Correlation between environment and event source of stress?

Awhile back I posted about my martial arts gym that built me up for a year to be promoted, then the day of promotions they elevated all of my friends and left me out...only to tell me try again next year.

during that time I was working out there under the pressure of feeling that I had to please the instructors somehow some way- the idea that if I worked hard enough, performed well enough I would progress through the system like everyone else. I did that for about 5 years. I enjoyed the training, i was just not going anywhere.
Eventually the pressure became a complex ; If i didnt win competitions then it would validate the reason that the people above me dont value my input. I would regress and withdraw OR i would have anxiety so strong that I would have other sick symptoms appear (usually bronchitius). I felt so anxious that I would self sabotage why i couldnt even watch my friends at events. As If I would be exposed as to not being good enough or something

I have since changed my surroundings, joined a new training team and made new friends. everyone is very supportive and encouraging. After 6 months the gym decided i was over due and promoted me and it felt amazing. I feel now that i want to give myself permission to fail and actually learn without any pressure.

my question is: is it possible that the negative perception that I felt the older team / instructors had about me create a complex that was the root of my anxiety to compete? within a competition , someone has to lose. Instead of looking for a good time at an event, i was possibly looking for approval; which leads to anxiety ?

I'm just trying to sort this out so I can never ever feel like that again