I guess the only way that it's going to change when playing poker is to reduce anxiety and stress off the table, which is pretty difficult for me to say the least. I guess there are no easy fixes or shortcuts for this problem? I'm also pretty terrible at making decisions under stress. I'd hate to quit poker as its the only thing I've been above average in my life, but I also don't want to be this weak tight player who lets their emotions control their decisions.

If you deal with anxiety issues in your everyday life it's almost guaranteed to show up when playing poker! There's no easy fix but there's lots of stuff that helps, all the generic advice actually helps if you commit to it - eat well, exercise etc.

Poker throws a lot of negative mindset stuff at you through variance. Try to focus on positive aspects, things you can control. If you're always trying to improve, always thinking about how you can do better (and recognising when you do things well) - it can help balance out all the negativity.

A lot of people have success learning meditation/mindfulness. Sounds like hippy nonsense at first but it does work - there's a popular app called Headspace that's very good (there's a subscription fee but the first 10 days are free).

try playing shorter sessions and setting anxiety goals. track your progress and see if it's an animal you can control.

talking to yourself and rhythmic breathing exercises are accepted practices for reducing acute onsets of anxiety. closing your eyes and taking breaks, and getting fresh air are worthwhile too. maybe wearing ear plugs or listening to ambient music could help as well.

don't beat yourself up too much if it's not going well. poker is an extremely tough game, and high level play isn't for everyone.

all good advice from other posters.

do you typically have anxiety when doing other activities as well, or is it just amplified around poker? If outside of the table then focus on that and let poker be your bubble of sorts away from that stuff (one of the real reasons why I play so much, it's a great way to just focus on strategy and let the rest of the world go silent for a few hours); if anxiety is sourced from the table then factor in what is driving it - concerns about losing money? maybe looking foolish with your play?

Either way, breathing helps and find little times to get up from the table and walk around to use some of that pent up energy. dont drink alcohol or a lot of caffeine (or tobacco) while playing either.

BOL OP

It really helps that as you process your anxiety that you process the mechanics of each street of poker that you play. This is the best way I have found to "combat tilt". If the math does not match the play that you made, then you can start to chalk it up to "tilt", "inexperience", and other reasons, but first and foremost the math is what is important, and actually thinking about the math will stop you from allowing the anxiety and other problems getting to you. An MP3 player to foster ambience along with some ice water and a sandwich can certainly help, but it is no substitute for a solid foundation for poker practice. The more you are prepared, the less anxiety you will experience.

The best way to be prepared is, imho, to buy David Skalansky's Fundamental Theorem of Poker, and a current poker book related to the game you intend to play, and perhaps a book on tells by Zachary Elwood.

I do believe in no limit Texas Hold'em it is OKAY to have one drink, and only one drink, so you have the "courage" to bluff at the proper frequency in situations, because it can be unnerving to put it all-in wo anything. But, it is far better to have the solid foundation rather than having a drink. You also can easily find yourself in a situation where you foster bad habits, so if you do drink, be disciplined in that.

Jog 30 mins per day and go see a therapist to get to the cause.

Or just listen to Jared Tendler's podcasts, they're amazing!

Sun Tzu — It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.

Do you have anxiety because you aren't properly bankrolled?

Well I have a lot of anxiety in my life in general, a lot stemming from social anxiety. I didn't use to be like this at the poker table, I would throw money around and was much more aggressive even though I consider myself a far better player today. I also played more back then so perhaps it's just a lack of being comfortable at the table or fear of losing money, even though I play stakes low enough that losing doesn't hurt me financially. Anyway, I clearly have a lot of work to do on and off the tables. Thank you everyone for the good advice.

How's your diet? Make sure you're getting plenty of fruit and vegetables, juicing vegetables once a day and steering clear of processed foods will help immensely.

Supplement with vitamin C and niacin (the flush type), also get a good b-complex (look for the most natural one you can find).

Have a beer with friends occasionally if that's your thing, but don't get drunk!! Stop smoking weed and avoid all stimulants! Especially energy drinks and sodas.

Do the things you're scared of.

Exercise.

First, of course, I would say that maybe you should play lower levels because maybe that is the reason. You are playing out of your bank or you are not prepared for it yet.

Music will also while you are helping, in my case sports are also a good choice to reduce it in my daily live.

Exercise works for me, and other outlets such as computer programming, and playing other games. Increasing stake level definitely adds to anxiety. Learning how to handle stress is important here. Sometimes that means to play lower.

Seems like need be more aggressive when playing

If you are weak tight then just start adding odd bluff

And bet out when checked to even multi way be surprised how often get folds

Play like a bit is a bore and get read like a book

You could try keeping sessions very short at first, and gradually increasing length as you feel more comfortable. Good luck!

Op so is seems like you should have titled the op Severe anxiety instead of Severe anxiety when playing.

this is from reading your original post

but then after reading your second post where you say

so perhaps it's just a lack of being comfortable at the table or fear of losing money, even though I play stakes low enough that losing doesn't hurt me financially


This does't sort of make sense op because you basically say..

that the stakes are low enough that losing doesn't hurt me financially but in the same sentence you said "or fear of losing money".

My point is if your scared to lose money then drop stakes and play for fun just to get the confidence back.

If it has nothing to do with loosing money then its simply nothing to do with poker but off table anxiety brought to the table.

I remember taking a friend to play line poker once for the first time, he was a mess sweating, dropping the chips when putting chips in you name it, i sat next to him after seeing him like this (i was playing a different table) and he was playing smallest stakes money wasn't the issue, and after sitting next to him i whispered to him something like, geez man take it easy on the table just to make him laugh and he did, he went from super stressed to calm, his he wasn't dropping chips when putting them in, stumbling with the cards etc anymore, he loosened up and was having fun. Anyway hope this helps.