running bad and playing bad often go hand in hand. Sometimes it's just mental (consider the flipside.. if you're running good and winning lots, you usually think you're playing pretty damn well even if that's not the case). A lot of times running bad just causes you to play worse though. Tilting and/or losing confidence in your game is AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL for a poker player.

Most people say take a break and chill out. I think that's good advice. Most people mean for a week or w/e, and that's probably also good advice but it doesn't work much for me. I like the 'man up, cool off for 12 hours, play after a good nights sleep and be damn sure you play well' approach.