Anxiety and a baseball game
Hey, it’s Juls!
Last nights 5-4 loss to the Angels inspired this post, but most close games usually are the cause of this.
As someone who constantly struggles with anxiety, baseball games may not be the best source for it but it’s baseball and I’d do anything to enjoy a game. Every game is a different outcome for both the players and for myself. Some games are cool, and others. . Not so much.
Last nights game was definitely one of those. When it comes to anxiety, there is different ways it effects everyone. For me the 9th inning caused an endless hand shaking and chest tightness in a “I’m freaking out type of way”. Every out, and every run made it worse the more the inning went on. I tried recording a potential walkoff on my phone, but the video was too shaky to keep trying to do so. When Kiké finally got a hit, I breathed a sigh of relief, this game was almost over. Unfortunately I was right, for the wrong reasons. Bellinger got thrown out, and I truly felt like I was going to cry. Not because of the loss, but because the amount of anxiety build up I had felt was just too much.
I had to remind myself to breathe, and that at the end of the day this wasn’t an outcome that was going to harm me. Most close games can feel this way, especially ones where we are coming from behind. Whether it’s a regular season game or the post season. One thing that will never change is the difference between watching the game at the stadium versus watching at home. Something about watching the game in person adds another layer of stress. Maybe it’s the atmosphere, or maybe it’s being physically there. I just hope I’m not the only one that feels this way.
At the end of the day, mental health is very important. Get yourself to go do things you LOVE to do. For me, it’s going to watch the Dodgers play. Every game has a different outcome but every game is worth going through it with my anxiety. Just know you are not alone in whatever you struggle with, and don’t be afraid to keep on doing what you love.
Also close games are amazing to live through because BASEBALL, but super stressful.
Till next time,
Juls
I know how you feel. I have really bad anxiety. I was so anxious that I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking and I wasn’t even at the game! At the ballpark when a game is like last nights. I usually get the feeling like I want to vomit(I never do). I hate to bring this game up but it’s the worst my anxiety has ever been during a Dodgers game. It was Game 5 of the 2017 World Series. Watching them go up and then lose the lead and then take the lead back and then lose it in the 10th. It was the worst!
Sorry I took so long to respond. Sorry to hear you deal with anxiety too. It’s definitely not easy and close games make it sooo much worse to deal with. I always tell myself why do I put myself through it, but I just love baseball to much to stop.
Thank you for sharing your experience with anxiety. Why would you put yourself through that if a baseball game makes it worse?
Honestly, I just love the sport so much. It’s worth putting my anxiety through to go to a game. There’s no other feeling.