Hopefully this is the right thread for this but I assume it is.

When I say "Calm the @#$# down" I don't mean when you're tilting because of the idiot who called you down with 74o and filled up. I mean when you hold the absolute nuts and your heart is pounding so hard you think it's going to explode right in your chest. (Or maybe that only happens to me).

Do any of you know any tips to help lessen that effect of the adrenaline rush (discreetly as to not give off a tell) when you're at the table. Or maybe some things to do away from the table that help?

Cheers.

Deep breaths with your nose, not so loud that you make noises obviously.

While you're doing that, keep repeating your phone number backwards as fast as you can.

breathe in - "I am looking at the lint on the felt"
breathe out - "I am smiling at the lint on the felt"
(repeat)

I tried those out today but I guess it's going to take some conditioning.

I was playing a satellite for the Sunday Hundred Grand on Stars, 2 tables left and I hit what turned out to be the second nuts. Ended up donking because it actually affected my thought process (in the sense that I totally lost my thought process) I have no idea why the hell I was getting so much of a rush though. I mean, for christ's sake, it's a 1$ satellite to an 11$ tourney, lol. Definitely not a big chunk of change.

I've been under a lot of stress/anxiety lately so maybe that's screwing with my psyche at the poker tables or something because I don't remember ever getting this riled up.


Or maybe I should just quit smoking.

It will take a lot of conditioning.
I remember reading (maybe in M. Gladwell's "Blink") about police/military training. The goal is to train these guys to run into a room where bullets are flying to rescue a hostage. The guys get hit with rubber bullets - and by the accounts of the trainee's it hurts like hell. The first time through the exercise, the trainees almost always get hit and freeze up and the training mission fails. Sensors on the trainees show that the heart rate is skyrocketing, breathing is all over the place and the guys literally cannot think or function at that moment.

After 50 or 60 times through the training exercise, The guys run into the room, get hit with rubber bullets, get the hostage and get the job done every time. Heart rates and breathing are slightly elevated, but normal.

The first few times you flop the stone cold nuts, you freeze up, your heart pounds, you can't breathe, you cant think and you can barely get any chips into the middle. You can't function. The 200th time you flop the stone cold nuts, it ain't no big deal. You're just thinking about how to maximize give the situation you're in.

It takes practice. Lots and lots of practice.

Always +EV. I quite about 2.5 years ago and am very happy that I did.

That makes me feel a ton better about it.

Thanks a bunch guys.

its a MYTH that alcohol, caffeine, nicotine are good for relaxing or a good outlet for when you're stressed out. believe it or not, these DRUGS actually stress you out MORE after their initial calming effects.

Its just like a lot of things in life that are a big deal the first few times you do them, and not after it has happened a lot.

Good thing is you are playing online, so it will happen to you more (and hence, you get more practice at hitting the nuts on river, etc).

Breath in, breath out. Just play it cool at the table, it WILL come in time, i promise!

I'm a newbie poker player, so take this as you will, but I have an overactive adrenalin response (to just about anything... which pisses me off) and have found this technique effective at lowering my heart rate and calming down.

(This may only work if you are a car guy).

I imagine myself in my favorite car, which was the car I had before my current ride. I loved that car and just imagine sitting in it and feeling the shifter and looking at the dashboard and "being" in the driver's seat.

YMMV, but it works for me.

I sort of made a ramble post related to this earlier today maybe it will help?

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...d.php?t=160012

I get this terrible anxiety when I'm involved in a big pots, I literally get chills, if you know the feeling I'm referring to.

LOL
I did it today.
Flopped a straight flush four handed and I was first to act so I checked and it checks around to the forth person who bet $25 into a $25pot.
I called and other three called.
Next round same senerio except the second player moves in for thier last $5 after a $30bet by the last player.. Everyone else called and I tried to move all-in. Of course I couldn't since it wasn't a full raise.
The river didn't help and I had to do something so I moved all-in for my last $50. The other 2 folded.

In hindsite if I keep my mouth shut I can make a move on the river, or check again.

I do...I blame the outcome(read: money) as meaning something to me instead of just making poker decisions. even though $100 isn't goign to change my life one way or another.

To stay calm, load an i-Pod with Phil Hell-mutt inspirational audio clips and listen to them constantly. Then you'll need that drink.