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Poker and Mental Health
kapowblamz
Member Posts: 1,530
in Poker Chat
I feel I struggle on a day to day basis. 1st day I am going to live till i'm 98. That day it all equates to being super probably the most likely answer. 2nd day I feel like I'm going to die pretty soon. The argument for this is also pretty strong too.
There are levels to this in many aspects and times of life.
Is there any help available for poker players? I think with the right skill set there is a station around somewhere for a poker shrink.
There are levels to this in many aspects and times of life.
Is there any help available for poker players? I think with the right skill set there is a station around somewhere for a poker shrink.
Comments
I can’t stress enough how important it is to talk first to your GP, who should refer you to people who specialise in this subject, waiting times may vary dependent on how truthful you are - it’s imperative you tell the truth if you are strong enough to seek help.
Tell family members, they will support you.
Good luck, my thoughts are with you.
If you are struggling with mind set due to down swings, that is different issue, players on sky often suggest good poker books which help players over this hurdle. fwiw gl
Is your problem poker and or gambling in general. Or are you struggling in generally in life at this time.
As Tomgoodun says the first place to go is your GP.
It will take a little time but the first thing to know is that you are not alone.
In life everyone has struggles. Life without laughter can become a lonely and depressing
place.
The journey to good mental health may take a little time, but talking about any problems you may have is the first step.
Good luck. Daggers
Some great replies here.
So many people suffer from issues like these but are scared to talk about it or seek help.
The first step is accomplished - it's good to talk - but if it persists, do please try & get some expert help. Sometimes these things are very easily solved.
If in doubt, & you think it may be poker-related, take a little break & freshen up.
It sounds a bit old-fashioned, but exercise & fresh air often help a great deal. We spend so long tip-tapping & clicking a keyboard, a good long daily walk can make the world of difference.
There is of course the CBT route but, with respect to the professionals, it's not for everyone and I found it a bit patronising. Either way talk to your close ones and let them know how you are feeling. That's the hard part but it is a massive weight off your shoulders.
Sober me thinks exercising is win win so I'll be trying to run today however horrific the idea sounds.
Ironically I love running away from things...
It's amazing that every post so far has shown concern. Top folk you lot.
Hope things get sorted
If its not just the poker, def go chat to GP and open up to friends.
Good that the drink helped you post this, but alcohol is often a depressant,
and def does not go well with playing poker at the same time , as i have found to my cost !
Take care.
It depends what exactly you mean. If you mean general counselling for poker players, then I'm not sure that currently exists because not all poker players think the same way, meaning it would be impossible to tailor the service towards them specifically. However, if you mean counselling for people who are suffering due to poker specifically, then I am sure some councillors who specialise in gambling issues exist out there.
I am going through a challenging time at the moment in terms of mental health, and counselling doesn't appear to be effective right now - even though I have found it extremely useful in the past. Personally, I am trying to channel my negative energy into a few different projects, one of which is developing my poker game. So, it can be a force for good also. I do hate the way that society generally has a negative viewpoint on gambling, because it can be positive. Although, I do understand that it can impact people negatively too.
I'm rambling at this point. Feel free to drop me a PM if you wish to have a chat at any time. As long as I am active on the site, I will always respond.
The games we play can take a horrible mental toll on you. A network of friends within poker can help. Family and friends are great but don't fully understand poker specific problems. I'm not sure what your results have been like recently, but even the best players in the spin pools can downswing 5 figures playing well. If spins get particularly hard to deal with, at least you have the knowledge that you can crush MTT's for a wage.
Life balance is essential. Whilst I was at uni (which I hated), poker was the only real hobby I had. I'd find how I was performing at poker had an unhealthy impact on my happiness levels. Fortunately this was pre-spins! I'd recommend having multiple things going on outside of poker. I'm also a big advocate of frequent exercise. Poker is such a mentally stimulating game that finding some kind of physical balance is definitely advisable. Whether this manifests itself in going to the gym, going for runs, or picking up a physical sport like tennis, I think that it's super good mentally.
Also don't feel guilty about dropping volume, or having sessions of playing less lucrative formats (i.e MTT's). Playing a different format can be a refreshing change. With poker I think having designated hours that you always play is sub-optimal for both profit and mental health. There are natural ebbs and flows. Your going to have periods where you play loads and periods you barely play and that's fine.
Good luck on and off the tables.
Sometimes you feel down and vice versa whatever your profession and poker is a simple scapegoat.
The real issue is being the wrong side of 35 and the enlightenment that brings... I don't know how anyone over 40 can grind online tournaments for a living.
@FeelGroggy your post is pretty much perfect. Balance is so important. It's too easy just to sit and play poker. Willpower is the vital ingredient.
Just to clarify, I can't stop winning atm so it's not some downswing depression.
We are very fortunate that this is one of the rare Poker forums where you get genuine replies and support from your fellow players and Sky Poker team. (AKA TK)
A lot of Poker players have some form of challenges in other areas of their life.
Poker in some cases can make people unhappy, but it also provides opportunity to many that may potentially struggle in other areas of life. Only you can really assess how much of the mood swing is down to Poker and how much is down to other things, then address it accordingly.
Regarding the age thing, I am the other side of 50 now and still grind away. Although I am working to improve my game still, mainly so I can play less volume but higher stakes.
Typically I only play four tables at a time now, but hopefully I will still be doing this in my sixties, so you have a lot of time ahead of you still.
I sincerely wish you all the best.
The important thing to remember when you are feeling down is that, "IT WILL PASS"
Hang in there and do reach out to friends and family if you need to. Take care and best of luck on and off the tables.
On a personal note, I am always happy to receive a PM if you ever want to reach out.
Graham