Former pro gamer (NRG, Andbox, COL, Envy) | Transitioning into psychology to support gamers’ mindset & well-being
Toronto, Ontario
Joined July 2015
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Hey guys. I recently graduated with my psychology degree, and now figuring out the next step.
I’m interested in coaching CS2/VALORANT and combining my competitive experience with my Psychology degree to work in player development, performance, communication, and mental skills.
I’m also exploring graduate-level programs where I could continue developing my psychology/behavioural knowledge while staying involved in esports.
If you’re a coach, esports organization, or university/college program interested in chatting about potential coaching, player-development, or graduate-study opportunities, I’d love to connect.
My mission is to bring non-violent communication by marshall rosenberg to esports. I think it will help a lot of people and create psychological safety for many.
I play cs
"wow it's android, I used to watch you. so cool!"
I play val
"dude you sound so old gtfo off the game you're washed just quit.. no wonder you're an ex pro *laughs historically*"
So important and overlooked. I never figured out my digestive issues as I was told I have IBS, so I was convinced I couldn't do anything about it (I fixed it years after my career ended).
Changing your diet is especially difficult when you're struggling with anxiety / depression, so the cycle feeds into itself.
Need to put our energy into the right things. While I was reading sport psych books over and over wondering how to fix my mood and negative thinking - I should've been fixing my gut health before anything. Big mistake.
Great post, Edward!
The biggest performance optimization miss in esports isn’t recovery, hydration, or macronutrients.
It’s overlooking gut health.
Many organizations unknowingly provide consumables that work against cognitive performance, emotional regulation, stress resilience, and recovery by disrupting the gut–brain axis. No blame to them per se, it’s a reflection of how little this science is taught / known by the community.
I rarely begin by “treating the mind.” I begin by supporting the biology that shapes the mind. Mental health is both psychological and physiological, making gut health one of the most overlooked bottom-up interventions in (esports) performance.
If this sounds controversial, spend time with the literature on the gut microbiome, neuroimmunology, psychobiotics, and HPA-axis regulation. The evidence has grown substantially over the past two decades and has already influenced sports nutrition and dietetics in traditional athletics.
The gut is called “the second brain” because ~500 million neurons in the intestinal lining signal the brain.
If you want to change your thoughts, improve your gut health. ✌️💚
The secret isn’t being nicer.
It’s seeing that behind every “toxic” teammate is a person in pain, badly trying to meet a need to matter, to feel in control, to not feel worthless.
Decode the message. Protect your own mental. Mute if you need to.
You can’t be baited by a message you understand.
I hope some of it helped. Take care of your mental health.
9. Insta-requeue on tilt
Looks like: loses a rough one, instantly queues again, playing angry.
The message: “I need to fix this feeling NOW.” Trying to outrun a bad feeling instead of settling it.
The tilt rides straight into the next game. They bring previous emotions your current game.
8. Self-flame (“I’m trash”)
Looks like: “I’m so bad,” “I ruin every game,” constant apologizing.
The message: shame talking — and often a quiet bid to be reassured, or to hit themselves before you can.
It’s not humility, it’s wrecking their play. a little warmth / reassurance goes a long way
7. Excuses (lag, team, meta)
Looks like: “my ping,” “my team,” “I’d be higher if…” the loss is always external.
The message: “if it’s not me, then I’m still good.” A shield over the fear that they’re the problem.
Attack the excuse and the shield clamps tighter. Leave it.
6. Backseating / over-coaching
Looks like: telling everyone what to do, spam-pinging, harsh “advice.”
The message: “if I steer everyone, maybe I can stop the loss.” Anxiety about the outcome, trying to control the uncontrollable (other people).
Take the useful info, drop the tone. Don’t make it a power fight.
5. “gg go next” (giving up early)
Looks like: checks out after first blood, “this is over,” round 3.
The message: “if I already gave up, the loss can’t disappoint me.” Pre-emptive grief — quitting before the game can quit on them.
Not lazy. Scared to hope. Comebacks need one person who didn’t quit. Be that person.
4. Flaming / blaming you
Looks like: “you’re trash,” “report mid,” it’s everyone’s fault but theirs.
The message: pain looking for somewhere to land. Blaming you is easier than “I feel helpless and scared this is on me too.”
It’s not a verdict on you. It’s them hurting.
3. “?” spam / rage-bait
Looks like: sarcastic pings, “?” after your death, “gg” at round 3.
The message: “if I can make you react, I still have SOME effect on this game.” It’s powerlessness fishing for control.
The bait only works if you bite.
2. Going silent
Looks like: mutes team, no comms, disappears mid-game.
The message: “if I don’t engage, I can’t make it worse / get hurt.” A need for safety, or protecting you from their own tilt.
Often the healthiest thing they’ve got. Give them space.