How do you calm down after a frustrating session?

Just like the topic says. We've all had days where nothing that we do goes right for us while gaming. Can't get past an area in a single player game, or can't seem to do well in Call of Duty, its all the same. What do you do to calm down?

I stop playing and boot up something else, or just go do something else for a while then re-approach it. BAM.

Play dark souls

Watch porn.

Nah, I'm kidding.

I kill myself.

Stop playing. Come back later.

Hang out with friends, play a different game, or watch some starcraft livestreams.

Listen to a podcast and zone out

No matter how hot I get while playing a game I find it fades pretty instantly upon shutting it off.

I just think about all the real stuff I have to stress about and it takes my mind right off the video game

I write mean things about it.

awkwardly tape my controller to the freezer then verbally abuse my cat until I pass out

It's real hard, and I imagine it is for many other people too - because I only get really annoyed at a frustrating session if things are already wrong, and I'm trying to play games to calm down.

Otherwise, games don't really frustrate me, but when there's other shit going down, the inconsequential fun that's meant to cheer you up becoming frustrating can be the straw that pisses me off. To calm down I'll sometimes change game, or stop and watch something, or go for a walk, depends.

Play another game, or just keep playing the frustrating game, I guess. Don't really get frustrated at games much. Mildly annoyed, maybe.

This. And:

This.

Have I ever been tensed while playing a game? Certainly, if there were no close calls then gameplay would be boring. That's part of why I really like Nocturne and Etrian Odyssey. But real-life stress that doesn't go away is something completely different. Any stress I feel from a game is relieved by either doing something else or playing a different game.

do the splits and then scream into a vase

push my wife then eat a spider

Drown some kittens.

Excessive violence

I find hard exercise works the absolute best.

but everything that works for me involves taking a break. Usually leaving the room is a minimum.

I usually go do something else for a while. Maybe chill out with a snack or read some stuff online, even just going and doing dishes or something while listening to music or podcasts. Then when I go back to it later. I usually am successful on the first try after just leaving it alone for a bit. Luckily, as I get older I find that kind of stuff bothers me less and less. Life's too short to let a game mess with my mind. Also, I've realized that there is no shame in bumping down the difficulty if its really causing that much frustration.

I have a different kind of session

Smoke a cigarette. I like to calm down by raising my heart rate. It works pretty damn well.

Never give up. Never surrender. Never back down. I play to win.

But for real, I go to play a different game or something.

watch anime....

Change the game or stop and go jogging or something healthy.

Drop the difficulty, or uninstall.

If its an interesting puzzle, that is one thing. But just frustration? No reason to put up with that.

Beat a hooker.

#1reasonwhy

I stop playing and do something else, because it's a video game and I don't really get invested. The exception is when I play fighting games and get destroyed, I get really unreasonably pissed. Which is why I don't play fighting games online anymore.

You humans and your emotions.

timidly knock over the jenga tower then pour grape juice on something i love

Insult people on the internet.

I find the best way is to make a comeback and beat it the section that frustrates you or have a good game if we are talking multiplayer.

But when that isn't happening, I just play something else, or take a short break and get some fresh air and then I'm right back in it.

point at the sky then pee myself in chilling silence

The fact that the online portions of those fighting games have been taken over by people who seem to have been playing them non-stop since they were 8 is why I can't play fighting games anymore. It sucks that there doesn't seem to be a mode for people who are just 'okay' at fighting games to play with one another.

The only couple of times I've ever gotten extremely mad at a video game is that "Luigi's Purple Coins" star in Super Mario Galaxy, which I still maintain is fucking impossible to get, and the online mode of Street Fighter IV, because it's simply unfair. When I feel myself starting to get frustrated, I just turn the game off and do something else. Not worth getting mad over. Also, doing something else and coming back to the game often times will be all you need to get past a really frustrating part.

Except for that Luigi star. Fuck that star.

Put down the controller/take my hands off the keyboard and mouse and just walk away.

Lose a lot at Starcraft -> Play more Starcraft, likely continue losing -> repeat until tired

I don't get frustrated otherwise. Most modern single player games are quite easy.

If I get annoyed at anything I work out. I am starting to be Brucie-like, but without the Bull Shark testosterone. Working out takes out all my frustrations and makes me feel great. I look way better too now. I actually look muscular now.

I stop and go do something else. I'll go for a walk, get some food or something.

You're not an asshole Walter, you're just wrong! I smoke too but I went from 3 packs a week to one, and the more I work out the less I find myself grabbing a cigarette.. I now smoke almost exclusively after a meal, after a tough workout (just one cig), or when I drink myself to sleep occasionally.

Not telling you what to do or anything, but smoking is really bad man, you should try and make fetching a cigarette a rarity :)

Two words: whiskey and whiskey.

Or I just compile a list of all the reasons why the game is being frustrating, and then laugh at myself later after I get past whatever it was that was pissing me off.

Then I have some whiskey.

Positive or negative energy, it's energy all the same. At least when I work out. Since I work out every day, I've no problem putting my frustrations and anger to good use.

Go to a video game forum and post about it.

When I get angry trying to do something in a video game I try it again and again until I fucking do it! Then I allow my self to calm down.

punch dance my emotions then throw the worst birthday party i can

Work... Out?

This concept is foreign to me.

It's a boot-up... of your muscular and vascular systems. It's the pinch of salt, that makes any good day just a little bit better.

I shut the game off and think about why I get frustrated. If I come to the conclusion that the game is being cheap or unfair, I usually don't come back. For some reason, I kept coming back to Resident Evil 6 until I'd finished Leon's campaign.

I agresively mastabate

If I'm playing a game where I know I can lose my temper easily if things go badly then I'll listen to ASMR videos in the backround while I'm playing. Super relaxing.