Quote Originally Posted by HalvSame

I'll add another advice; don't linger too much on the hands you lose. Take pleasure from the ones you win. (Obv this goes up to a point, if you're losing too much then something needs fixing.)
QFT. I remember yesterday, I played some of the best poker in my life. Got my aces cracked twice... once I managed to save 3/4ths of my stack and the other time lost a $400 pot one-outed (!!) by an underset. Then I a lost $550 pot to a J4o that called my PFR and went all in on the flop to hit a one card flush to my overpair.

Then another rubbish flush draw that I pushed into. I don't think I've ever been so happy winning when I had 65% equity for only a $330 pot. But I was able to enjoy winning and just not dwell on the losing. The fact I was playing great helped...

And I had the same problem as you not very long ago. I went through about 10 weeks when I was just sick of poker. I was into dancing, teaching, my uni stuff... played hardly ever and when I did I made absolutely nothing. Even busted out my monthly intercasino bonuses. I was grinding $200NL like I basically had been since mid January and I was up to about 180 buyins. I needed to play $1000NL to get that adrenaline rush. But the couple of times I did I broke even and was playing scared so I dropped back down.

Then I read a post on PL Omaha8, so I went and learned the basics. Made about $1000 playing that and felt great about myself. Gave stud (High, H/L, Razz) a shot and couldn't win jack. Played some tournaments and cashed twice for $4000. Now exams are over and I'm back in full swing, playing my A-game at $200NL and playing the occasional PL Omaha8 and tournament. I think i'm totally over the rut which is just as well 'cos I had these holidays blocked out for poker.

There's my story. Hope it helps you in some way.

But here's some more advice:

1. A short break can help. But the problem for me is if I don't start winning right away when i come back I get disillusioned again

2. It won't fix itself. You *have* to do something different. A different game, a move up, play live, just something. For someone like you, a move up to 100NL is probably the best in the long and short term.

3. Write your own poker story. Think back as far as you can. Be as detailed as you can and try to recreate a journal from since when you started playing poker. For me that's easy 'cos I have really detailed records of how much I've played, how many hours I've played it, how much I've won playing in any game, any stake and my hourly rate. But it's therapeutic and puts into perspective just what you've achieved.

And so you know, I've given up two girlfriends over my passions. One who was insanely jealous of my dancing. Another who just couldn't agree with my poker. For you, poker might not occupy that place in your life. But for me it does. And generally, any long term relationship has to be about mutual compromise. And the key word is mutual. If I've prepared to go halfway I expect quid pro quo. I'm sure you can work out something with your GF. It's not her money anyway, it shouldn't be her business.

And to sign off, a quote from my columbian personal trainer (grammar unchanged)... "life is only once. if its not fun, whats the point?"