Scared while playing, angry when losing, and having nightmares.

When I play chess I often feel the same as if I'm being physically threatened. It often makes me feel jittery and anxious, and sometimes my heart starts beating fast.

How can I get over this feeling of being physically attacked? I know it's really not me being attacked, but on some level my mind doesn't recognized the difference between my pieces being hurt and me personally being hurt.

Also, whenever I lose I get angry. Once when I lost an online game, I threw a plastic cup against the wall and overturned a wooden chair. My mom came in and asked "what was that noise?" and I shouted "Leave me alone!" I feel like I'm gradually getting better with my anger, but what is the angriest you have ever gotten after losing?

Finally, the worst games are the ones where I'm winning, and then make a very stupid blunder and give the game away. I have done this twice, and those are the games that haunt me and I think about them at night as I fall asleep, and have had several nightmares about chess. I had one last night, where there were giant pawns in my neighbors garage. In the spaces between the pawns were cars, but no one could get in or out.

I have become a better player since I've been playing a lot this year, but I'm wondering if it's worth the stress.

 No, it's not worth it. Chess is a game, it's meant to be fun and give you enjoyment. 

 I suspect your issues are not entirely chess related, talking with someone you trust is always helpful, or  so I find.

Maybe you should consider another pastime, such as stamp collecting?

Quite the opposite here: when I win, I'm surprised...

I assure you, when you look at the world like that, it will be a nicer place. And guess what, the earth keeps turning... no matter what.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough 

Probably a troll, he registered yesterday to wrote only this post lol. Obvious troll.

We need a stamp collecting thread.

i disagree with most people here. i think that emotions are okay. besides, having that kind of obsession will help you become a better player.

one note of caution though. in chess, material never counts. so if your physically threatened means that you will try and hang on to every pawn, then often your king will come under a vicious attack. try and learn to sacrifice material for initiative and an attack and you will find that you will become better. even if you lose the game, you will have played well. if you can do this, both your rage and fear will be under control.

Thanks pdve.

I don't. I need a drink. Are you buying?

Assuming you're not a troll, I'd say growing up would be a good solution.

All of my money is tied up in stamps.

I think you should lose few (maybe more) games on purpose.

You don't reveal your age on your profile page but I'm guessing you're a teenager?  Everything is more intense at that age so strong emotions when you win or lose are perfectly natural & they'll settle down as you mature.

Having nightmares however is a little more worrying & suggests you're taking your games way too seriously. Chess can become addictive & it's possible to obsess about games if you're not careful - it's just about getting the balance in your life right. Don't let the game take you over!

I came back to the game last year after a very long absence (40 years or so) & one game in particular bothered me. I'd find myself waking up in the early hours of the morning going over & over the same move when I was in a losing position. When that starts happening, you know things have gone too far & the balance isn't right.

Ever considered playing Vote Chess?  It's a sociable way of playing without most of the stress that goes with solitary games because you're a member of a team. Also a great way of learning from stronger players. The majority of games I play now are VC & I don't have any more sleepless nights!

Eat a cheeseburger after midnight.

keep playing and you will see you age gonna used to it

Eat lots of chocolates. No, trust me. Really. 

And I'm not joking at all. 

+1 for emotions (One shouldn't take losses casually if he wants to get better at chess.)

Except for the part with the cup thrown into the wall and yelling at mom. That's something else, it has nothing to do with chess, actually... 

Try to remember when you lose that you have more to learn from a game you lost than from a game you won. If you want to get better at chess, find the highest-rated player you can and play them as much as you can. In Go (another strategy board game) they say to lose your first 50 games as quickly as possible [to get better]. 

I like the vote chess idea posted above too--great idea.