Does anyone else feel warm when playing intense game of chess?
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Pulse rate going up.
I actually feel calmer
Oct 21, 2021
0
#4
It’s been observed for many years. Some people’s heart rate goes up and beats rapidly in tense chess moments, and many people get high blood pressure. This is especially bad when the player is an older person who is physically unfit. Basically an old fat ass who doesn’t exercise.
In the past many chess players who were already unhealthy to begin with also smoked heavily which made things even worse if they chose to and spent many hours at the chess board. There are cases of people dying from heart attacks during chess.
Mostly it’s not from “thinking hard” or using your brain to solve. It’s more from anxiety that is rooted in the nervous system. It’s different for different people. Some may be getting intense fear from thinking they are losing, or knowing they lost. Some are afraid of the after game perception of shame. Others may actually be afraid because someone will berate them for losing. Yet others may be getting an adrenaline rush before making any move exactly because of this fear from knowing that this may be either a very bad or a very good move. Who cares.
The important thing is that chess anxiety is very real and it can lead to negative effects on overall health so I think anybody who plays chess should consciously make effort to reduce their anxiety. If you have less anxiety it’s better for your health and for your chess game outcomes.
It can be done by various methods which usually are the same methods to reduce normal daily anxiety. You can use rationalization to remind yourself the same thing you heard before which is that chess is just a game. Remind yourself that you should enjoy chess. That it’s about the process and not the outcome. That it has has no effect on reality and it doesn’t represent reality, so it is not making sense to let it affect your mood.
Counting numbers backward. Take any random restively large number you feel comfortable with. For example number 700. Then subtract 7 in your mind and then keep subtracting 7 until you reach 0. Helps a lot.
Deep breathing.
Imagery not related to chess.
Whatever
In the past many chess players who were already unhealthy to begin with also smoked heavily which made things even worse if they chose to and spent many hours at the chess board. There are cases of people dying from heart attacks during chess.
Mostly it’s not from “thinking hard” or using your brain to solve. It’s more from anxiety that is rooted in the nervous system. It’s different for different people. Some may be getting intense fear from thinking they are losing, or knowing they lost. Some are afraid of the after game perception of shame. Others may actually be afraid because someone will berate them for losing. Yet others may be getting an adrenaline rush before making any move exactly because of this fear from knowing that this may be either a very bad or a very good move. Who cares.
The important thing is that chess anxiety is very real and it can lead to negative effects on overall health so I think anybody who plays chess should consciously make effort to reduce their anxiety. If you have less anxiety it’s better for your health and for your chess game outcomes.
It can be done by various methods which usually are the same methods to reduce normal daily anxiety. You can use rationalization to remind yourself the same thing you heard before which is that chess is just a game. Remind yourself that you should enjoy chess. That it’s about the process and not the outcome. That it has has no effect on reality and it doesn’t represent reality, so it is not making sense to let it affect your mood.
Counting numbers backward. Take any random restively large number you feel comfortable with. For example number 700. Then subtract 7 in your mind and then keep subtracting 7 until you reach 0. Helps a lot.
Deep breathing.
Imagery not related to chess.
Whatever
Doesn't happen when on games where I'm way ahead or behind. But during intense matches, in the middle game when its really competitive there's tons of tactics going on and concentration is at peak, suddenly I'll feel quite flush with warmth and have to drop the AC down a couple of notches. Is that an odd reaction? Normal?