i didn't need :s) and there was too much coming at me.

replay if interested: http://www.sc2sea.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=388

The shaking also was not as bad as it could have been given me being alone with 2 hards (which i feel is ~ >= a real person kinda nerves for me).

Your post, is great :P i love when people just go out, no matter what their league is and just say, " i tryed and i'm wanting to better" it's one of the things that make me feel good inside to see the love people put into this game and i'd like to help as much i can too

[myk777]

I think everyone of us has went through this kind of process. Searching for a ladder match hearing the 3-2-1 sound and loading screen, makes almost everyone of us a little iffy and uncomplacent.

I have some of my share in this as well. As I play more games these things happen less. But then to some point I did some tweaking and changes in my playing environment so as far as for me not to get nervous in anyway. I listen to my favorite anime music / kpop or jpop. I turn on the online radio and just listen while playing. Sometimes I even sing along.

I also play in my mind that I'm playing a game for enjoyment. I want to win but if I lose it's ok as long as I did my best in my good efforts. I try to strive my best when it comes to strategies. I also don't look much at the Favored or Slightly Favored. This is not an indication of skill but more or less an indication of how far apart is your league from his.

Even if I lose, I always say I'll win next time. This is my mindset whenever I click on the ladder button. I'm sure pro-gamers have also experienced this in the past.
Just be calm every game.

Before each game think of what you want to do and employ the strategy. For example I want to build banshees and harass and then expand to macro. Employ that strategy as best as you can and when for example he harasses or 4gates or rushes you, try to make adjustments. But stay always calm and listen to good music while playing. Just enjoy and even the stress will become enjoyable in the end.

[Malik]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindful...8psychology%29

i found mindfullness and other meditation techniques to be helpfull i was scepticaall when some first suggested it but once i tried it i really helped me wind down. Not just playing starcraft but when doing other things in general.,

[tutsicockroach]

imo the more you play the more this sort of fear will go away. sadly, the only way to gain more confidence is to actually play, which is what you are scared of in the first place.

playing custom games don't help either, there is a huge difference when something is at stake. i usually feel a bit nervous during my first game of the day but after that i feel a lot more comfortable. i guess the only advice i can give is to keep playing and get used to laddering. playing some relaxing music might help too (what i usually do).

[i8noodles]

when i play i cant feel my fingers most of the time, and i swear they will fall off if i tugged on them a lil bit, but then a cup of hot tea/water kinda heaps and a blanket =) just dont drink when there is a major battle happening happened to me once....it..wasnt...pretty for me or my brave zealots ><

[Hamachi]

I feel the same way as the OP. I think the best thing you can do is grind out a lot of games. Atleast I hope!

[bswhunter]

Get slightly buzzed and play rap.
Really loud

Srs thou, I find that room temp affects my playing alot. I find I play best at pretty low temps, so I try to keep the room pretty cool while playing.
So if theres a tempature that you find your mind works better at, try playing with that temp around.

Also, get good at macro. I feel fairly safe going into late game cuz i can rely on having an abundance of larva to turn into stuff.

[Aean(:]

Originally Posted by i8noodles

when i play i cant feel my fingers most of the time, and i swear they will fall off if i tugged on them a lil bit, but then a cup of hot tea/water kinda heaps and a blanket =) just dont drink when there is a major battle happening happened to me once....it..wasnt...pretty for me or my brave zealots ><

I dont know how you manage to have a drink mid-game - -

[PapaSmurf]

Good tips guys. Think best of all though is just too keep playing games. Now time to put this into practice

[Langford]

if you are shaking you should probably stop playing naked
i know this might seem strange or unique but being cold can cause the body to shake
the body does this to warm itself due to the friction of the muscles
i'm sure the distracting shaking that your body is uncontrollably doing is causing your build orders to falter
i would suggest wearing clothes, or perhaps a jumper. although playing naked in summer is a nice feeling, i wouldn't suggest to carry over to the colder seasons - (late autumn / winter)

Quick Comments

Zanderax:

The thing I really needed to hear :D

[Maynarde]

Originally Posted by Langford

if you are shaking you should probably stop playing naked
i know this might seem strange or unique but being cold can cause the body to shake
the body does this to warm itself due to the friction of the muscles
i'm sure the distracting shaking that your body is uncontrollably doing is causing your build orders to falter
i would suggest wearing clothes, or perhaps a jumper. although playing naked in summer is a nice feeling, i wouldn't suggest to carry over to the colder seasons - (late autumn / winter)

Sacrilege.

Playing naked is every Starcraft gamer's right, I would suggest a better idea is to get heating. It's not very expensive for a portable solution, you can even get central heating (if you can afford it).