Originally Posted by Suburbanite

Vertigo, not the clinical dizziness, but instead the concept espoused by Kundera; namely vertigo as a continuous compounding of misery and loathing. Ever know anyone who got hurt, and instead of working to heal themselves, they continue to expose themselves to the same or even worse elements attempting to harm themselves even further. Drug addicts, women in abusive relationships, etc. These people suffer and start to find their only sense of self within the suffering, so they bring on more and more, hoping for the pity and attention of those around them, but completely resistant to self-help. Suicide attempts are one such example. But vertigo effects us in small ways, too. Any poker players here? Ever lose a big hand on the river? You know that feeling you have after you lost where you want to keep betting on the next hand. The poker term is tilt, its when a player is playing his cards out of spite for losing. The result is often more losing.