[tiltaholic]

"If I start off in the first few rounds of blinds and am up a fair amount, usually 4-5BB I convince myself that the session was successful, and that I should end it on a positive note. On the other hand, if I go down 4-5BB quickly I start thinking that I'm not playing good, and I try to either get back to even or just leave. "

This passage illustrates the conflict you likely have between your desire to not lose money and the actual way poker works.

There is no immediate connection between "being up or down" for a session and how well one is playing. And 4-5 BB is what, like one hand won or lost?

I am down 5 bb virtually every session I play -- then along comes that 20 bb pot...