Taking a break

bdawg31 · #1 04-11-06, 03:56 PM

If i were to take off this long - there is no way i could visit this site, watch it on tv, etc. That would give me the itch to jump back in - i would read about someone on a hot streak, see stories of hand histories vs bad players, or find any of a dozen other reasons to talk myself into playing again.

If i am taking a weekend off, i can still watch it on tv, read this site, etc. But, i know if i were to take off a month or so - i would have to totally distance myself from it.

Talking Poker · #2 04-11-06, 09:21 PM

Some people have more will power than that.

In all honesty, it sounds like you may be on the edge of that whole "gambling problem" category, based on what you just said.

GTDawg · #3 04-11-06, 09:45 PM

You know, I was thinking about this the other day.

I get an itch to play when I watch it on TV. Also, talking about it a lot on here or with other people, and I like to open up a table and screw around for a little bit.

I found that after work or doing HW or studying a long time for a test, that spending a few hours thinking about poker relaxes me. Can't explain it, but it takes my mind off of all the serious and sometimes bad things in my life and I can just think about how to play the next hand. It's very soothing to me...except when I get KK on the button and run in to dreaded J9 soooooted

Then, I realized that I sounded like an alcoholic that gets drunk after a hard day (or everyday) to take his mind off of life.

"I'm not addicted, I just like to use it to relax and get my mind off of things. I don't have a problem. Shutup"

But, after looking at it for a little bit to see if there really is a problem...I see that it doesn't affect my life. I mean, just looking at the last month, there have been two/three times that I've gone several days or even an entire week (not gonna be inside during Spring Break in Florida) without poker.

I'm not throwing away all my money. I'm not losing and losing and losing and then burning money away trying to win it all back. Losing money one night (although frustrating) doesn't affect my social life or the next day at school.

And, most importantly, I haven't started putting poker before other things in my life. I'm not staying home from school to play poker all day. I haven't skipped work to play a tournament because I JUST HAD TO! I have not just completely ignored my HW to play that one more SNG.

I have a hobby that exercises my mind and I enjoy playing.

hmm...I guess I rambled a little bit.

In conclusion, class, I understand bdawg from the perspective of getting that itch to play if I watch or talk about it. But, I'm pretty confident that I don't have a poker/gambling addiction.

PShabi · #4 04-11-06, 10:30 PM

I'm right there with Bdawg then. Except, with me, I just have no desire to NOT play.

I want to play everyday. I can play everyday (pretty much). So, when I want to do something and I have the means to do it, that's what I do.

I just can't see myself ever wanting to take a week or a month off.

Boobie Lover · #5 04-11-06, 10:42 PM

I once tried to take a month off from poker. I lasted about three days. I'm an addict.

MAYHEM45 · #6 04-11-06, 10:54 PM

Haha, yeah this first day is going pretty rough. I kinda threw the month thing out there a little early. I've changed my statement to 2 and a half weeks. My last exam is the 27th, I move out on the 28th, and our housewarming kegger is the 29th. So I will be nicely drunk for three days, when the hangover wears off and the 3 girls in my bed go home on april 30th, watch the fuck out for me in the sunday tourney, im coming back with a WIN.

Oh yeah, and I came up with a plan for my play once I return, I'll let you know once I get it all written out.

Talking Poker · #7 04-11-06, 10:55 PM

I didn't WANT to take the month off. I NEEDED to. For me, I wasn't happy with the idea that I could be an addict, and I needed to know that I wasn't.

I don't like the thought of letting something control me.

MAYHEM45 · #8 04-12-06, 02:06 PM

I also NEED to, but for more reasons than that, I cant fail another class this semester, so I have to focus on exams. I am a chronic procrastinator, and poker was just the means to the end. Hopefully I dont find something else to steal my time away from my studies.

JDMcNugent7 · #9 04-12-06, 02:55 PM

Same here, and if any1 is even thinking about doing it I def. recommend it. I took prob 2 and a half to 3 weeks off, and it just helped me put everything back into perspective, and I came back running hot as ever, which is always a plus. I never really turned down goin out with friends to play poker, but i did turn down working out and playing guitar in order to play more poker, which is something I won't ever let myself do again.

SirFWALGMan · #10 04-12-06, 03:37 PM

Just echo'ing what other people have said.. taking a break can be a good thing. Good luck. Its all a personal thing and if you feel you need a little break you do.

On the other side I have seen you play and heard of your exploits and you are a damn good player and I look forward to hearing of you triumphant return.

badblood44 · #11 04-12-06, 04:35 PM

It is very hard indeed to just go cold turkey for any extended period of time. At least for me and from what I'm reading, a few others.

I'll probably butcher this, but often times you need something that you can do to push that "reset" switch in your brain somewhere. Sometimes, it's as simple as a good night's sleep. Sometimes, it's a strenuous workout. Whatever it is, you need to find it and use it whenever you get into the "zone."

The zone that I'm talking about is that place where you're incapable of objectively looking at your own play. Under normal circumstances, most, if not all, good players can detatch from themselves and analyze their play objectively. As soon as a series of bad beats changes your thought process one bit, you need to reset yourself.

When you sit down to play, you need to focus on the current hand. And that's it. As soon as a previous hand's results become the focus of your attention, you need to re-focus. I'll say it again: Your first priority is to play your current hand the best you know how. If your thoughts are lingering on anything else, you're not playing your best poker.

Getting up from the table during those times takes discipline with a big fucking capital D.

lightfungus · #12 04-12-06, 09:22 PM

He doesn't have a problem, cept for me yoinking his money like i yoink my grandmas purse.

But, you are running good right now GTdawg, and I know you have had you're far share of craptastic poker, but not on the scale that Mayhem just had. He probably built that roll up for months, and to lose it in one day really kicks you hard. I think I can say this because I know where you are in your walk of poker life, I was there at one point and felt this same way.

Talking Poker · #13 04-13-06, 12:58 AM

I think you may be confusing bdawg31 and GTdawg. Both dawgs, yes, but the same person, no.

In response to my post above, where I commented on bdawg's lack of willpower, I owe him an apology... He has since reminded me of something during my one month break that I had (honestly) completely forgotten about. At the time, I asked him to not even talk to me about poker - no HHs, no daily updates, etc. I think the reason I forgot about this is because quickly during my break I realized that I could talk about and think about poker with no problems, but BEFORE I started my month off, I thought I was going to need to go completely cold turkey and not even think about it.

lightfungus · #14 04-13-06, 11:18 PM

I was talking about GTDawg thinking about whether or not he would quit cold turkey if he ran into a bad spot. He said he wouldn't quit, but I was saying a BIG hit like that is hard to recover from. It really messes with your head. And your confidence...it definately takes a break and goes elsewhere.