Poker Addiction????

Am I the only guy that thinks about Texas Holdem' 745 times a day. I have it on my cell phone. 8 different ways on my laptop. I carry a holdem set in my car in case I am in a situation they come in handy. Any time anyone I know has a game going on I am there.

Have I found my calling, or do I need to seek rehab?

There is a guy at my local casino who has a T-shirt that says "It's only a problem if you're losing!" Seriously, if you find that poker is interfering with your family, job, or home life, yes, it's a problem. Then, it would be wise to lay-off.

Nah, it's not getting that far at all. I just feel that I have too much time on my hands. I am on a serious vacation after coming back from Iraq. Think I should just get my butt back to work. With a wife and three kids, can't spend a lot on poker.

I could use a sponsor however........................................... ...lol

I feel for you, I only work weekends (Full time hours though) and through out the week, poker is like everything and the only thing I do. My wife supports it for the time being, but with kids and her wanting some time I just don't know.

The worst is me......I work in the afternoon so i don't have to get up early and my girlfriend who I live with has to get up early in the morning, anyways when were getting busy before she goes to bed alot of the time I'm trying to finish as fast as possible so I can get to the computer and play until 2am......When it's poker vs some loving I'm 70-30 poker.....It's pretty pathetic.

I used to play poker a lot and win a few multi tourneys, however also I had string of bad beats, poor cards and other non-poker related situations that made me go broke in poker. My advice is go for cheap qualifiers satellites in order to use the best you got and get a shot to qualify for a major land based event like WSOP and EPT. Once you are there, you may very well think time has come to make it or break it 'cause that could be ur only chance to turn your life and even career around with some decent cash flow No guts no glory Go for it

Then there's the story about one of Johnny Carson's old monologues where he read a letter from a gal who complained to Johnny that she couldn't get her husband to stop watching his Late Night show and go to bed with her. She wanted to know how to get him to stop watching.

Johnny's advice: "Give him a better show than mine."

If it is keeping you from looking for work and you are currently able, then yes, I'd say you are addicted.

I keep a stack of chips to shuffle on my desk, so I think about it allot too

Here is the check list from G.A. only you can really determine if you are addicted...

TWENTY QUESTIONS

Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
Did gambling affect your reputation?
Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
Have you ever gambled to escape worry, trouble, boredom or loneliness?
Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.

I can honestly say for awhile there myself I was playing almost everynight from 5pm till 2 am and on weekends over 8hrs a day. Poker can be very rewarding in money made but can wreak havok on your family and social life. I try my best now to limit my play to only a few hrs a day now and go out later in the evening with the wife or to Family events. I hope everyone finds there happy medium and learns to balance out playing time with time needed for yourself and family also. Happy felt ripping!!!

Meh, I answered yes to 3 of the 20, thats not bad imo.....

Im not addicted, ive taken weeks upon weeks off poker. Even if I played like 24/7 its a job, so it must be done in order to achieve victory.

LOL at this thread

I dream about Poker most nights

Considering the fact then if I'm not playing poker.. I'm on this site blogging.. yeah I'm probably addicted.

looks like i'm addicted to gambling

Charlie: Thank you for your service in Iraq. We deeply appreciate your sacrifice on our behalf.

Why leave poker if you enjoy it and have fun playing it. If it doesn't interfer with anything like you wife, job, kids, anything important in your life then why should you leave it? Poker is a great game and you should enjoy it but without making so many mistakes and playing with many risks cuzz you could loose lots of money but if you play safely and sanely it's a great game and a lot of fun

It's my pleasure. So..Thank you for your support.

I solved my problem. After divorcing the wife, I quit the job, dis-owned the kids, sold the house and kept just the tent I had stashed in the garage. Set it up in a remote area of the park and if anyone steals it while I'm at the library using their computer to log in for my games, I'm sure I can find a suitable box for shelter near the dumpster down the street. Day by day, the food at the Mission seems to be getting better, too.

Amen !!

I'm with u on the addiction. I think the answer ur looking for is how much u win versus how much u lose. After determining this, then seek counseling. Or not. lol Merry Christmas

Not really. If you have the available 'disposable' income or financial reserves without being 'hurt' in any way by losing and you still derive enjoyment and pleasure from playing, then you don't need counseling. (besides, don't disturb the fish).

OTOH, even a 'break even' player who loses nothing financially can still suffer an addiction. Poker can become an obsession that interferes with relationships, job performance, lack of sleep, the simple necessitites of being a parent (time) etc. A true addiction does not have to be based only in finances.

Amen the fish are good friends of the winning poker player.Thats music to my ears to hear someone lose there money to me and say ohh well I had fun.. LOL keep the money coming we all appreciate the donations.