Poker & Handling bad news

[sb22]

Hi,

i am asking for other players experience in handling bad news and how it determines the way you play poker.
First i use to play NL5 to NL25 and micro-buy-in-SNG+MTT,depending on how much i am able to concentrate and how much time is available.
Right now i have a hard time because after 4 months in hospital my girlfriend died 3 weeks ago. Because i have attended her in hospital everyday, actually quitting my studies for that time, i was able to play almost every evening. It was a really hard time for me so i only played 1 table 6max NL5,just for recreation purpose.
After the funeral and all other things happened i started to play again, back at my university again, playing multitable shortstack strategy. I experience that for some sessions i am really running good,able to think about the hands i play and nothing else. But more often other things fly trough my mind,allowing to just have a break even session.
Are there other members of ITH out there who had similar experiences and have some advice on how someone can handle this without playing bad poker. Dont understand me wrong,i do think more about my loss than i do think about poker. But live has to go on and i dont quit poker and all things that mean fun to me because i am in a not so good mood.

thanks for reading and your answers in advance.

[Piemaster]

First, I am really sorry to hear about your loss. I have never experienced anything like this, so I can't really tell you anything based on experience. In fact, I don't think any of us know how we would cope with such a thing until it happens.

I think you are right to identify that poker is an important hobby for you and you shouldn't give it up just as you have lost another important part of your life. Having said that, you do need to safeguard yourself against destructive emotions. Maybe drop a limit or two and only play when you really want to, not because you feel you should or because you have nothing else to do. Don't get to the point where you are using poker as an escape, because you always end up carrying your emotional baggage with you. It doesn't sound like you are doing that however.

[sb22]

Hello Piemaster,

finally i came back here to thank you for the words you sent me with your reply. So far i think i have managed to get back to normal life,despite the fact that i can't really concentrate on working on my master thesis.
For the poker thing i think i am on the right way,moved to Shorthanded tables big stack, NL25 and only 2 tables instead of 8 for NL25 full ring,shortstacked.
I only play when i am in a good mood and think i am able to concentrate. If i dont think so i just play with my neighbour on a NL5 table or a silly 1.20$ SNG.
Again thanks for your advice & now back to life !

sb22