When I have difficult/distasteful work to do, I have three options for dealing with the burden that places on me: 1) do the work and get it over with, 2) take a nap, or 3) play/study chess. I have resorted to each of these, though I must admit that the first choice is both best and hardest to make.
Has chess ever really changed your life, or got you through a tough time?
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Jan 31, 2009
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#2
i like chess, but i have trouble with one friend of mine at school, he likes to play chess all day, but i don't want to play all day, it tires me mentaly and makes me a big walking potatoe, i have trouble being myself with my other non chess player friends, for me chess has been more of a curse than a relief, and i find it hard to focus on anything other than chess (or music at times), the problem is that at most times chess is just yucky, but at times it is really beautiful, and because of that i am addicted, no stopping here, i simply have to socialize with the right chess players so i won't lose my love to the game, because i really like it!
well.
Being 32 years of age and playing chess for 25 years I can say that yes chess can help you get through hard times in life. I have been through periods with very bad physical health and several surgeries and in those depressing periods chess helped me get my confidence back since I was still able to play good chess despite severe health problems. Same when losing a girlfriend or other stuff - chess never abandons you..:-) But it requires dedication - if you abandon chess for 10 years...difficult to get back.
It has brough a lot of pleasure to my life.
I find that i feel relaxed while playing chess and it does take my mind off things but then I take it too far. I get obsessed and it takes over things. I find it difficult to limit myself and today even thought about resigning all my games and chucking it in. I've only been playing for about 8 months too.
chess causes me work problems. Like, right now, I've got to write 4,000 words on authenticity and identity on the satanic verses and the master and the margarita for my final year dissertation by monday 9am. But, 'just one more game'( always just one more game)
May 9, 2009
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#8
Chess makes me happy. Chess is an escape from the normal world for me.
When my brother unexpectantly died I ploughed headlong into chess to lessen my depression and Anxiety due to this horrible event.
I dare say if I didn't have chess and my love of god I think i would have killed myself
Right now I've been going through some rough times and chess helps take my mind off everything. Although I'm only online a short time each evening, it helps relieve the stress.
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Too much of anything is a bad thing, they say. Drugs, booze, chess, whatever. I don't do drugs, but I am hooked on the other two. I go overboard on beer and chess, mostly at the same time, which is probably not a healthy combination either. Chess gives an escape from the outside world. Whatever problems I may have at the time are still out there, but at least for the moment they don't have me by the throat. I suggest that everybody have something like that, if not chess then at least some other hobby that gives pleasure and escape.
May 9, 2009
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#11
hmm. Ok, I have a friend with an eating disorder for almost 10 years and chess has done 2 things for her.
1. It forces her to engage in something which does not relate whatsoever to what she looks like and puts the importance of her mind/intellect at the forefront. It distracts her from a looks-obsessed society.
2. She is incapable of continuing eating disordered behavior and playing chess at the same time because the capacity to think/reason diminishes tenfold when she has fatigued her body with the eating disorder. She can't do both.
She's pretty thankful for chess in this way. Her soul, for a short time, gets rejuvenated. :)
Chess to me is a nice little bubble that the outside world cannot touch. In everyday life, even when you have done everything 'right', chaotic things still may happen. But, in chess, there exsists a perfect vacuum in which logic can exsist and come to fruition. Take for example my life. I may work two jobs and run myself to exhaustion, trying to get ahead, and then bang, my car dies. I have planned well, I have worked hard, but still get undesirable result! So unfair!!
But, in chess, I can build a nice centre, sac some pieces to cash in a positional advantage, and make some beautiful art to enjoy later! 
To have something that the element of chance cannot molest is a very special thing.
May 9, 2009
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#13
chess definitely has really changed my life. it provides a good use of my time and encourages me to think in a constructive way. It has also helped my self confidence knowing that I can play a decent (sort of) game that is very challenging.
Chess helped me kick a gambling addiction. It provides the same thrills without the actual consequences. It's harder to overdose on chess than online poker. But If you do end up spending 18 hours a day playing chess, your girlfriend might still leave you, but at least your bank account won't empty out, and your gray matter is left with a massage.
Apparently it also prevents several types of mental illnesses. (Use it or lose it.)
I'm 17, a senior in high school. Emotional distress is everywhere, ha. Between girlfriend, work, grades and college, it's nice to have something to take my mind off of things when I'm having a tough time with one of them. Chess seems to be pretty good for that recently, espcially when trying to 'master' a new Opening (1.c4 for me). I just go through all the possible, realistic lines I see, do a bit of research online with it, ect. And before I know it, most of the time, the problem is over.
Then a new problem inevitibily appears, but, it keeps me occupied I suppose.
Anyone have any stories reguarding chess in this manner? Do you have a personal attachment to chess? Has it ever made a hugh emotional impact in any way?
Thanks.