Problems getting to sleep after a particularly bad session?

[raisebot]

We've all (well most of us, I'm guessing) at one time or another suffered a seemingly nasty run or two where it seems the damage to your bankroll will be impossible to repair. Worst I ever did was drop almost 4k in one day playing blackjack many many years ago (I still play high-stakes blackjack occasionally, but not like I did 10 years ago). That was my first severely bad day, I remember crying on the 2 hour drive home from Atlantic City, running every $0.50 toll and the $4 Outerbridge toll since I was penniless. Lost 2k in a single session playing NLHE, multiple times I've lost 1k+ playing 1/2 , not to even mention the times I've went on a great run, $200 up to $2k in a single session, then losing it all and then some on a single hand, etc.

The losses used to bother me so much afterwards, that it seemed impossible to get to sleep or even think clearly; but now it seems I'm desensitized from any loss whatsoever, maybe I think about it for a few hours or so, no matter how great the loss was (thinly-veiled brag attempt at how much of a hardcore degenerate I've turned into).

So, THP, do those bad days/beats/sessions even affect you? I guess this would apply to all stakes, whether high stakes or losing your $10 online bankroll playing happy-meal stakes. How badly do you take it when it's just "one of those days" and how do you get your mind off it?


ps- no, I didn't have a losing night tonight, this was just something I was thinking about

[odlozilik]

Yes, I had a similar problem, while playing a little bit higher stakes than now. That's why I prefere to play the stakes, where I can stack off 200 BB and not to feel too bad if I lose.

[lwestatbus]

I am bothered by big losses also. I play at stakes that are literally trivial to my income or bank account but I play poker as a game where the money is my score. And when I lose big (relative to the stakes) I come away with a sense of failure. It does bother me and I will replay particularly troubling hands.

But here's the really odd thing--A winning session will put an end to the agonizing. And the win doesn't need to be anywhere near as large as the loss, as long as it is a win that moves me back in the right direction.

For some perspective, my biggest single-session loss was the entire recommended buy-in to a Stars $3/6 FL ring game, $120. I've blown through $80 and $100 buy-ins also. ($120 is not trivial to my bank account or income, but I play with 'found money', money I ran up from my initial $50 deposit.)

[miaowmiaowchowface]

yeah, first time i lost 50k, only had 150. didn't sleep all night, it was terrible

[raisebot]

yeah, first time i lost 50k, only had 150. didn't sleep all night, it was terrible

jesus

[odlozilik]

yeah, first time i lost 50k, only had 150. didn't sleep all night, it was terrible

So, it's obvious 50K is a small part of your bankroll now...