April
12, 2018
Managing Cosplay Stress
Indicators
of Stress
While
packing for Saboten Con 2016 something very odd happened to me. I started to
run out of breath, my hands began to shake and all of the sudden I could not
stand. After giving myself a moment to relax and chill out I realized
something: I had an anxiety attack induced by Cosplay. Cosplay was actually
STRESSING me out.
Stress
can sneak up on a person. For some, it causes sweating or overeating; for
others it can literally bring them to their knees. Recognizing the onset of
stress before it consumes you is QUITE difficult. As a millennial, I was born
into stress. I have lived with stress my entire life. I thought it was normal
for your hands to shake on occasion or for your breath to catch due to
exacerbation. The world around me changed so often that I thought running about
until I literally collapsed was how society wanted me to operate.
The
same thing can happen in cosplay. As creative persons (be they performers,
sewing masters or fabricators) we struggle to balance the insatiable call of
the arts with our adult responsibilities. This balance puts us in a precarious
position . Do we conform to societal ideals and put "childish
notions" to bed? Should we shun society and move forward in our
imaginative realm, damning the consequences? What ARE those consequences? Can
we be a cosplayer AND an industry/enterprise professional?
What...IF....HOW...CAN...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
TAKE
A BREATH, MOVE FORWARD
The
best advice I can offer those who feel the weight of expectations on them is
this: SIT DOWN, TAKE A BREATH and MOVE FORWARD.
Who
is setting those expectations for you? Usually you will find your own demands
are higher than you can accept. Take measure of your life and consider what you
can accommodate. If you have committed to something you cannot handle then do
one of the following...
- Ask for help: Bringing a friend
along makes hard tasks easier.
- Ask for an extension: Most
people understand stress and are willing to make concessions.
- Cancel: It's human to falter so
don't be hard on yourself when you have to step back from a commitment. DO
try to find a replacement cosplayer or redirect your customer to someone
who offers the same services and has availability. This will prevent
inadvertently burning important social bridges.
As
you grow and change you'll discover you can bear the weight of more
responsibility. This is usually the effect of becoming more efficient, skilled
and having a better grasp on time management strategies.
Ways
to Relieve Stress
- Prepare: Being prepared for your task will make it that much
easier. Creating a list or agenda helps soothe concerns.
- Eat Healthy - Have Snacks: Feeding yourself is important. Be sure to have
wholesome snacks on you to survive your day.
- Listen to Music: Tunes have a way of easing even the most anxious of
people. Listen to jazz, classical or rock out your worries.
- Step Away from Technology: Go outside for an hour, relax in a bath, go for a
swim or play with your pets. Just disconnect.
- Words of Affirmation: Remind yourself of past successes and use those to
launch you into another.
Good
luck to ALL of you and happy creating! NOTE: Please feel free to ask questions
or put comments on your experiences below.
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