They say confession is good for the soul.
Several months into my first year counting I was up about $5,000 from a number of $500 to $2,000 winning trips to AC. On this particular trip I visited Trump Plaza. The pen was great, so I settled into what turned out to be an all day all night session on a $15 table. At the end of the night I could hardly keep my eyes open and I was down about $3,000. I was stubborn and steaming and went to another table where the dealer was far too fast for my half asleep brain and then to a $25 table where my luck still didn't change. All told, I was down somewhere betwen $4,000 and $5,000 when I left. (I can't remember the exact details but I reported it somewhere in the Forum when it happened.)
Anyway, I was steaming so bad when I got back to my hotel in time to check out that I decided on one grandstand play to try and recoup some of my losses. I wagered $1,000 at roulette and won. My friend cautioned me not to let it ride, so I wagered $500 this time and won. I wanted one more bet before I left AC so I bet another $500 and won. My stupid plays recouped almost half my losses.
The moral is not that I recouped some of my losses. That was a boneheaded play. It would have served me right if I had ended up $6,000 or $7,000 loser (20/20 hindsight). The moral of the story is never gamble when you're overtired because your judgment is impaired, and don't let yourself steam because it makes you chase your money turning a moderate loss into a major catastrophe.
I believe in always turning your defeats into something positive. The positive aspect of that experience is that I have become a cooler, more level-headed player. I get as much sleep as I can and avoid the tables when I'm feeling negative or not on top of it. I take breaks every couple of hours unless I'm on a roll or feeling good--but no more marathons. If things go south and I get that losing feeling, I pull up. Negative feelings and negative thinking do not go well with card counting and gambling in general. Negativity impairs your judgment.
One more thing--winning on a stupid ploppy play like I did with roulette is a dress rehearsal for a future big fall. It makes gamblers believe they are lucky and leads them to take unwarranted chances. I'm sure I will never pull a stunt like that again. For one thing, I am convinced that a sharp, fresh mind is key to successful gambling. I don't make those stupid decisions when my mind is fresh and clear. It's a really simple but important lesson.
I may lose in the future (no one can control variance), but I'll have the peace of mind in knowing that it wasn't my fault.