Controlling anxiety when playing poker

#1 July 13th, 2019, 2:44 AM

I have difficulty controlling my emotional, mostly playing live, I get very anxious, I feel chills and shaking. Is there any exercise you can help me with?

#2 July 13th, 2019, 3:28 AM

Poker is an emotional game, but controlling those emotions is probably the most important part about it.

Try breathing exercises. But anytime you show emotions and wear your heart on your sleeve it will work against you at the poker table.

#3 July 13th, 2019, 3:32 AM

Perhaps you should consult a doctor. You need to check your health. Maybe you need to take alcohol before the game, some helps, drink champagne.

#4 July 13th, 2019, 3:42 AM

take it easy ... I recommend a psychologist ... or do yoga !! Play to enjoy it !!! is a game is won and lost !! ... do not take it as a pressure !! in this game comes luck and skill ... keep that in mind !! Logres cordial greetings and overcome !!!

#5 July 13th, 2019, 7:12 AM

Slow, deep breaths and exhalations will help. More to play with experience the excitement will pass.

#6 July 13th, 2019, 7:36 AM

The emotional state of a poker player is in my opinion most important. If you have problems with this, then you will not succeed in poker. need to work on this problem. Unfortunately, I can not advise you on anything. Apply soothing priparaty, try everything. I also have problems with emotions, too much aggression turns on, it is very harmful to my game. I am constantly working on myself. When I play calmly, I mean success. good luck to you.

#7 July 13th, 2019, 9:54 AM

I am convinced that the player's emotional state is a very important part of a successful game. Therefore, it is important to learn how to control your own emotions. During the game, I usually listen to relaxing music. In my opinion, this is the best way to control your own emotions.

#8 July 13th, 2019, 11:00 AM

sport, swimming, biking helps to control my emotions and it strengthens the nerves.

#9 July 13th, 2019, 1:43 PM

Originally Posted by RANDERSAA

I have difficulty controlling my emotional

it is difficult for mostly all of us! try to define situations in which u cant control yourself. then try to work on your emotions in those situations. results of your work let you know your inside-power level and as result poker- player skill

#10 July 13th, 2019, 3:42 PM

meditaion does help alot, I suggest you start doing tai chi or somthing.

#11 July 13th, 2019, 6:59 PM

Drink vodka before poker...during a poker game...after poker. Believe me, you will not have chills and excitement Controlling anxiety when playing poker

)) as well As good results Controlling anxiety when playing poker

))

#12 July 13th, 2019, 7:06 PM

Do you have an answer on why this is happening? I think you must be sure about it first and then try to find a solution.

#13 July 13th, 2019, 7:44 PM

Originally Posted by RANDERSAA

I have difficulty controlling my emotional, mostly playing live, I get very anxious, I feel chills and shaking. Is there any exercise you can help me with?

Darling you should calm down, and do yoga, or better breathingb exercises

#14 July 13th, 2019, 7:54 PM

KKKK good requested, with beer already I get bad from the head. With vodka sometimes it gets better

#15 July 14th, 2019, 8:53 PM

Originally Posted by RANDERSAA

I have difficulty controlling my emotional, mostly playing live, I get very anxious, I feel chills and shaking. Is there any exercise you can help me with?

I assume you are a beginning player. Understand that we've all been there. Just keep playing at small stakes that are well within your bankroll tolerance. You'll win some and you'll lose some and it will all seems like old school eventually.

After a while, you'll bad beat others, winning pots you didn't deserve, but the same thing will happen to you. It will become just another part of the game that you expect and deal with in a calm quiet manner. As you get better, you'll get bad beat more often than you give bad beats because you'll get smart enough to stay out of a lot of situations where a semi miracle is your only hope.

You'll get quads often enough that you can smugly call them two pair, black kings and red kings, feeling better about your little joke than you do about the pot and high hand bonus you just won.

You'll get used to the fact that after the flop and you got all in, that your top set gets outdrawn to the open ended straight or 4 flusher about 1 time in 4. It's just the way it is and you'll understand that you really wanted his bad call that will make you a lot of $$$ the other 3 times it happens.

But if you try to get this experience outside your personal tolerance for pain, you're unlikely to get better. I admit I'm not a 5/10 NL quality player. I need to get better before I leave 2/5. Take a hard look at yourself and admit what you can and can not do. People who play scared lose.

#16 July 14th, 2019, 8:55 PM

Working out regularly is the key to anxiety. You won't feel like a sunken worm being slimy. Instead, you will look to the sky with an energy of hope, and inspired anticipation of reaching new heights.

#17 July 14th, 2019, 9:20 PM

There's a reason for all this. We need to define it and act. Maybe you're mismanaging your bankroll. I know by myself when a bankroll is good I enjoy the game. I had a small bankroll, I played the last chips. I was very nervous and angry. I was annoyed. All lost. Still, you need to take a break from the game and have a good rest with your friends.

#18 July 14th, 2019, 11:29 PM

Daily aerobic exercise would do you wonders.

#19 July 15th, 2019, 7:40 AM

If you are a novice player, then you should not worry about it with time and with experience the excitement will pass. But if you are playing for a long time and the excitement does not pass, I recommend contacting a psychologist !!!

#20 July 15th, 2019, 8:08 AM

Originally Posted by RANDERSAA

I have difficulty controlling my emotional, mostly playing live, I get very anxious, I feel chills and shaking. Is there any exercise you can help me with?

it is better to consult a doctor about some kind of excitement and other reasons, the doctor may prescribe some medicines for excitement and nerves and you will be better to play and feel great, but you can be helped by breathing exercises, but I would advise you to consult a qualified doctor such problems

#21 July 15th, 2019, 8:29 AM

Originally Posted by vov4ik

it is better to consult a doctor about some kind of excitement and other reasons, the doctor may prescribe some medicines for excitement and nerves and you will be better to play and feel great, but you can be helped by breathing exercises, but I would advise you to consult a qualified doctor such problems

I couldn't agree more with you vov4ik... I had extreme anxiety not just for poker but in general and consulted my Dr some time ago, there is no shame in dealing with problems like this with suitable medication.. I was prescribed Propranolol and it really has saved me from high blood pressure as well as climbing the walls when I've felt most anxious... As a side effect it helps greatly with concentration where poker is concerned, only when I've the need to take it... This medication can be stopped or started when ever you feel the need, hence my in consistent poker results lol

#22 July 15th, 2019, 8:43 AM

If your a caffeine drinker, cut down on it a little. CBD oil helps me with my anxiety throughout the day. You can also try different breathing techniques and drink plenty of water.

#23 July 15th, 2019, 8:59 AM

Most players make fatal mistakes by giving in to their emotions while playing poker. Emotions can interfere with a successful game:
first, they prevent a sound assessment of your strength and the strength of the opponent;
secondly, under their influence, you can not assess the capabilities of the Bank and choose the right strategy. Such emotional manifestations as anger, anger, nervousness and even excessive joy can lead to a complete loss of concentration and reduce all efforts to zero. Before you sit down to play at the table, evaluate the situation and pay attention to the clothes, drinks, as stacked chips from your poker rivals. Usually more tight player is very accurate, he sits with his hands folded on his chest, this position suggests that the person does not want to go to the contact and it is difficult to read. Therefore, your behavior at the table should be as if you are very seriously thinking about something, so behave like real professionals. Emotional state in poker and confidence in the game are of great importance on the way to victory or defeat.
First of all, you need to work on yourself, but do not forget about the emotions of opponents, as they also have an impact on your game.

#24 July 15th, 2019, 9:20 PM

In my opinion, the feeling of self-confidence comes only with experience. Therefore, my advice is to play more often, gain experience and improve skills.

#25 July 15th, 2019, 11:33 PM

If the anxiety comes from playing at such high stakes (even if it's min [$1/$2]) at a live game then just start out playing SUPER tight. Remember, you can essentially sit out 5 orbits and only lose $15. "Sitting out" those hands while still playing and paying attention to the table can calm your nerves enough that you gain control of that anxiety and can then open your game up. Plus it gives you time to watch how people are playing and when you do open up your game, maybe you can take advantage of the knowledge.

Now, a completely different problem would be if you are intimidated by the other players. Not, "I think they are better than me" but actually being afraid of them as people, not players. Some people (like me) have social anxiety and playing in front of a group of people who want your money and will do anything to take it is very intimidating. The way I get over this is to avoid looking people in the eyes and focus on the cards dealt and the bets placed (the way you do online). After a while I calm down and realize they are just players like me and then I can start looking for tells. Usually takes 5-10 orbits.

#26 July 16th, 2019, 2:58 AM

Originally Posted by This Fish Chums

start out playing SUPER tight. Remember, you can essentially sit out 5 orbits and only lose $15.

That is a really important observation. It is often hard, emotionally, to sit there and fold, fold, fold while everyone else is having all the fun and making all the money. You'll see people playing total garbage and winning big pots and it makes you want to limp or limp/call with junk and hope you get lucky too.

But hoping to get lucky is not a long winning formula. You won't be down much if you sit there folding junk for 2 hours. And you'll probably have more chips than if you kept calling hoping to get lucky.

#27 July 16th, 2019, 3:33 AM

Don't drink any coffee and cold water, would make it even worst. Instead drink some green tea to relax you. Take some deep breath, do it couple times on breaks walk relax. Make better decisions don't trigger your self with anxiety with bad decisions stay focus. Do yoga! good luck mate

#28 July 17th, 2019, 8:14 AM

Advice that works for one does not work the next. One piece of advice - drink more water, the other - do not drink the water. I think you really need to consult a doctor if the anxiety strongly affects the health. And the rest will only experience. More games, more experience and then you will find that it will help you to overcome your anxiety.

#29 July 17th, 2019, 10:47 AM

Sometimes, during the game, I also feel nervous, but in my opinion it is a natural feeling when playing poker. Moreover, these emotions usually bring some satisfaction to me, and therefore I think they are useful to me.

#30 July 18th, 2019, 3:19 PM

Controlling emotions is part of your mental game. There is no magic recipe to solve the problem unfortunately. I liked the book "mental game of poker" by jared tendler. If you read it carefully and follow advice it will help you.

#31 July 18th, 2019, 5:07 PM

Hi.
The control of emotions directly depends on your patience. Patience directly affects your results. Therefore, if you want to become a successful player, always try to be patient and avoid mistakes.
Good luck.

#32 July 18th, 2019, 7:21 PM

Hello.
Meditation always helps me control my emotions. In my opinion, this is the most effective way to control emotions.

#33 October 16th, 2019, 9:01 AM

You can try mindfulness, or other relaxing things.
But if nothing works, I smoke some weed to relax and drink coffee to concentrate.... Good luck!

#34 October 16th, 2019, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by RANDERSAA

I have difficulty controlling my emotional, mostly playing live, I get very anxious, I feel chills and shaking. Is there any exercise you can help me with?

I can relate to this and it sucks.

Lets first look at the positive side of this; people will not be able to get a solid read on you. I mean, you are basically anxious all the time -- not just when you get a hand. So good luck on them trying to decipher your tells.

But in general this is annoying. I start to sweat a ton at the table. Very uncomfortable.

What I have found is that meditation is a solution to this problem. Just before you go to your table, find a relaxing spot and just focus on your breathing and reprogram yourself to be calm.

Don't drink alcohol... while it takes the edge off, it will do more harm than good.

#35 October 16th, 2019, 12:08 PM

Do yoga. Smoke herbs, but not much. Train your indifference))

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