Controlling your Rage in CS:GO

It is the beginning of Round 6 on Cache. You make a plan to try to get an advantage on the same opponent who always seems to instantly headshot you. You start to make your way toward Mid and position yourself right behind headshot box peeking Mid Garage. A couple seconds pass by and you decide to leave your position and peek toward Mid Boost – “DINK.” You blankly stare at the screen as your dead body slowly slides down a spool.

Your hands start to tremble uncontrollably. Your breathing becomes increasingly shallow and short. And your blood boils furiously. You just can’t control it anymore.

I know we've all been there at some point of our gaming career.

Here are some tips on how to control your rage.

Tips for Outside of a Match

- Always warm up before a game. Too many times I join a game just to hear people say, “This is my first game of the day so sorry if I suck.” It's understandle to just dive right into a game of matchmaking, but it's better to play a couple games of Arms Race or Deathmatch to freshen up.

- Expect to play poorly even if you feel confident. Try not to overestimate your ability to play well especially if you are solo queuing. You never know who you will play against, nor will a two minute warm-up determine how well or not an opponent will play.

- Try not to take the game too seriously. Don’t get me wrong, hopping into a matchmaking game with the fullest intent on winning and increasing your rank is a great way to motivate yourself to play at your best, but, it could truly cause more stress and pressure on you and your teammates.

- Rid yourself of any anxiety. Before you play, make sure you are in a good environment and healthy mindset. Be sure that you’ve had enough sleep, food, and hydration before you start playing.

- Take a break. More often than not, players continually exhaust themselves by playing for hours and hours without taking a breather.  Being hungry and exhausted is just asking for your inner rage to come out. So, please, have a snack. Use the restroom. Do anything, as long as it takes yourself out of the chair and eyes away from the computer screen for a couple minutes.

Tips for During a Match

- Be supportive of your teammates. Often times, being on a team with a couple of bad players who aren't supportive is frustrating. I understand that its tempting to yell and scream, but it's best to be supportive and back them up with kind words. Scolding them for making bad plays will most likely make them feel apathetic to you and the rest of your teammates.

- Switch roles/positions with another teammate. When I play, I usually try to play the same positions (ie. Mid, Long, Cat) on every map because there is a sense of familiarity, but sometimes those positions do not work for every match. It is best to talk to one of your teammates and ask if you could switch roles with them. It gives yourself a change of pace and it provides a clean slate for new and refreshing tactics. This same tip goes for weapons that you may be used to. Not feeling the AK? Try the Awp or the Scout (SSG 08, Sorry 1.6 player here). Hell, why not even the P90?

- Take it slow. Anxiety to perform well, fast, and smooth will sometimes bite you back. Sure, it could be used as a motivational factor, but it is good to take it a step back and use that extra time to analyze certain situations. Pace yourself so you do not get flustered and overwhelmed.

- Always keep in mind that you are playing for fun. This is as simple as it gets. Have fun with the game and have fun with your teammates. After all, as cliché as this gets, winning isn’t everything.