gl man, decisions like these are tuff

Honestly, you have already done the hardest part, and that it admitting that you think you need to quit. I can only imagine how hard it will be to walk away from something that you obviously enjoy doing (at least 95% of the time that you are playing, I assume that you are enjoying it). I wish you luck and hope that you are able to stick to your convictions and quit the game, if that is what you decide to do.

Maybe you could look at staking/shadowing some players, so that you are able to elimijnate the opportunity to tilt off your stack. Or do you have a friend that you can mentor? It may be a way to put your poker knowledge and experience to work without risking your bankroll.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

toodles

I can relate to this on many levels. I don't really gamble (I will play craps sometimes with friends), but just stay with poker. I have built sizeable rolls off of nothing. Impulsivity and lack of emotional control are not traits that have a lot of benefit in many professional settings. Poker is a tool, a game, to learn life lessons (sometimes for some people, very expensive lessons); just like little league, pop warner, etc for kids to learn sportsmanship (something severely lacking in modern poker), winning and losing, and perseverance. Sometimes tilting off a bank roll is the result of some 'life trigger' that causes unpleasantness and lack of rational thought. Think a bit more about what the rest of your life is like at the time of these meltdowns and try to guide yourself to a more even and satisfying lifestyle, sidestepping these potholes. Either way, best wishes.
hobo

The best way to remain profitable is lifestyle control. Since poker is populated by gamblers and "action junkies" it is an easy game to beat. Here is how:

1. Maintain a whole foods near vegetarian diet.

2. Always workout before each poker session.

3. Always get enough sleep.

4. See your dentist and physician on a regular basis.

5. Have a hobby (I just bought a HOG)

6. Get enough sex.

7. Study the game and be brutally honest about your play.

Since poker is full of degenerates who try to use gambling to fulfill voids by not doing what I said above you will prevail. Oh by doing everything above you will prevail in life.

"I dont think i have a gambling problem. I dont gamble at all, i only play poker."

Mikey, i think this could be where your problem starts.....the fact that you are winning and losing money on a regular basis and with little or no self control...poker IS gambling!

I have tried to convince people, including my girlfriend, about the point you made..Being impulsive and impatient does not mean you have a gambling problem, it means you are personally undisciplined..i read many poker books and was basically a break even player (mostly live) until i read a couple of poker books about the "psychology of poker." If you read through these books in detail you will figure out what personal flaws you have that keep you from being profitable in the long run..after that you must adjust your game accordingly..
My biggest problem, which is very similar to yours, is that i would turn nothing into alot, let my ego get in the way, and then jump up limits out of my br or multi table when starting to run bad and continuously rebuying in a vain attempt to get what i lost back..
Your best bet is to be focused when you play.
Prepare yourself for the day in which you will play which includes:
1)Decide exactly what you will play that day, cash games, sngs or mtts, hu
pick one to focus on and play that strictly
if you are anything like i was then cash games are a really bad idea!!
2)find something to keep your attention focused on the task at hand
i generally read alot of articles on here when im not in a hand once ive figured out my table
3)when you make a nice cash, DO NOT get right back into playing..take a break maybe even for the rest of the day..
4) keep yourself from the BIG POT mentality
5)play within your means

i have some other advice but this is getting long so if you ever want some more feel free to pm me..im not the best player but i can give you great advice here having alot of personal experience with this situation
thanks,
chris

Bye gg

I agree with suth, I am an impulsive person and I have learned to ask myself before any action I make, what am I trying to accomplish with this move , If Im thinkin about reraisng I ask why, checking why, folding why, this keeps me from spewing chips impulsively. So I take about the ame time to act on every hand no matter what which I think also helps my image at the table I hope this might help.

The only thing I can say to people that tilt off their roll is don't do it. In the end, you are the one sitting at tables you can't really afford, and you're the one losing the roll. Put a sticky note on your monitor, listing your max buy-in. Ask friends to give you a beating if they see you playing above your head. Do anything to keep off those higher stakes! You sound like a winning player if only you could practice proper BR management.
Don't quit the game if you love it: play really low limits and continue loving it. If you win money it's nice, but it shouldn't be the main concern if you're not a professional poker player.

really appreciate the responses guys. Not sure what im going to do yet...probably will pick up a "psychology" of poker book, bc i think that response hit the nail on the head.

I still love the game and dont necessarily want to quit, i just need to be a calmer more rational person so i can stay within the confines of my "A" game for an entire tourney.

i love A and D welch, tyvm.

im actually playing as i post this, so i guess im not really quitting. it's only a $4.40 180 man though, gonna start cheap and instead of working on my game, gonna work on the psychology of it.

TYVM for all posts, really appreciate looking up for my lame ass.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeedd><TD bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top> </TD><TD>Re(4): Did Prahlad
by jalman1 on 6/17/2007 22:56 </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><NOBR> </NOBR></TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffff><TD bgColor=#ffffff></TD><TD colSpan=2><TABLE cellPadding=2 border=0 celspacing="0"><TBODY><TR><TD>Is poker fun for everyone??? </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

It was me who said it Mikey