Help! I have gaming anxiety!?

Question

I'm 14 and I play on my brother's PS3. So, I obviously play his games. I'm getting an Xbox 360 on my birthday (Not ONE cuz it's too expensive) and I'm gonna buy Xbox versions of the games I like playing on my brother's PS3. The thing is, I actually stopped playing on his PS3 months ago because I got anxiety. When I was playing Skyrim, I was in Bleak Falls Barrow. I thought I was just scared or something because it was "dark and scary", so I turned the perspective to 3rd person and kept playing and turned down the volume a bit. I kinda do this thing where I go into this mode where I'm the character so it seems real to me until I stop playing. Then, I got lost. I started panicking and shaking and I threw the controler at my brother (LOL don't worry, he caught it and got me out of the place). I felt so stupid! I knew if I tried harder I would've gotten myself out there. Anyways, after that, I didn't give up right away though. I just didn't go back to the barrow. I did some other thing,

Update:

Like kill these foster children's "mother". I forgot what they called her, but they cheered when they saw her dead. Lol. I went into mild gaming mode. I can't play gory or scary fighting games anymore because I would stop anyways because of my anxiety. I need help cuz I can't take it anymore! My parents are doing something nice for me and I'm not even gonna be able to play because of my anxiety. I need to have techniques when I'm playing a game. I wanna be able to play what my brother plays without being all shaky and scared. Anyone know any techniques?!?!

? · Accepted Answer

You're mentally focusing on the wrong things when you're gaming.

In high stress situations involving task/problem solving, the key success is to focus only on the TASK AT HAND, not the "extras" thrown in to distract you, which are exactly what they are; distractions meant to keep you from completing your task in the game. If you  can blind yourself to everything else but the puzzle, it makes it a lot easier.

Sounds in-game can also add to the effects of stress, or are just plain distractions. 
Start by turning the music off (I always do anyway), and in scarier places, turn the volume down or off so all you're exposed to is the video. You'll find that the audio heightens your awareness and anxiety, and that's what it's intention is.

Remember also that you're NOT in a real-life situation, but if you can overcome this, it will help you down the road when your in a situation where you need to focus on getting out of it, and not panicking. That's the difference between success and failure, or sometimes living and dying, depending on the circumstances. One problem is that at your age, you've likely never been in a life-threatening situation, or if you have been, you've got unresolved issues that you need to address.

Years ago (and often today) people ask me how I could deal with being a submarine sailor, being in essentially an underwater coffin for weeks and months at a time, where any mistake can get you killed. The answer is easy: you just don't think about it. You focus on the job, task, or casualty (e.g., fire) at hand, and don't worry about the small $hit, like the everyday possibility of dying a nasty death. It's the same way with anyone in land-based combat; you just don't think about it or you can't do your job.

My point is that if you can learn to focus only on how to solve the problem, beat the boss, or do what it takes to get to the next level, you'll find that you won't think about anything else, and it'll be a lot easier to deal with.

Anonymous · Answer

Dude! Its fine, all you are is i guess you can call it "Gaming sensitivity"? You aren't desensitised (Sensitive to scariness) and plus, remember ALOT of games nowadays are really life like, so yes it can scare people... so dont worry dude :)

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Help! I have gaming anxiety!?

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