Se If you’re a gamer, you’ve probably thought about trying to turn pro at one time or another. This was the reality for many current professionals, who turned their hobbies into a career within a multibillion-dollar industry. However, while the world of esports is full of enthusiasm and fans, it is not without its challenges – especially in the mental health department. That’s why in this article we’re going to take a look at the top mental health issues faced by professional esports athletes, along with some ways to improve the situation.
What is a professional player?
Professional gamers are esports athletes who compete in gaming tournaments and other competitive environments. These players often specialize in a specific title – such as Fortnite, League of Legends or CS:GO – honing their skills to compete at the highest level. While professional gaming used to be a niche endeavor, today there are countless events around the world where players and teams compete to win multi-million dollar prizes.
Speaking of which, if you’re trying to become a professional gamer, you might be looking for a way to get ahead of the competition. If you like League of Legends, you can buy LoL accounts to start competing with the best of the best.
The challenges of professional gaming
The high-stress environment
Competitive gaming is stressful, just like any sport. But while this stress can be exhilarating in a casual setting, in a professional setting it can quickly turn into an intense behemoth that players have to constantly fight against.
Due to players’ many responsibilities, such as training, maintaining rankings, and playing in tournaments with fans and prize money at stake, stress is an everyday reality for esports professionals. Because of this, one of the most common mental health problems – at least one that is openly discussed – is burnout. And burnout not only has immediate impacts on mental health, it can also lead to long-term consequences.
Isolation and Loneliness
We’ve already mentioned the pressure placed on esports athletes to train and perform; this leads to long hours practicing alone or in a team. This can often lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness due to players’ professional demands and goals, causing them to sacrifice their external social lives. Because of this, some professional players have reported difficulties establishing and maintaining healthy relationships outside of their professional environment.
Performance anxiety
It’s game day in a knockout tournament. Either you win or risk your career.
Needless to say, this situation is extremely stressful. Professionals not only want to progress in their careers, but also meet the expectations of their fans and teammates. This stress leads many professionals to develop performance anxiety, which can manifest itself in a range of physical symptoms, from sweating and shaking to nausea.
Online trolling and harassment
While much of the stress of professional gaming comes from the games themselves, some stressors come from the community. It’s no secret that the gaming community can be brutal at times, and professional gamers sometimes face the worst forms of online harassment and trolling. Consistent exposure to toxic behavior online, or even within the game they are training for, can have a major impact on professionals’ mental health.
Of course, most players are positive and supportive of their favorite pros, but there are few who can do real damage.
Lack of structure and support
One of the most fundamental problems with mental health stressors from professional gaming comes from the lack of structure and support given to professionals. Outside of the gaming community, many will view professional gamers as simply lucky people who can indulge in their carefree hobby all day; which means that many people outside of the gaming world may not initially support the challenges that professionals face.
That said, in recent years, the mental health challenges surrounding professional gaming have become more well-known, with a number of esports organizations, initiatives and tournaments providing specialized support to professional gamers.
Facing Mental Health Challenges:
As we can see, professional players can face a range of mental health challenges on a daily basis. Fortunately, there are many ways that we as professionals, family, friends, and a gaming community can help ease the burden of professional gaming. Here are some main ways:
Mental health support services
At an industry level, it is vital that sporting institutions begin to incorporate mental health support services into their training, tournaments and regulations. Fortunately, we are already starting to see this happen in many places.
Advocacy and Education
One of the best ways to help fight these mental health struggles is to raise awareness by educating yourself and others while advocating for better support across the gaming industry.
Players Associations
Just like in any industry, it’s important for professional gamers to have a platform for their voices to be heard. Gamer associations have begun to emerge across the gaming industry, which help solve various industry-wide issues, giving a collective voice to the personal struggle of many. Creating and supporting player associations is one of the best ways to help.
As the esports industry continues to grow and evolve, it is vital that players’ mental health remains a top priority. While progress is being made across the industry, it’s up to everyone within it – whether you’re a professional gamer, a fan or a family member – to help bring better mental health awareness, understanding and support to professional gamers who need it. After all, this is an industry based on overcoming challenges and, well, having fun. So let’s make sure we can all keep doing both.
