Hi, I'm a long time poker player. I think that mental illness is a reason that a lot of players don't make it. I used to play a ton of micro stakes and would win easily. I would become bored. When I was moving up in stakes I donked off all my money. I didn't care and I didn't know why I was doing it. I played hundreds of thousands of hands. When I was doing real good I would play games I had no idea on how to play successfully at that specific level. I may have plugged my leak by just studying psychiatry. The same logic can probably be applied to business. I'm not sure.

I must say I have never been able to relate to the "not caring if I lose" mentality, but it sure is out there. A friend just blew off the BR of a lifetime after me cautioning him concertedly about it, and towards the end of the donk it became obvious that his purpose for the money was to play until he lost it. It wasn't a serious attempt to win, but to vent the urge to play and play recklessly. I just shook my head silently. It was the opposite of everything we had discussed.

As for mental illness that's an awful loose jump. Impulse control problem or egomania or just a bunjee-jumping personality explains it.

Jung's shadow might be a fruitful place to investigate. Like what is the real reason you are gambling or getting high ... is it just funsies or a much deeper and intense self-medication. The unknown shadow is a monster ... know thyself or careen through life.

For the most part, mental illness is relatively stable over time and is not affected by states, so just becoming bored while playing poker would not count as a possible indicator of mental illness.

In order to potentially be diagnosed with a mental illness, you would need to be bored with a number of activities over a period of time.

I'm mentally ill and I'm a lifetime winner at poker. Currently in the process of running up a $1 online stake into over $250. Check out my pg&c for details.

I know a lot of players with a (managed) mental illness that are very very successful in poker and life. Without a doubt some aspects of successful poker for sure is harder for someone with a mental illness but sticking with the plan, dedication and hard work off the table and in preparation, will always go a long way.

GL.

Mental illness runs in my family. I think it has a lot to do with discrimination. But, over time it can really disable someone. I am working on dealing with my illness. I'm actually out of work because of it and its frustrating to be socially isolated.

That's great. I turned .45 cents into $1K before. That was playing micros.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizo...ality_disorder

This fits my profile pretty well. I haven't even played poker in awhile. I would like to get back into playing when I'm working again.

I definitively need some counseling to get where I want to be outside away from the computer. This site is practically an internal fantasy world. I appreciate your advice.

With social anxiety, with everything that is going on in the experience, it is hard to identify that one of the central features of it is the subconscious construct, completely buried, that it isn't okay to be myself in social situations. "We have to live up to some standard, be like the cool, smooth people ... just me isn't good enough." This deep unidentified thought renders every attempt at being in social situations as a "subconscious bluff" ... something we don't even realize we are doing, yet are anxious over. Somewhat like making a big, important (being socially competent is important to us) bluff in a pot ... well, unless you have nerves of steel, you are going to be anxious about it. This is only one component of the experience but a big one in terms of approaching the phobiia, the social phobia. If going around people to me, in my subconscious, unbeknownst to me, means "pulling off some act that makes me acceptable," then anxiety about the bluff crescendos. When you have others you can go around and say, or at least think, in effect, "I'm nervous about being around people, I am not very socially adept, I feel insecure about this" - admittedly a difficult chore - then your truth is on the table, most importantly inside your consciousness, and the "I've got this when in fact I know I really don't" anxiety producing situation," the attempted bluff to cover it up, isn't in play. More real self (or hand) = less bluff = less anxiety.

Plus "boredom at x stakes" is a pretty common excuse for undisciplined fish to justify playing higher stakes when they haven't beaten the lower levels first.

What discrimination my I ask?

Read the wiki. Sounds like a dramatized definition of 'introversion'. Wouldn't worry.

How about rejection from potential mates, employers, and friends that make assumptions about an individual based on what they think they know about a particular disease?

I'm sorry, but are you saying you fit this but have never been diagnosed? If so, you must be very wary with the internet self-diagnosing. SPD is very rare (there was even a push to remove it from the DSM 5) and the behavior you're describing may be better accounted for by a different disorder. It could be something as common as depression, agoraphobia, or even a touch of Aspergers or autism.

Hey, I'm diagnosed bi-polar, just wanted to stop by and say I will follow up on this later. Maybe I can give some insight.. But right now, it's 6am, been up all night and don't feel like going into long detail..Sorry about the cliffhanger lol, but you're not quite alone in this. Peace

In 2003 I was diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder with acute psychosis, I was hospitalized for a while but I have been very lucky in that I've been somewhat stable since 2005. This is an interesting thread because I never thought that my condition could be the reason for some of my impulses in poker. I can relate to what you're saying about getting bored at lower stakes and having terrible brm and punting a stack at higher stakes, I fit that bill to a T. I will definitely look into this as perhaps being a cause. Thanks for making this thread

Nice recovery. Cheers.

Thanks

There is a difference between mental illness and bad bankroll mgmt op

I'd like to hear you out a little on "a touch of Asperger's." Interesting subject.

What were some of your complaints and symptoms??

That comment is based on the limited information provided but social isolation such as in SPD is fairly common with individuals on the autism spectrum as well. Just another possibility to explore.

Not sure what you mean by "complaints"?.


Prior to being hospitalized I was delusional (psychosis), I never heard voices, but I had irrational thoughts and I also went through a manic phase.

After being hospitalized I had severe anxiety and also went through a depression. Once I got my meds sorted everything kind of worked itself out.

It's weird though, because after suffering through this, I came out of it being a lot happier with myself. I used to suffer from anxiety before all this came about, but I wasn't aware enough to have it treated. As a teenager I always felt weird, but I thought that was just normal. Looking back on it I wish I would have sought out some help earlier. Now I don't suffer from anxiety and I am a lot happier.

Good for you sounds like you are in a better place. Keep it up. "Complaints" just means what do you say (to the doc or whoever) when you are trying to describe what is "wrong" ... what your looking for help with. If it's a medical doc, it's "My knee hurts" ... that's the complaint. If its psych it's your description of what is "ailing" or distressing you mentally.