Is pool really an addiction?

AZE

AZE

DeucesCracked Instructor
Silver Member
Today I left the pool hall (another all-nighter), again, yelling to myself in my car "I'm NEVER going back to this stupid f*cking pool hall ever again!"... Well, It's about 4 hours later and I'm packing up to head right back over there (10 ball tournament.. going to watch the short-stops play)... I can't stop!
I don't know what it is.. I want to quit.. I really want to not want to play this game, or be interested, but something keeps sucking me in. I don't think it's just the gambling - because I'd be going to the pool halls to just hit balls, practice, and WATCH.. Maybe it's all the nicotine in the air (seriously!).. or is it just because the game is THAT beautiful? (I doubt it, or else I wouldn't want out).

I've only been playing pool for about a year and change - but I'm in it alot more than the average person. I've become a full-fledged junky. My skin is pale white, my sleeping hours are between never and never (sometimes it's like 11am - 7pm). It's sick!
I had a promising life ahead of me. I could've been a rapper! (check my myspace, nigga!).

I may be posting this just because I'm REALLY tired.. and I may have already forgotten what this was about.. but whatever..


..... ?
 
Addiction........Yes!

This game is taking over my life. I played seriosly for 2-3 years then quit for 8 years. I am back now and have been for about the same time frame as you. I do not even notice time passing when I'm playing. Literally, I have played 36 hours, leaving to take a shower and then get back.(one shower) 12, 14, 16 hours seems to be the norm. I will not notice the pain in my feet and legs until I'm finished. I constantly think about the game, when I'm not playing I'm thinking about playing. It has to have an impact on your career and family. Thankfully it's just me and my dog. _____________________________________________________________I like to think that there is some noble cause "The pursuit of improvement" or something to that effect. I guess we'll both find out what's at the end of this rainbow because I am enjoying the ride.
 
Eagleshot said:
This game is taking over my life. I do not even notice time passing when I'm playing. Literally, I have played 36 hours, leaving to take a shower and then get back.(one shower) 12, 14, 16 hours seems to be the norm. I will not notice the pain in my feet and legs until I'm finished. I constantly think about the game, when I'm not playing I'm thinking about playing. It has to have an impact on your career and family. Thankfully it's just me and my dog.
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Poor dog.:( :(
 
yes, it's an addiction. boyfriend and i live pool together. To "spice up our lives", we started playing in other rooms in town besides our home room, and NOW have even begun to play random tourneys in other towns- but it's still all pool, all the time.

So this weekend I stamped my foot and said we would do something non- pool-related. I was stubborn. But. We couldn't think of anything to do. Movies all looked dumb, it was too hot to go dancing, and any bar we could think of had pooltables. Went through my address book- all non pool playing friends have married or moved out of town (i hadn't really noticed.)

Cutting out pool for the weekend meant we just sat at home and grumbled. It was indescribably irritating and uncomfortable- much like withdrawals.
 
I suppose it was an addiction. I like to compare pool to a person anyone might be going out with. You love this boyfriend, you take care of this boyfriend, you give, you give, you make all the efforts in the world for it to love you back and in the end - pool doesn't give back to you. I am tired putting the money in to travel to these events, I am tired of tirelessly looking for sponsorship. I am at the point now that I am not going to put this effort into my pool anymore. I am not happy, I am miserable.

If I didnt start playing this game 14 years ago, my last year of high school, I am convinced I would be a dentist today. Instead, I am far from home, trying desperately to find it in me to pull out for one more tournament, because one person believed in me enough to help me with half my entry fee. I do this for them. I am tired of this game, tired of the promises of something bigger and better for this sport around the corner. I went through the era of the late 90's when it was talked about that pool was going to possibly be an Olympic sport - to no avail. Now I get to see curling on Olympic telecasts. :rolleyes:

Some may say that you play for the heart, but somewhere down the line, practicality must settle in and there has to be some sort of financial benefit too when attempting to play at the higher levels, on tour. I played this game, loved it, but have found the end with it. Who knows, maybe I will change my mind. I always have before I guess. I have seen alot in this last year, unlike the experiences I have had before. This time, maybe, this will be it.
 
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Hello Jason

jason said:
Hello, my name is jason and I am a poolaholic.
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There is no question of an addiction. My reaction to my addiction has me presently in financial ruin. I will not be posting for awhile.
 
It all started innocently enough when I was around 12 and my mom gave me a dollar to go to the arcade....
 
yes, yes, yes. my addiction to pool has caused multiple breakups between me and my girlfriend. I started playin pool late in life because i couldnt get in to play anywhere unless i was 18 yrs old. so when i started playin i never stopped. then i got good, and the addiction got worse. i got dumped by someone who i really loved and a part of me was relieved because i could now play all i wanted. although we eventually got back together and now have a family of three, pool still remains a stress factor between us. its gettin bettrer though.

i have a friend that lost his wife due to this beautiful game. he couldnt hold a job because he would play all night, gambled away all his tournament winnings. ive seen the best players in dallas askin me for 20 bucks for gas. so when i get to wishin that i played like them, and then i see what i cost them to get there im glad i just play pretty good. when i do play them, they get excited bc they beat me out of a hundred dollars and they can now pay their rent on time this month. i laugh it off, pay them and drive off thankin God that I took control of myself over time.

i will never stop playin, ever. the game is awesome, i love to play it, read bout it, watch it, hear about it. there is nothing better!!!!
 
Addiction? You decide.

Borrowing from alcoholism lore:

You are an (alcoholic) poolaholic if (drinking) pool playing causes you serious problems in any of these four areas:

(1) Family
(2) Medical
(3) The law
(4) Your job

.... and yet you continue to play anyway. :p:(
 
Borrowing from alcoholism lore:

You are an (alcoholic) poolaholic if (drinking) pool playing causes you serious problems in any of these four areas:

(1) Family
(2) Medical
(3) The law
(4) Your job

.... and yet you continue to play anyway.
Click to expand...

My job falls into 3 of these 4....unfortunately my job is not playing pool (I couldn't make enough to be broke).

Seriously though, you only get one go around at life, if something is causing you stress or ruining what is important in life (what is important differs from person to person), you need to move along and find different ways to express yourself and channel your energy towards something positive.

Grasp what truly matters to you, savor every moment and never let it go.

-Mike
 
I've played on and off for 14 years. I love this game of precision. However, about 7 years ago, I came to the stark realization that even most top pros struggle financially. I succombed to the fact that I wanted more security in my life. This prompted me to put pool on the back burner and return to school and get my degree in Computer Engineering.

I reached my goal about 3 years ago and now work for a well-known, global chip maker as a firmware engineer making very good money by most standards. I am happy where I am but there is a part of me that regrets not following my "pool" dreams earlier on. But then when I think about it, it's not so bad where I am at because I can come home to a nice house with my loving wife and not have to worry about how we will pay this months bills. This sense of security is worth the effort I put in to it.

But like a recovering ex-smoker, I still feel the need from time to time. And it sucks me back in. I travel a bit and play on the mini-tours on the west coast when I can. And I understand girlwon1's perspective. I know that I have given so much to this sport and tried relentlessly to achieve a greater status to only come to a point where I ask myself why. Because I love the game? Yes, I do. But I love my wife more. And providing a secure life for her comes before my own replenishment of what I feel I am missing.

I am still searching for that perfect balance and someday I hope I find it. Pool is an addiction. But it doesn't have to own me or anyone else.


girlwon1,

Don't be discouraged. You will find what you are looking for. I believe I know of you on the west coast/AZ scene. And if you are who I think you are, you are a talented player with every chance to excel. The path you are taking is the only path you can take right now and someday it will become clear why this has transpired. I encourage you to follow what's in your heart. If it's school for dentistry, then do it. If it's pool, then do it. But whatever it is, do it with 100% conviction and you will find that your hard work will ALWAYS pay off (as it did in my case).
 
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