[Thrasher]

If you can just find a practice partner and go from there.

[Demosthenes]

The solution is NOT drunken laddering. I speak from an experienced perspective...

[Seffy]

Finding practice partners isn't so hard for me since I'm always in a clan channel, but I'm more observant. So I probably should go practice partner it, thanks for reminding me that such an option is available!

Demosthenes, how be this drunken laddering experience? :P I've not had alcohol for six months now so it is very unlikely I will be drink laddering.

Quick Comments

	mGGNemesis:	lol he's just giving u caution against that :P
	Akilos:	drunk laddering works...except...you won't remember a thing unless you're drunk again.

[FvRelimzkE]

learn some all-ins and just use those until the anxiety is shaken off
works for me :P

[terranmilf]

seems to me there is circle problem here

too worried about game - not play gamee often

not do well when do play because not play often

confi dence comes fromm experience

[Zakattack]

Originally Posted by mGGTitan

Keep in mind that your skill level is something that exists outside of the battlenet ranking system. The important part is that if you keep playing, your skill level won't decrease just because you lose a few ladder points. You're not becoming worse, you're just having a bad day or playing some really good players.

It also helps to be honest with yourself. If you go on a massive win streak, you will eventually play people better than you and you will eventually lose. It's pretty much a fact. Accept it and play on. It's the only way you will improve and it doesn't do you any good to get anxious about petty ladder points.

that happend to me and was quite humbling really

[FS.Kezz]

The following are things I do to successfully get myself into laddering. They might not be compatible with you and your life (time availability/priorities) but there's no harm in sharing!

I took inspiration from DeMusliM's blogs that he started doing on his Facebook fan page (https://www.facebook.com/DeMusliMUK) and set a couple of guidelines to get the most from my time. I set 2 x 3 hour blocks each day in which I play with tiny breaks in them, and a big break in between. In the first 3 hours I play on NA server, and I use the first 3-5 of these games to get warmed up get my brain and hands into the zone. For the 2nd block I ladder on SEA and really focus on making every single game as solid as I can, making sure my macro, scouting, and overall gameplan are pushing to the limit.

For each day that I do this, I get 6 hours of solid practice in, where I am totally focused and playing good quality games. This equates from anywhere between 20 and 30 games, but I make sure I've played at least 10 on the server in each chunk of 3 hours. Some days I push it further than 10, and some I am content to rest after 10, but I know that every game I play is helping me improve. It also sounds a little bit cheesy, but when I do this 'intense' laddering I feel like I'm attuning myself to become a professional gamer. Even if Platinum League is as far as I ever make it in SC2, I get enjoyment from playing because I feel like I'm living/practising like a pro!

I have only just started this routine because I'm on holidays from Uni, don't work, and so have most days entirely free. I spent a couple of weeks doing idle internet surfing and playing other games, and found that when I thought about playing StarCraft 2 I just 'didn't feel like it'. I changed my sleep schedule to allow 8 hours solid sleep every night, waking up at 6 AM, so that I wouldn't be mentally tired/lethargic every time I felt like playing.

[Seffy]

Just an update:

I have started to ladder; slowly because I've barely been able to get some time in to play the past couple of days. It's going nicely I'd say; I'm less nervous, and my confidence is building up. I've started the habit of just not looking at anything in the quick match menu but the match up selection, race selection and the "find match" button, and not giving a crap about whatever's on the right side. I have done improvements in my game as well; I try to play aggressive whenever I can (before I was extremely passive and always just attack once for the whole game) and sometimes do an all-in regardless of the result.

I used to listen to music with lyrics; mainly K-Pop lol. But it's starting to work against my favour so I changed my music habits while in-game and now I've been listening to instrumentals/game soundtracks and it's definitely working for me.

I've been playing team matches in tandem with laddering though whenever I get a session of SC2 going. Attended a 2v2 casual tournament that Flamga hosted earlier tonight and Flamga and I ended up in second place. I've gained more confidence through this as well, as I saw how I can do better with my macro and micro.

Still got a lot in progress, but I think it's a good start.
No matter if I win or lose, I'll keep playing, because if I keep my practice then the only way I'll go is up - that's the mindset I've put myself in to and remind myself that everyday.

@Kezz thanks for that advice, that's really good! Having a set time frame will allow me to just have some time of the day playing the game and improving, and then the rest to spend time on whatever else I can be doing and also making sure I get enough sleep. ..I've been really lacking sleep so setting up to have these time blocks are an awesome idea!

Quick Comments

mGGNemesis:

:D

[FS.Kezz]

Originally Posted by SecretJieun

@Kezz thanks for that advice, that's really good! Having a set time frame will allow me to just have some time of the day playing the game and improving, and then the rest to spend time on whatever else I can be doing and also making sure I get enough sleep. ..I've been really lacking sleep so setting up to have these time blocks are an awesome idea!

You're most welcome, great to hear you're working your way back into playing without fearing the game! Keep us updated on how you're going.

Quick Comments

Seffy:

Yeah :) sure thing mate, will keep you posted!

[ZachFreeman]

I am not worrying on getting better any more, and I play when I want to. With this mindset, I have played more ladder this season than any other entire season. Who cares if you get cheesed / lose a long macro game where you make huge mistakes / get bmd. its all just pixels and someone at the end of another computer monitor at end of the day. I really don't understand how I used to have some form of anxiety for ladder before this season.