NERVOUS BREAKDOWN anyone?

[omaha]

Anyone here had any knowledge of the garden variety of nervous breakdowns/major depressive episodes?

How did it affect your poker playing? Relationships? Work life?

[JayKon]

I'm gonna take a wild stab at this one.

<u>DON'T!</u>

Wining poker takes a lot of enegry and focus, I just don't see how anyone could do this when depressed, or a nervous wreck.

[superadvisor]

Hm, how does a nervous breakdown effect your poker, relationships and work? I'd say it has a negative effect on them.

[omaha]

I was more interested in the mechanics of getting ones life back together after a breakdown.

[JackAll]

I would assume that stress has a lot to do with causing a breakdown.

Since poker is very stressful, I would assume it's a good idea to steer clear from it for a few months at least. Even play chips tables can piss me off

[JayKon]

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I was more interested in the mechanics of getting ones life back together after a breakdown.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think a poker forum is a good place for something like this. Perhaps chesspain might be able to tell you something of value, but I doubt anyone else would.

[FalloutGirl]

nope never had one but i hope u feel better

[Beesnuts]

[ QUOTE ]
I was more interested in the mechanics of getting ones life back together after a breakdown.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just relax man, you're gonna die one day and not [censored] will matter after that. Live life and dont worry about the BS

[TheRuffian]

Omaha
I had my first bout of work-stress induced anxiety depression about 4 years ago. Had 6 weeks off work and after being prescribed antidepressants, some self help Cognitive therapy, and a gradual reintroduction to work I managed to get back to normality. It was a very tough period of my life and I was conviced at the time that I would never be able to have a job with any responsibility whatsoever, but gradually my mindset changed as time progressed. I was fortunate in that I had support from work and my wife throughout the whole episode, so it didnt really impact on my relationships a great deal.
At the time had I hadnt discovered online poker, but shortly after I was introduced to it by a friend and it gave me something to focus on outside of work which was good. I was OK at work for the next 12 months and seemed to have a good work/life balance so after discussing the situation with my doctor I decided to stop taking medication. That turned out not to be one of my best moves ever, as 6 months later (18 months after my first episode) my symptoms came back, although not as severe as the first time round as the cognitive techniques I'd learnt helped, and I was off work again for a couple of weeks. I restarted my medication and felt normal within a month or so this time. Coincidentally my poker was going well until this point, and my bankroll dipped for the first time fo a while. However since then I've not had a single losing month (over 18 months later). So from my experience I'd say dont play until you have a more positive mindset.
I have since had 1 minor episode but I recovered quite quickly and didnt have to take any time off work (and still managed to post a winning month.)
So in summary, the path I'd take to help yourself recover from a depressive episode is;
1. Go to a sympathetic &amp; knowledgable doctor
2. Take Antidepressants to help stabilise yourself
3. Try cognitive therapy. I just read a self-help book on it and found it really powerful.
4. Exercise regularly. This I find helps.
5. Avoid excessive drinking and cannabis, eat healthily etc
6. Do things you enjoy, listening to music I find helps/watch the Simpsons
7. When you are up to it, throw yourself into hobbies, for me its poker obviously. This helped me completely forget about work, which was the cause of my problems.
Anyway hope this is beneficial.
Let me know what you think.
Ruffian

[bkholdem]

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I was more interested in the mechanics of getting ones life back together after a breakdown.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.mentalhealthrecovery.com/

http://www.power2u.org/