What does gambling do to you

Body

Gambling causes a lot of tension to build up in your body. In some games this is stronger than in others. The tension is accompanied by an adrenaline rush. In a short-odds game of chance (such as roulette or online poker), you know quickly whether you are winning or losing. As a result, the excitement builds quickly up and quickly down each time. Once you stop playing, your body may miss the thrill.

 Gambling also affects the reward system in the brain. The more uncertain your chances of winning, the greater the feeling of reward in your brain. This feels nice. If you gamble more and more often, your reward system responds less strongly. As a result, you have to gamble more and more often or bet more to get the same nice feeling as before.

 This makes you want to play again and again. This makes gambling addictive.

 Sometimes this turns wanting to play into having to play. You no longer play for fun, but you still have to play on. To win back the money you lost. Or because your life is all about gambling. At that point you may have a gambling addiction.

Sleep

When gambling controls your life, you often fail to get healthy sleep. Do you gamble at night? Or do you have difficulty falling asleep because of your worries? Then you may suffer from fatigue or exhaustion. Or just be restless. Your brain doesn't work as well when you sleep poorly. You start to feel more unstable and even more tense.

 These tips will help you regain healthy sleep:

•  Don't do too many things during the day. Make sure you have time to do nothing and think.

• Drink a glass of warm milk before going to bed.

• Don't have caffeinated coffee, cola, tea or chocolate in the evening.

• Don't eat a heavy meal right before bed.

• Do something quiet before going to sleep. Take a walk, listen to quiet music or read a book.

• Do relaxation exercises. These are on the Internet. Or ask your doctor or physical therapist about them.

• Don't do exciting (computer/gambling) games right before bedtime.

• Turn off the computer well before bedtime.

• Go to bed at the same time as much as possible.

• Exercising can help you sleep better.

• Making love can help you relax

• Don't use the night to think. Think about relaxing things. Or let go of thinking altogether.

• Don't catch up on sleep during the day and get up early. Keep a regular rhythm. Even after a bad night.

• Sleep aids are very addictive. Use them only in emergency situations, and then very briefly.

• Don't take alcohol or cannabis before bedtime. These seem like good sleep aids, but the opposite is true

Brain

Gambling can be exciting and it can make you feel good. This is because of what happens in your brain when you gamble. Two important substances that play a role in this are dopamine and endorphins.

Dopamine: The Reward Substance

Dopamine is a chemical in your brain that makes you feel happy. When you gamble and win, your brain makes a lot of dopamine. This gives you a reward and makes you feel happy and excited. Your brain remembers this reward and wants to experience the feeling again and again. This is why gambling can become addictive. Your brain starts craving that dopamine boost more and more.

Endorphins: The Painkiller

Endorphins are another substance your brain produces. It is often called the “natural painkiller.” When you do exciting or stressful things, such as gambling, your brain makes endorphins. This helps you feel better, even if you lose. Endorphins can also provide a sense of happiness and relaxation.

 The Dangers of Gambling

While gambling can be fun at first, it can also cause problems. Because your brain is always looking for those dopamine and endorphin boosts, you may gamble too much. This can lead to gambling addiction. People who are addicted often have trouble stopping, even when they know it's bad for them. This is because their brain is so used to the rewards of dopamine and endorphins.

 Conclusion

Gambling affects your brain in several ways. Dopamine makes you feel happy when you win, while endorphins help you feel better while gambling. But beware: these chemicals can also make you addicted to gambling. It is important to be aware of the effects and be careful how much you gamble.