Strange psychological block

[Russkijim]

Now, I know people often advocate taking a break after a big downswinging but currently I'm in the exact opposite situation.

After a terrible October where I dropped close to 20 buy ins at NL 100 I had a great November and even better December and am now at a new bankroll high.

But I'm finding any excuse not to play...

When I was being beaten like a dog I wanted to keep coming back to make sure I made it right and to prove to myself I hadn't wasted all the hours of study and play I'd put in.

But now, when I should be building on my success and looking to move up I find myself getting scared just logging onto a poker site. Perhaps in the back of my mind I can see my hard work being wiped out once again and don't want to risk it...

Anyone else got into this 'what I have I hold' mindset?

[Piemaster]

I think it's the same mentality that makes you want to end a session when you are winning and it comes from a latent risk aversion. I am guessing that you don't really like 'gambling' as such, you play poker because you are good at it and you like winning money.

It's one of those fundamental poker problems that there isn't really a quick fix for. Maybe you are playing at stakes that are higher than what you are comfortable with risking? Or maybe, and this isn't something I would usually recommend unless you really can't bear the thought of losing what you've won, maybe withdraw a sizable portion of your bankroll and drop down a couple of limits. Of course, this will inhibit your ability to really move on to the higher limits.