anxiety/stress

Do many chess players have anxiety??

Only when my opponent has three queens coming down on me.

But what if you have 4?

Yeah, I do. I take Xanax.

She said anxiety, not suicidal.

does chess relieve or increase anxiety? 

Depends on what bothers you.  Snotty remarks and inept blunders as opposed to "What are they putting in our food sources nowadays?"

sunlight. same as forever. 

stalk much?

I think if you're down a game and come back strongly to finish 2-1, the adrenaline rush is actually good for stress. Post the rush, you feel really calm.

If you are looking at chess for stress and anxiety relief, you should play chess puzzles rather than games, online or OTB. Playing through master level games, can be another source of enjoyment.

I find that when I feel good and I have a healthy mindset, I most often then not play better. All 3 aspects of one's makeup: Mind/Body/Soul - individually affect the other 2.

Have you tried chess boxing?

I play chess to relax.....really calms me down  LOL

Note to self: have him play ex-wife.

I think that many chess players, especially those so passionate as to almost incessantly study the nuances of the game, have a certain neurosis about playing to a certain standard. I myself struggle to relax during some games, as I often see the game and its result as a logical extension of my time and efforts put studying it. Of course, many others think this to be ludicrous and simply play for the fun of it. I'd rather belong to the latter category, but some days my nerves get the better of me.