How to get over anxiety for losing while playing ranked?

[FakeSympathy]

So I made it to level 10. I consider myself to be a decent healer, mining Jeff (he's safe to play, sue me) and Mantis.

This is the first pvp game I've ever played in a very long time. Most of my online buddies are already at plat/diamond because they always get together to play. Time doesn't allow me to join them too often.

I can of course try to climb on my own, but I just can't bring myself to press "comepetive" and hit the play button; I am flooded back with all the negative emotions on why i stopped pvp games in the first place. And it's not just the toxicity, as that's given in any competitive environment.

As the title suggests, I start having a bad time when I go on a losing streak. One to two losses in a row? I can handle, and reflect on what I can do better. But around 3-4 times in a row is when I enter a real bad mood. I start getting angry and everyone in the lobby, I get angry at myself, and all ideas of comebacks are lost to me and I began to throw. Even when my team wins, I don't feel any sense of happiness; just bitterness and exhaustion, and quite frankly, a waste of time. I mean who is supposed to be happy with a 1/4 or 1/5 win?

This has been a case for every pvp games I've played.

The best solution was to find people to play with, but because everyone I know is already way ahead of me I don't think they can queue up with me. Even if they can, there's also the matter of finding time to play with them. They are just gonna rank up on their own again, and I will be left behind. And I can't exactly ask them to wait for me.

The other solution would be to keep playing casual mode, but then I don't think nobody really wants to play objective here. Everyone seems to prioritize getting kills over moving payload or defending the point. Experimenting with different characters is totally fine, but I feel it should be about learning to play objectively better, not getting kills.

I am at a loss here. I love the game, but I am stuck between risking anxiety attacks vs playing without much purpose

[FallenActual]

Honestly this probably just isn't the game for competitive as its free to play and uses EOMM to rig your matches to keep you 'engaged' to buy skins

[76561199815116436]

just play the game and queue and u get desensitized to people flaming you and stuff

[Flame006]

i just got into ranked a few days ago and so far it seems that there are plenty of people that don't have the slightest clue of what they are doing especially in low ranks. just make sure you are just doing your job well and making good plays. normally it helps for me to just know i was doing my job well and that our loss wasn't because of me. solo queuing ranked can be very frustrating and there is no shame in taking a break or doing something else if you aren't having fun.

[SuperBeasto]

You serious with getting anxiety? Lmao.

It’s not a big deal just virtual points, just play ranked like it’s nothing stop stressing. All I play is ranked rarely touch QM

[HappyDroplets]

I mean, I could understand caring if you were really high ranked, but if you just want the seasonal skins, the games are basically the same as quickplay. You don't have anything to really lose when you play comp, if you get gold once, you get those rewards, so even if you drop down to a lower rank, its irrelevant. Just enjoy it. Worst case, you never hit a rank of gold or above.

[zghaun]

just play for him bro

[Reisack]

The purpose of every game til this day, is to HAVE FUN. If you are stressing out for it, its not the right game genre for you.

[Isaac]

It's always weird to me when people pose a question, get a lot of replies and then never respond/come back.

[Pachislot Rockman Ability]

this advice only applies to people just pushing to touch Gold for the free MK skin, but just remember you gain way more points when you win than you lose on a loss. You're only human and you're doing your best, don't sweat if you don't win. It's just life.

people might get mad in chat but just ignore and/or report them as appropriate. It's just a game, and on some level it's on them if they've waited until tonight to do ranked.

[the legendary neuts]

Same way you get over any other type of anxiety - exposure.

Acknowledge the anxiety, explain to yourself why it's an irrational fear, and jump into ranked. Don't ever surrender to the feeling or it'll just get stronger. You want to jump into ranked and feel anxious about it? You have to jump in or the anxiety will just get stronger.

[Humanimalientity]

I turned off chat and voice chat and hit gold solo, filling pretty much every game. If you're worried about winning, watch some guides about how the game works and some about your character. I don't think you need chat ever, and probably don't need voice until diamond+
Just learn how to win games and play to have fun

[Shubni]

There are only 2 rules important:

1. No matter if you loose or win, you could have played better, there is room for improvement, it doesnt mean you played bad, but it wasnt perfect and you can improve. SO ask yourself after every match, where were the mistakes and be aware of them. This way you will improve over time (watch good players and how they do it helps to)
2. IGNORE your Rank. Completly erase wether you won or lost points form your mind, its irrelevant. Relevant is to become better and reduce your mistakes (see point 1). If you disconnect yourself from your rank as a measurement of your succes and focus only on your gameplay itself, your rank will increase without you noticing it alsmost magically and you will not stress out over it.

With regards to other people opinions. If constructive advice comes your way, you will notice that it is ment well. If its just a bozo venting, ignore it completly. My experience from HOTS is that the person complaining the loudest and most toxic in chat is the weakest player in the team. proffessionals dont do that, they see that its on their shoulders and get to work. The opinion of other human beings does not matter unless it is in good faith and constructive.

[JanKenKaipo]

The best way to think about it is as a learning experience. You will win and you will lose. Theres nothing you can do about it except try to improve every time you play. Its really not that serious but i completely understand your anxiety, I used to feel the same way for other ranked games. Most likely, you are not the only one feeling anxious in the lobby. If you are afraid of people criticizing your gameplay then I recommend you turn off at least voice chat but sometimes its good to listen to criticism even if its toxic. When you do lose, dont think about the loss, think about what you and your team could have done better and why you lost in the first place. I find this the best way to calm down and think instead of being overwhelmed by emotions

[LegPuller]

If you think positively, then you are positive. Just don't get sidetracked, or lose focus.

Try and win the game, don't get frustrated in the heat of the moment. If a game is a point control, and you lost one, get ready to win the next. Motivate yourself and send something in chat to the team.

If you lose, just think about what went wrong. If it wasn't your fault, don't get hung up on the frustration. Bad teammates happen to everyone, every once in a while. Just continue trying to play your best. If you feel like you did something wrong, just think about how you could of done better, and try and move forward with it in your next game. If you pushed to far and died a lot, try and play more passive. If you are low elims while the rest of your team and enemy have a bunch, position better to try and get a kill (flank or play someone else).

Generally just don't get hung up on the losses. Just try and learn from the games and improve. You'll see progress.

[crusher]

This annoyed me back then in LOL, I just ignored everyone joining a game (just played Quickmatches, not ranked). If there is a possibility in this game then turn off chat and voice. Its the only real solution, just focus on your gameplay. Discussions often usually dont lead to anything anyways. YOu will miss out some calls but as support just stick with your team.