KUALA LUMPUR – As esports is on the rise all over the world and in Malaysia, many overlook the fact that those competing on the highest level face issues similar to those conventional athletes face.
Although gaming athletes may not endure the same physical stress, they can still be subject to vigorous amounts of mental fatigue, which can lead to poor mental health.
Speaking during a webinar on the topic of mental health among esports, psychiatric expert from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Dr Zul Azlin Razali said most esports athletes are prone to facing gaming disorder.
“Once they are engrossed in their gaming habits, it can lead them to disassociate with their surroundings.
“They may not be in control of how frequent they are gaming or training, not knowing when to stop, and will eventually prioritise gaming over other things in their life,” he said.
He compared esports athletes to regular athletes, saying even though physical athletes go through training and exercises, they still put other things in life ahead and find the right balance.
“It is important to maintain a healthy balance of social interactions and self-care.
“Merely focusing on gaming can eventually lead to other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.”
Zul said esports athletes tend to lose sleep, have unstable moods, and lose interest in other aspects of life due to being glued to their screens.
“They can become burned out by the constant gaming. It can be stressful as you are trying to become the best.
“This can also lead to them finding unhealthy coping methods such as substance abuse,” he added.
To overcome these issues, he advised that esports athletes take inspiration from other world-class athletes.
It is crucial that they maintain a healthy diet, get proper sleep, and balance work and life to keep themselves performing at the highest level.
“They need to trust the process. If you want to be a serious athlete, you need to have good habits that can help elevate you to that level.
“Find healthier methods to overcome issues. Having a good emotional and social support system around them is a good step, maybe even meditation and physical exercise can help,” he said. – The Vibes, June 22, 2022
