Playing Stronger Opponents

They say that playing weaker players hurts your game, and I agree. I'll play weaker players, then get overconfident and actually loose, not because of skill on their part, but overconfidence and carelessness on my part. Only after playing weaker opponents on a regulard basis will I ever fall for the 3 move checkmate attacks.

But, can playing stronger opponents also hurt your game? Currently, I am in several open tournaments where I am playing people rated 1600 and above. I am taking defeat after defeat and my rating has plummetted. I enjoyed it at first, but now it's waxing old to the point that every time I pull up a game, I am anticipating that I am in a loosing position, and it actually takes some time studying the board to realize that's not true.

So, the self-esteem issues aside, can prolonged exposure to stronger opponents be as detrimental to a player's skill development as prolonged exposure to weaker players?

playing chess hurts me

Playing stronger players is beneficial if you analyze the games and learn from your mistakes.

Okay, you've lost to a ton of higher rated players? NOW you have a great Statistical Sample to review. Discover Why you lose. Also, WHEN you lose. 

I sampled my otb tournament games years ago, & discovered I made more errors on Move 18 than any other move, except ones right before Time Control. (Being in habitual time troubles.) Interestingly, it did not matter what opening i was using, that was the weakest move regardless, and moves 18-22 the most dangerous for me to err. So I circle that move on my scoresheet to remind me it will get extra time and care.

Helped a lot. Incidentally, it also revealed to me that I would usually be unhappy with the game until moves 12 thru 16, the range where I would begin to gain advantage; and Happiness with my Game. Give it a try and you might be surprised.

Imo You are on the right track to realize Chess games are not Won ... they are Lost. All Chess games are draws until someone capitalizes on weak or losing moves; then a win can happen. A FM friend/Trainer i know says, "Make them beat you, but if you Make Good moves they cannot". Ratings don't matter; good moves do.