GamStop released a new report on its website containing gambling’s Phys effects on gamblers. This report is based on scientific studies that concluded that: Gambling can “literally and figuratively” wash the addict’s brain! Because of the chemical reactions that occur when playing.
The brain is a chemical giant computer that learns from the surrounding stimuli. However, despite his efficiency in decision-making and managing human life, the reward system stimulates it. (exactly like a piece of cheese stimulates a mouse to get in a trap).
Our brains have many unique characteristics that have ensured our survival over millions of years in various conditions on this planet.
Yet the secretions Which activate in the brain may push many to fall into the gambling addiction trap. Then they can’t control their behavior and want to gamble with more money in every gaming session. also, there is a lot of addicts who think that they are not doing anything wrong. but rather that they “enjoy playing” ignoring the side effects of gambling addiction!
In this article, we will look at the most important hormones produced by the brain when gambling. Since we are different in everything, the secretion of these hormones varies from one to another. But the addicted brain has secretions higher than the average. Therefore, they feel more excited when achieving profits and not losing hope when lose! Rather, they try again and again to recover their losses.
So, that their brains release more “happiness hormones” and they feel pleasure. Self-satisfaction. Confidence in their decisions. And their mood improves!
1. Adrenaline
Adrenaline is a hormone that moves the brain and body to work. It reaches its highest levels during situations of stress or danger giving the response of “fight or flight”. Adrenaline increases alertness and activity. Promotes memory formation and recall. Focuses attention. Widens the pupil of the eyes. Calms all body aches. Activates muscles. Increases restlessness, heart rate, and blood pressure.
2. Dopamine
It is a neurotransmitter that controls the reward and pleasure centers in the brain. Also, it helps regulate movement and emotional responses. It causes us to take strong actions to obtain rewards.
For example, imagine that you have found Alibaba’s treasure. How will you feel? This feeling comes from the secretion of dopamine in the brain!
In daily life, dopamine reward people when they get creative or productive. Also, when they can discover new things, do tasks, exercise, or complete a day at work!
Notice that the brain releases dopamine when the reward is expected and close to your hand. This is what happens with normal people. As for gambling addicts, their gambling brains think that “winning is near” no matter what they lose. In tests done on addicted gamblers, people start “salivating” just by watching videos of gambling! This is like Pavlov’s dog, who was trained to secrete salivation when he simply heard a food bell even though the food had not yet appeared!
3. Serotonin
It is a chemical secretion that exists between nerve cells. Also, in the digestive system, platelets, and throughout the central nervous system. Serotonin helps regulate your mood naturally when its levels are normal as you will feel the following:
- Happier
- Better focus
- Less anxious
- Better mood
The Mind of Gambling Addict
We mentioned the effects of hormone secretion at the normal rate. But for addicted gambling, there is no longer anything normal!
Regarding the secretion and regulation of adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin. There is a great craving for these hormones and they are secreted at a higher than average level. Their secretion begins as soon as you enter the casino and before placing a bet initial bet.
Just thinking about gambling will start releasing various chemicals in the brain, and as soon as you place the first bet, those strong emotions escalate like a tsunami as memories of victories and patterns of significance are invoked in the mind and body.
Then adrenaline releases and the heart beats at a rapid pace; The gambler feels a “kill or run” response. But he never runs away! Because he finds gambling exciting, joyful and he has strong convictions in his ability to win.
Massive amounts of dopamine/serotonin are released to wash the brain during the gambling session. This session can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to an entire day and up to several days!
Cortisol (the stress hormone) is also released when the gambler loses. So, he tries to get more victories (dopamine) to get rid of this feeling.
How Gambling Affects the Brain of an Addict?
The addict is brainwashed with these hormones, which may make him gamble with his full monthly wages or even gamble with bus fare and go home on his feet!
During this process, the frontal lobe closes, impairing the brain’s ability to decide that this is enough or no. So, the addicts can never move away from the gambling table.
These symptoms are the same as those of drug addiction. The gambling session will not stop until the gambler’s money runs out, or when he is unable to obtain funds through other means (such as borrowing / selling his valuables / stealing something, etc.).
This kind of behavior sounds crazy to the average person, but to the mind of a gambling addict, it is normal, because their brain circuits have reconfigured themselves as a result of the gambling experiences.
Conclusion
Although gambling addiction is extremely dangerous, no one sheds light on its sensitivity to this addiction! For example, many normal people who read this article believed, even for a moment, that they are addicted! However, the same scientific studies confirm that gambling addicts have a genetic readiness for gambling addiction.
For that, a lot of players participate in the GameStop service, then discover that they do not have an addiction! Since it is not possible to cancel the GamStop restriction, players must participate in casinos that are not linked to GamStop. You can learn more about these casinos from justuk.club website.
