# how to enjoy sports sans ulcer! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 14, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531 "2012-01-14T21:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/1 "2012-01-14T21:26:51Z")
Packers fan here but I get so nervous the weekend of the big game I really don’t enjoy it and cant wait for the season to be over! Help me! I know its just a game but ive somehow gotten so wrapped up in the teams success or failure that I’m miserable. Plz help me distance myself a bit and get some proper perspective. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/2 "2012-01-14T21:31:38Z")
Do you watch by yourself or with a group of friends? At home or out somewhere? One or both of the latter could ease your anxiety as you have something to occupy yourself with besides just the game. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/3 "2012-01-14T21:48:17Z")
24 hours after the last game of the season, your life will be exactly the same, win or lose. Remember that. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/4 "2012-01-14T22:52:23Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Packers fan here but I get so nervous the weekend of the big game I really don’t enjoy it and cant wait for the season to be over! Don’t worry…you only have about 27 hours of stress left. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/5 "2012-01-14T23:25:20Z")
Thanks all. Never had this problem this severe before. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/6 "2012-01-15T19:40:04Z")
Packers fan here, too. I used to get worked up about the games, and still do yell at the TV a little bit when the Packers make bad plays, but I’m nowhere near as bad I as used to be. About a decade ago, I realized that getting that worked up just decreased my enjoyment of watching sports. I made a vow to myself: I will not allow my self-worth, or sanity, to be defined by the vagaries of a professional sports team. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/7 "2012-01-15T20:01:59Z")
I watch games that matter to me on mute and have something else going at the same time (book, iPhone game, or whatever). I’ve found that announcer commentary tends to get me way more worked up than just watching the action on its own merits. It’s better to just deal with your own reaction rather than getting hyped up by some idiot announcer yelling “THIS IS THE WORST THING EVER!” when maybe you didn’t feel that way. The side activity gives a diversion in case something bad happens. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/8 "2012-01-16T03:12:16Z")
It’s only a game… And you’re not even the one playing it. That puts it all into perspective. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/9 "2012-01-16T13:09:19Z")
I’m a mediocre Packer fan to begin with. If they have a bad season or game, I just don’t watch. You may name me fair weather fan, but I don’t think that is quite it. So I feel a little bad, but it is just a game, and now my weekends are free, and if I watch the superbowl it will be just for the commercials. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/10 "2012-01-16T13:51:24Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > I’m a mediocre Packer fan to begin with. If they have a bad season or game, I just don’t watch. You may name me fair weather fan, but I don’t think that is quite it. > > So I feel a little bad, but it is just a game, and now my weekends are free, and if I watch the superbowl it will be just for the commercials. > > Brian I’m more stunned than upset. I’ll get over it by end of day today. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/11 "2012-01-16T15:46:29Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > I’m more stunned than upset. I’ll get over it by end of day today. I’m over it. I’ve had a stream of co-workers (Bears fans, the lot of them 😉 ) coming into my office today to offer condolences. “Ehhh, it’s OK, I’m already beyond it.” ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-enjoy-sports-sans-ulcer/609531/12 "2012-01-16T16:51:45Z")
Dude. It’s just a game. Get worked up over something that actually matters.