So I have been trying to learn widow for some time now, and other than positioning and game sense and aim, there’s one thing I’m having tons of trouble with and it’s keeping calm. I’ve had quite a few people asking me why I am in silver when I’m popping off in widow FFA, but when I walk into comp or quickplay, i start to freak out like crazy for some reason. I’ve had people tell me “oh it’s just a game” and “just keep playing” and other things like “you’ll get used to it” and none of that works. Music will distract me, so I know that wont work. I already know how to aim and everything, I just cant keep myself together. I’m not trying to be arrogant but if I didn’t have such a problem, instead of being in silver, I’d probably be in at least diamond. Can anyone give me tips on how to keep calm in competitive games so I dont mess up?
I have this same problem IRL crazy, crazy, crazy OCD. I’m terrified and worried most of the day. But it’s just kind of like background sound, I just let it be there and do my thing.
My advice would be to queue up for comp as though you aren’t anxious at all, and then let your play and the outcome be what they will. If you lose you lose, if you go down a tier so be it Once you get over this, which you will, it will be easy to climb back up.
Pretend you’ve already lost the game
Shift your focus from being results oriented to process oriented. The result is not what is important. The process is what’s important. By focusing on the process, results will take care of themselves.
This is the reason why a lot of people feel stress in comp but not in QP. Since they care about the result in comp but not in QP. But in effect, they are the exact same thing. The only difference is when they play QP they are focusing on the process, but when they play comp they are focusing on the result.
But I also get nervous in QP
Best advice I can give is to purposefully try and make yourself anxious as much as possible. It can create a reverse psychology effect that will calm you down.
If you are ok in FFA and not QP or Comp it’s sounds like you have performance anxiety regarding your team mates. In FFA you are only letting yourself down if you don’t perform but in the other modes you have team mates you can let down. You would have to work on that specifically in order to get past it. If you can’t the a game revolving around tight teamwork might not be a good game for you.
Don’t main winston if you are confident in your aim, play widowmaker and carry. If you get countered by Winston pick Hanzo and keep carrying. This is a teamgame but in Silver there is no teamwork, teammates only happen to do the same thing unintentional.
Hey! I just realized you’re someone I’ve met in those widow customs and added you too. I guess I’m also one of the people who’s said just keep playing, and it still holds. It’s truly a huge grind, even if it means 100 hours of widow on quickplay alone until she becomes natural enough to you. Don’t listen to anyone actually getting mad in qp if you dont do well, the whole point is that you’re doing it so eventually you will do better. If someone goes as far as reporting you for going widow in qp, then they’re being ridiculous and you got nothing to worry about, I’ve never heard of blizzard punishing someone for anything but hacking or harassing others in qp. From there, start playing her in comp on hybrid/payload maps whenever you get the chance to dps, and then swap off whenever you start missing toooo many shots . Don’t wait until the last 30 sec to swap either though
Tip, if you were a 3k player with anxiety, you would be a 2.5k player.
Game Sense > Aim
I felt it when i was a Genji beginner, and even in my Muay Thai sparrings at the beginning. You are feeling this because you think the team is expecting from you and will blame you if you play bad, don’t you?
Well, everytime when i ulted as Genji i used to have a heart attack, but then, with practice i do not feel this anymore.
1- Do what Jacqui said, this is precious : Do not focus on the result, but in the process. Do what you know that must be done, but without the hurry to have success.
2- You have to pretend you do not care if you lose, but this does not mean you have to be reckless.
3- Eventually you will play bad and you have to accept it, it is normal. Watch pro players playing as widow and failing, you will see my point.
Identify the earliest physiological component of the freak-out. Is it something you say inside your head, like “omg?” Is it a flinch, a quick breath, widened eyes, sitting up straighter?
Next, identify the physiology of a calm and effective player. What do you say in your head? What’s your breathing like? How’s your posture? What is your eye path around the screen?
Next, develop a habit that involves all the right things. If you freak out in a target-rich environment, then have a practiced mantra and pattern ready for that. Something like: “When there are many targets, aim for the closest one,” or “Always aim for the healer first.”
When you know what you do at the start of the freak-out, and you know your process for maximum efficacy, then associate one with the other. “When I feel like I’m freaked-out and I take a quick breath, I need to…” then go through your process or progression. It won’t take long to turn this into a habit.
Everytime you die or lose a fight,try to look over the kill cam and find where you did wrong.My advice is to stop tilting and blaming your teammates, and instead keep a close eye on your own gameplay and your own mistakes and try to see where you can improve (try to look over you kill cam and to think how u could avoid this happen)
There’s a lot of great advice on this thread, please take it to heart.
My first recommendation is to begin a daily 20-minute meditation practice. The skills that you learn from silent, seated meditation will teach you more about how your mind and body operate. With this increased awareness, you will be better able to identify bubbling negative emotions and flow past them.
My second recommendation is to practice good posture and breathing techniques. Don’t laze on the couch, slouch, or be in an uncomfortable position. Sit up straight and comfortably or stand without locking your knees. Breathe with depth. Breathe with measure. Breathe with calmness.
My First Sergeant used to tell me “Always remember your Three-C’s: Calm, Cool, & Collected.”