Twitch Guide: How to Not Lose Your Mind
I wanted to begin this Twitch Guide with a joke about how every caster will remember their first “Not Like This” moment. The sad thing is, I’m not really sure that all of us would. It’s all too common of an occurrence for casters to throw their face into their hands and wonder if what we’re doing is worth it. You feel that way enough times and it becomes the norm, not a funny memory that you can laugh about. This isn’t a guide about remembering those inevitable breakdowns, it’s about defending against them.
First and foremost, mental health concerns have the (unfortunate) potential to extend to everyone. Even having gone through them myself, I’m not an expert and it goes without saying that if professional help is available, don’t shy away from it. For many, this time of year can provide some really tough and lonely moments. Beyond everything else, remember that you’re not the only one.
“You’re playing video games for money. What do you have to be sad about?”
Let’s first address the elephant in the room: there will be people who simply do not understand the complications of streaming. They’ll never see the difficulties, the effort or the will that goes into making a successful cast happen. That’s okay, they don’t need to. We’re not here to appease the people who don’t appreciate what we do. It may seem like simplified advice, but ignore the people who don’t care about your mental health as best you can. In context to you, they don’t matter. They never will.
With that being said, it’s still a thought I (and other streamers) will deal with from time to time. Video games are fun, and the potential to make money from playing them – something that very few casters ever actually achieve – seems like a flashy prospect. It’s not that it isn’t cool, it is, it’s just that there are adversities that come with it, one of which is dealing with more mental health issues than a more typical profession. Why is that, exactly?
Don’t Go Alone
For one, you spend an awful lot of time alone and sitting down. The time you’ll inevitably have with your audience provides a sense of social interaction that can be dangerous. Yes, the interaction can be rewarding and fulfilling, and it should be. That being said, it does not, in any way, replace having “real-life” engagement with others. One of the hardest truths to embrace about streaming is that it doesn’t fulfill those same basic human needs that hanging out with friends or family might have.
Again, this isn’t to say that you can’t make friends and real relationships on Twitch. You absolutely can, and they can be meaningful. When I describe the relationship I have with a lot of my closer friends that I’ve met on Twitch, I liken it to having a pen-pal. It’s similar in a lot of ways, including the fact that most of your interaction won’t be face to face. It’s important to have a support system outside of Twitch, because for most of us, it can’t serve as a replacement for all of the wonderful things that can happen outside of a computer screen. This leads me to my next point: take some time off now and again.
Take Some Time Off
It’s so easy to treat Twitch and the success you have with it as a fragile item that must be handled with care. I’ve talked in the past about how important consistency is, and while that’s true, there’s nothing more important than your own mental health. Trust me, unless you’re a really good actor, your viewers will notice if things aren’t going well upstairs. This can lead to bad streams and inconsistency on its own, which can do permanent damage to your stream and brand. Instead, if you ever catch yourself feeling burned out, take a week. Take two. Your viewers will understand, and sometimes they can use a break themselves.
Most importantly, make sure to prioritize interaction with your support system. It doesn’t have to be every day, but it’s easy to leave the rest of the world behind when your focus and energy is on your channel. One thing that every successful caster will tell you is that, if your head isn’t in the game, no cast at all is much better than having a bad one.
Get Perspective
One of the best things you can do as a caster is remind yourself that it’s the few, not the majority, who make it big on Twitch. If you don’t believe me, check out any big game (League of Legends, PUBG, Dota 2) and scroll down. It isn’t long until you start hitting streamers with single-digit viewer numbers. After that, it’s nearly impossible to hit the bottom. When you finally do, however, you’ll see that just about half of everyone is streaming to an empty room. Streaming is tough. Not just for you, but for everyone who takes a shot at it.
Remind yourself of this when things get difficult.
Lots of 3’s
Look for Signs
The best way to prevent a “Not Like This” moment from happening is to beat it to the punch. If you find yourself particularly drained after a stream (or worse yet, during one), consider that casting is a lot like rolling down a hill. Once things get rolling, for better or for worse, it’s really hard to stop. This is the point where you should be taking on the aforementioned advice. In a best-case scenario, you want to stop these things before they happen, not after.
Some things that are typically warning signs that a “Not Like This” moment may be on its way include: frustration over success, a lack of energy during streams, getting upset over things that wouldn’t normally upset you, and a long period of time (i.e. two or more days) without social interaction. If you catch any of the above things starting to happen, acknowledge the problem before you lose your mind.
It’s Your Happiness, Not Your Viewers
Some of the most common advice you’ll get as a streamer is to just “be yourself”, but there’s also a counter argument that seems to be more evident as of late: in order to have success, you need to be someone more interesting, dynamic and entertaining. While I’m sure there’s some truth to that, let me assure you of something. Under no circumstances, and I mean zero, is the entertainment of your viewers more important than your mental health. If you can put on a front or act that is entertaining that you enjoy? More power to you. If you’re anything like me, then you might find that a constant act is more than exhausting.
Above all else, make sure to take care of yourself. The fall and winter serve as some of the worst times for mental health issues to spike. Enjoy your channel and all of the joy it brings, but don’t be afraid to take a step back now and again. This is about you, not everyone else.
Every other Wednesday, Ben releases a “Twitch Guide” on Epilogue Gaming. If you enjoy his work, you can follow him at @BengermanPlays or on www.Twitch.TV/Bengerman10. To support Epilogue Gaming, check out our Patreon page and consider a $1 pledge.
