How does gambling affect you?
1. Dopamine: your reward system
- When you gamble, your brain produces dopamine – a substance that gives you a pleasant and exciting feeling.
- Dopamine is released especially during near-wins or unexpected rewards.
- Your brain starts to see gambling as something that gives you pleasure and rewards, just like alcohol or drugs.
2. Disruption of the system
- If you gamble frequently, your brain becomes accustomed to it. You are less likely to experience a pleasant and exciting feeling.
- As a result, you gamble more often, for longer periods of time or with greater risks to achieve the same pleasant feeling. This is called tolerance.
- Other enjoyable activities, such as sports, friends or hobbies, give you less pleasure than before.
3. Strong urge to gamble and less control
- The part of your brain that makes decisions and inhibits impulses (the prefrontal cortex) does not function properly when you are addicted.
- You get a strong urge to gamble, even when you know it is bad for you.
How does gambling affect your mental health?
1. Loneliness and shame
- Many people who gamble do so secretly and do not talk about it.
- You often feel lonely, guilty or ashamed.
- These feelings can cause you to gamble even more, to escape from those thoughts.
2. Anxiety and stress
- People who gamble often feel tense. “How much have I lost?” or “What if someone finds out?”
- You may also worry about money problems that you cannot or do not want to share with anyone.
- This causes a lot of stress, arguments and sleepless nights.
3. Sadness and depression
- Because your brain becomes less sensitive to pleasure, you often feel sad.
- Some people feel hopeless, worthless or depressed. In severe cases, there may even be thoughts of suicide.
How does gambling affect your sleep and energy levels?
- Many people who gamble sleep poorly. You might be awake worrying, feeling guilty or gambling at night.
- Due to poor sleep, you’re often tired during the day and easily angered or sad.
Summary
Gambling may seem harmless, but it has a major impact on your brain, feelings, and behaviour. If you no longer have control over your gambling behaviour, you are addicted. This affects your health, emotions and relationships with others. Do you notice gambling is affecting you more than you would like, or do you see this in someone else? Contact us via WhatsApp, chat or telephone. This is free and anonymous.