Playing it makes everyone think I'm smart, so it's a real self esteem boost.
chess relationship with mental health

There is several accounts of chess driving people crazy.
The most comont event is the nigthmares.
To Give you 3 examples. There was a chessmaster who says at nigth he dreams he is in a maze and on the far front wall is the face of his oponent, then he wonders arround this maze whitout getting outand always with the face on the front wall. Some painter protrayed this scene, but my memory is so poor ican't find it.
Second story, A friend of mine had to give a brake to chess becouse for several nigths he dreams a big knigth moves to where he was and was coing to crush min, he then wakes screaming. After finding profecional help to deal with this, the medicine was to leave the board alone for some time and get some medicine.
The 3th one is in this same forums here the link :http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/chess-nightmare
But there is way more,, just google for chess and nigthmars and you will see.
I just found a paint, the artis is chessplayer, check it out:

I myself have most times also some 'weird feelings' when logging-in and meeting the 'others' in the nights, just some strange feelings, annot realy pinpoint it
But luckily then later allways some passing-by some nice people who challeng for a game of chess or some 'quality time chat' in some forums
And ome even keep challenging me on later days, and I then face some diffiulties 'blokking them', they seem to keep coming back
But does that influence me in a 'mental way'? Only sometimes, and sometimes it only influences my good nights rest.
How does chess help improve your mind?