After a couple of hours of chess...

Hi everyone, Ive come here cause Ive got a little problem, and would like peoples opinions/experiences and such.

A couple of years ago, I started playing chess. I found blitz games very enjoyable, but it didnt take long for me to notice something very weird. I would have insomnia AND have trouble getting the game off my head when going to bed, I would literally see random moves and plays in my head for no reason, which led to my insomnia. Troubled by this I quit playing chess not even 48 hours after having those symptoms.

A few months back, I started medschool, and looked for means to improve my cognitive abilities. Finally, earlier this week, I decided to give chess a try again. Last night it happened again, I could see a chess board and random plays going on. Unluckily for me, I had a test today, though I managed to concentrate for its duration... during lectures, I would pretty much be staring at my professors, while the plays kept going on and on in my head.

As long as I distract myself, I can take the pictures off my head, but they always come back...

Has any of you experienced or heard of this?

Please help, I really like chess :[

perhaps you should try to use it to your own good :) the best people in some areas aren't usually very normal, in a good sense of course.. for example Fischer, Van Gogh,...

Zokey:

So wierd you say this. I had my first chess dream last night lol. I cant remember much, but all I remember was that i kept advancing my pawns one by one down the file by 2 squares. I was white. I don't remember who I was playing but I remember their side having a knight but I don't recall what else was going on.You could always dream of worse....or much better

Good luck in school.

Mike

They're random moves, and not related to any game you've played? Not sure if that's the case.

If they're related to games you're playing, then i suggest finishing those games. If you're still analysing the game(s), then i suggest also getting an analysis out of the way ASAP.

I dont know if theyre related, I guess they must be, since the image does show so vividly in my head. Admitedly, my brain IS different than that of a normal person as I am asperger.

What worries me, however, is that Im not gonna be getting any sleep if the pictures dont pop out of my head, so Ill just have to quit chess if that happens.

Funny you mention this, as I too have chess "dreams."  Often times, it's bordering on nightmare ish and I toss and turn throughout the night, which doesn't usually result in a great sleep.  

Theyre not dreams though, Im most certainly awake as the pictures pop up in my head. And they stay like that during the middle of the day, a few hours ago they stopped... so I had those images for around 18 hours straight...

I get this if I spend many hours doing something before bed, whether it be chess, a book, call of duty, tv show marathon, etc. I once played bomber man for hours and when I was laying in bed I kept seeing that little guy running around.

i have the same problem, although it only comes for a particularly bad loss where i should have won, or a tourney game.

I find playing blitz games are the solution, as for me it wipes the slate clean. just be sure to end off with a couple of wins to make you feel better.

Why don't you just checkmate your opponent in your dreams, and end the game fast. YOU may be able to sleep quicker.  Same as in a classroom, just checkmate and move on!  

I use to have this horrible dreams, until I realized I was the MASTER, so I"d turn the circumstances around, take control, and my "horror dreams" ended. 

Just a thought.  Other thought is, your playing too much. :D

I know what you're talking about.  this same thing happens to me a lot.  especially with math.  they're like flashes that happen suddenly and im suddenly visualizing it.  it feels like some sort of trip.  i don't what to do about it either.   

Zokey, maybe you will be able to decrease the visuals by concentrating on something else, like focusing on your breathing and the sensation of air going in and out your nostrils. Also, if you are playing late at night, shortly before you go to bed, then you will probably have less trouble sleeping if you play earlier and make sure you do other things for a few hours before going to bed. There's much less chance of having strong visual experiences if you have been focusing on other things for a few hours. Chess also can be very stimulating, which makes it more difficult to go to sleep if you have played recently, even if not troubled by visuals.

Sounds like people haven't had the same experience.  It's odd that it's only with chess that this happens.  I can't offer advice because I can't relate.

You say the moves and plays pop into your head though.  Maybe it's only chess because the pattern moves?  You may try taking up Go where you can exercise your brain and there are patterns, but the pieces don't move.

The only similar experience I've had is after I've fallen asleep sometimes jumbled logic patterns and ideas from chess or studies will keep me from sleeping well.  It's like my brain's awake and trying to problem solve so isn't resting even though my body is asleep (kinda hard to explain).  If it finally wakes me up I can turn over and go back to sleep and sleep for real.

Maybe related I sometimes experience sleep paralysis.  This isn't what you're describing though.  I'd probably just quit chess and find something else.

I suspect Zokey would not just have the problem with chess but with anything that requires visuo-spatial concentration and visualization for an extended period of time.

I think he's experiencing the phenomenon known as the Tetris Effect, and I bet he would experience similar effect by playing Tetris for a few hours -- as long as he focuses just as hard on Tetris as chess.

You're probably right sapientdust, and the advice you gave sounded more on the mark.

If it is like the tetris effect then I guess I have experienced it, but only when I was a kid.  You just kind of grow out of it I guess, or at least in my case I did.

thanks guys, Ill try what you guys have said, any more advice would be greatly appreciated. Today I just played 2 blitz games... hopefully 10 minutes wont keep me up a second night straight ._.

EDIT: Reading about Tetris Effect, thats probably it, it fits in alot more than anything else. I'm going to ask my shrink about it next year when I see him...

yes and in fact just last nite.  I see the patterns and yes seemingly random moves and it does make for some disturbing sleep.  I do believe I read an article about this pertaining to video games.  For me it is persistant with anything I put a great deal of thought into.  Like you keep playing it through in your sleep.  I think some peoples brains are more prone to this condition then others.  OT but In my younger days I was very fond of wild crafting, the hunting and gathering of wild herbs.  Well every time I closed my eyes or went to sleep I would see the patterns of leaves of a particular plant, the ginseng.  It allowed me to find this plant in ways that astonded life time veterans.  A glimpse of even a centimeter of the ginseng leaf or prongs at 20 yards and I'd just stop, my brain percieving the pattern well before my I actually "saw" where the plant was.  Annoying as it is net net I think its a positive.  I use chess to work through my problems as opposed to taking anti depressents or drugs and its nice to know our brains keep working on our problems long after we realize it.  Try and do something else before going to sleep just don't turn of the computer and hit the sack.  that might help, but I doubt it.. 

Zokey out of curiousity.  I read alot and would assume being a med student you would have to.  Do you "cycle" this way in your sleep after a long study session?   If I get really into a book and spend the day reading I keep playing out the story or subject in my sleep.  If its just with chess that is curious.  Could be the geometry of the board and hey, maybe you now have your next thesis!  Dr.

Howard Stern quit his lessons with Heisman because he started to dream about chess.

Is this any different when you watch a hot porno(sometimes you can't get out of your head)