The addictive brain in this process. Participants will understand the key issues associated with individuals exhibiting Behavioral Addictions, as well as the unique characteristics of each type. Participants will learn the similarities and differences between Behavioral and Chemical Addictions and the.

• Next, the electrical impulse causes chemicals (neurotransmitters and neuromodulators) to be released into the space between two neurons. Then these chemicals can signal the next neuron to send an electrical impulse and so on. This electro-chemical process forms the brain's communication system.
• Typically, the brain’s “reward center” or “reward circuitry,” have not included the SEF but rather other brain regions that drive pleasurable responses via the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Don’t think gambling is a bad hobby to have? You might be wrong.

Nobody starts gambling with the intent of becoming an addict, but unfortunately that is what happens in many cases.

Once people are in the mindset of “just one more time” or “just until I win back what I’ve lost”, it’s often too late for them to overcome the gambling addiction effects without rehab and help from their family and friends.

If you think that your gambling hobby isn’t a dangerous one, ask yourself this: how many of these signs apply to me?

You might be surprised by just how much your gambling addiction is truly influencing your life. Take a look at this list and see how many signs you recognize in yourself.

Contents

1. Gambling addiction takes over healthy habits

The time that you used to spend on other hobbies like exercising or learning a new skill becomes solely dedicated to gambling.

You might justify this by saying, “My free-time is there for me to do whatever I enjoy!”

While this is true, it’s worrying when you no longer have time for any other hobbies that help you to grow and stay healthy.

Don’t let gambling cause you to neglect the healthy habits that have become a part of your life over the years.

2. Addicts refuse to function like normal humans

The difference in behavior when comparing an addict and somebody who isn’t addicted is quite shocking.

Gambling addicts often neglect their basic responsibilities on the hunt for their next rush of adrenaline.

Addicts start to slack off at work, neglect spending time with loved ones, and will find it difficult to talk about anything not related to their gambling habit.

If someone can’t get through a conversation without mentioning gambling, it might be time for an intervention.

They might be defensive at first but it could be the wake-up call that they need.

3. The addictions illicit chemical changes in the brain

Studies have shown that the chemical changes that occur in the brain with a gambling addiction are the same chemical changes that occur in the brains of drug and alcohol addicts.

These changes are what drive addicts to disregard all other aspect of their lives while they’re on the hunt for the adrenaline rush that only gambling can give them.

It’s a destructive habit that can’t be overcome without professional help thanks to these chemical changes in the brain.

The sooner an addict admits that they need help, the easier it will be for them to fully recover.

4. Permanent brain alteration is a major risk

The risk is clear: these brain alterations take away your judgment.

It’s not uncommon to hear stories of addicts being unable to control themselves when it comes to gambling.

Addicts will often jeopardize their jobs as well as the financial security of their entire family to get their gambling fix.

The longer the addiction goes untreated, the worse it gets.

With these permanent brain alterations it makes it extremely easy for recovering addicts to relapse and become fully addicted once again.

5. PTSD sufferers are at risk of elevated stress with gambling

Studies have shown that those with PTSD, particularly veterans, are almost four times more likely to develop a gambling addiction than any other demographic.

It’s speculated that the rush of adrenaline and euphoria that comes along with gambling is something that strongly effects those with a preexisting condition like PTSD.

Since veterans risked their lives in combat, they don’t see gambling as too big of a threat.

But unfortunately, they are the most likely people to go down a destructive path of addiction if they start gambling too frequently.

6. Excessive gambling causes chronic depression

It’s no wonder that this occurs.

Excessive gambling leads to financial problems as well as interpersonal problems.

Addicts often get fired from their jobs for putting their addiction ahead of all other responsibilities and the families of addicts sometimes break contact with addicts since their self-destructive habits are a danger to everyone around them.

When an addict reaches the point where they have no money, no job, and no one to rely on anymore, it’s easy for them to fall into a deep and terrifying depressive state.

7. Compulsive gambling desires affect regular neurological function

Gambling is always on the mind of an addict.

They may find it difficult to concentrate on any other task.

Their thoughts will always be uninterrupted by the longing to go gambling again.

Some addicts even have trouble sleeping because their desire to go gamble is so strong.

That’s why recovering addicts often go through stages that are similar to withdrawal symptoms in substance addicts.

Their brains will find it difficult to function without getting their fix and they’ll find it difficult to do or think of anything else.

8. Gambling addiction worsens with success

Failure can sometimes deter people from continuing to gamble, but once somebody wins while they are gambling, they often become hooked for life.

No matter how many times they lose after that, they’ll continue to gamble because they believe they will win again at some point.

Unfortunately, it’s extremely rare for anybody to win more than they lose with gambling.

The small hope of winning can be all it takes to make an addiction impossible to overcome for many people.

9. Neurochemical alterations increase in proportion with addiction

The longer you gamble, the more difficult it will be or you to stop gambling.

This holds true of any behavior that you follow for an extended amount of time.

Something that you do often later becomes a habit, something that you do without even thinking all that much about it.

It becomes so automatic and easy that many addicts find themselves gambling online when they really just meant to check their e-mails.

The programming in the brain becomes nearly impossible to beat when you train your mind to gamble.

10. Prolonged addiction instills erratic tendencies

Gambling addicts don’t think like regular people and therefore they don’t act like regular people.

They’re prone to sudden outburst and are extremely volatile to be around.

They’ll most likely be highly defensive and lash out at anyone who is trying to help them.

In severe cases, they might even become physically abusive to those around them as their frustration with their addiction and their lack of success in gambling grows.

It’s often said that addicts will lose their own personality and become nothing more than a gambling fanatic, through and through.

11. Temporarily dormant addictions result in severe relapse

Chemicals in the brain are what regulate human behavior.

Gambling addicts have trained their mind to respond positively to gambling and therefore, for someone who is trying to quit, their minds will be screaming to continue gambling.

The rush that addicts feel from gambling isn’t just metaphorical – it’s a real chemical rush thanks to the chemicals that train addicts to associate gambling with pleasure and happiness.

That’s why it’s so common for recovering addicts to relapse back into their addiction often.

12. Gambling addicts tend to be compulsive liars

Even if they don’t know it consciously, sub-consciously most addicts know that their gambling addiction is something that they need to hide in order to prevent someone from taking gambling away from them.

They’ll often lie about where they were when they were gambling.

They’ll also lie about how they lost the money.

In extreme cases, they’ll lie about money and possessions going missing when they steal from family and friends to fuel their gambling addiction.

13. Severely affected addicts find normal social situations strange

Their whole lives become consumed by gambling.

If they’re in a social situation that doesn’t involve the risk and danger of gambling, they’ll feel out of place and find the situation strange.

Gambling addicts also struggle to understand how other people live without gambling.

They might make odd comments about gambling and related things while in regular social situations.

These comments are a definite sign of a gambling addiction.

14. Excessive addiction fueling leads to sociopathy

The more a person indulges their addiction, the less they care about other things.

They’ll be willing to go further and further to fuel their addiction without any regard for how it impacts the people around them.

This leads to them starting to display sociopathic traits.

They won’t feel remorse for robbing friend and family, for making friends and family worry, and etc.

The more they fuel their addiction, the harder it will be for them to realize just how much they’re hurting others with their behavior.

15. Empathic tendencies are reduced by gambling addiction

This goes along with the sociopathic tendencies.

Addicts are masters at rationalizing even the most abhorrent actions.

They won’t feel empathy for stealing from others to fuel their own addiction, nor will they feel empathy for taking advantage of the people who try to help them.

It’s possible that they might feel a few pangs of remorse, but this is easily pushed away in favor of getting their gambling fix.

The longer they’ve been an addict, the more difficult it is for them to care about others.

16. Addicts are often disconnected from close relations

Close family are the ones who will most likely try to step in and help gambling addicts when they first start displaying worrying signs, but familial love can only go so far.

It’s likely that many close relations choose to cut ties with an addict if they don’t display any kind of desire to stop gambling.

It’s also common for them to cut ties because gambling addicts are prone to robbing those close to them in order to get the money they need to fuel their gambling addiction.

17. Gambling addiction makes substance abuse more likely

Once you’ve become addicted to one thing, becoming addicted to other things is easy.

Gambling addicts often turn to substance abuse when they become depressed.

Gambling is also often entwined with substance abuse since many people gamble recklessly when they are drunk or high.

It’s not uncommon for gambling addicts to pass away due to alcohol poisoning or an overdose.

Sometimes gambling addiction develops after the initial substance abuse problem originated.

18. The addiction enforces thievery from close friends and family

What does a gambling addict do when they don’t have any more money left to go gamble?

They steal money wherever they can.

Gambling addicts will steal cash, cards, and even possessions out of the homes of friends and family just to be able to gamble more.

This is often necessary for them since most addicts lose their jobs due to their extremely erratic behavior.

With no real source of income, they have to turn to thievery in order to get by and gamble.

19. The neurochemical activity permanently damages social adjustment if ignored

The longer a person is addicted to gambling the more difficult it will be for them to eventually integrate back into normal life.

They’ll find it difficult to build up relationships and keep a stable job since the chemicals in their brains have been altered so much thanks to addiction.

Unless they are fully committed to spending possible years rebuilding their lives, it’s unlikely they’ll ever be a part of normal society ever again.

20. Gambling potentially takes over an addict’s life

Everything outside of their addiction will fall away and become irrelevant.

In that moment of gambling where they feel euphoric and full of happiness, they’ll find it easy to push away thoughts of everything else.

When they aren’t gambling, it’s too easy for them to think of nothing except how to get the money required to gamble again.

They’ll stop concentrating on work and may even spend their time at their desk gambling online.

They’ll stop caring about their families and instead think of all the ways they can get money from their family to go gambling again.

It’s a destructive habit that has no happy ending.

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Absolutely, Gamblers become literally “brain washed” by their own chemical reactions. This is due to the Dopamine Addiction that the gambling stimulates and persists.

The Cocktail of Drugs inside a Gambler’s Brain

Here is a visual representation of the different chemical interactions and the jobs they perform.

It’s easy to see how a Gambler displays radical mood swings due to their dopamine addiction.

Quick Chemistry Lesson

The brain is a chemical supercomputer that learns and rewires itself based on its rewards and perceived rewards. It has a number of unique characteristics that have ensured our survival over millions of years.

Noradrenaline

Noradrenaline mobilises the brain & body for action. It reaches high levels during situations of stress or danger, in the so-called fight-or-flight response. In the brain noradrenaline increases arousal & alertness, promotes vigilance, enhances formation & retrieval of memory, and focuses attention. It also increases restlessness, anxiety, and increases heart rate & blood pressure.

Dopamine

– is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward & pleasure centres.– helps regulate movement and emotional responses.– enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them.Normal people get rewarded with Dopamine when they get creative or productive:Discovering new thingsListing down small tasks & ticking them offListening to musicExercising oftenEstablishing a streak (maintaining a productive task on an ongoing basis)Note that the brain releases Dopamine when the reward is simply anticipated. This is massively important, as the gambling brain rewires itself based on what it thinks it will win, rather than historically what it has lost.In tests on pathological gamblers subjects literally start to salivate at simply watching a video of gambling.This is like Pavlov’s dog, who was trained to salivate when it simply heard the bell for food, even though the food had not appeared yet.

Serotonin

– Is a chemical nerve that cells produce and sends signals between your nerve cells.– Mostly present in the digestive system, but also found in blood platelets & throughout the entire central nervous system.– Helps regulate your mood naturally. When your serotonin levels are normal, you feel:

• happier
• calmer
• more focused
• less anxious
• more emotionally stable

The Changing Brain of the Gambling Addict

There is no longer anything remotely normal about the production & regulation of Adrenaline, Dopamine & Serotonin.

The chemical manipulation starts way before the first bet.

Gambling Brain Chemicals List

Just thinking about going gambling will start the release of the various chemicals in the brain. This follows the old patterns (neural pathways) and re-enforces them.

And once the first bet is placed, those original feelings surge like a tsunami as memories of wins and associated patterns of significance are recalled into the mind & body.

• Adrenaline is released and their heart starts to pound with the ancient ‘Fight or Flight’ response. But the Gambler finds this danger challenging, exciting & exhilarating and never runs the other way. It’s part of the excitement.
• MASSIVE amounts of Dopamine/Serotonin are released washing over the brain over the course of the gambling session. This session might last anything from a few minutes to a few hours to an entire day to several days.
• Cortisol (stress hormone) is also released as the gambler loses, and attempts to get more wins (Dopamine) to make the feeling go away.

Unable to Walk Away

The gambler is literally brain-washed with these hormones and all reason goes out of the window. They will gamble their entire months wages, without even the bus fare to get home.

In fact during this process the frontal lobe nearly shuts down, impairing the brain’s ability to decide that enough is enough. So they can’t even walk away.

These symptoms are identical to crack/crystal meth addicts. The gambling session usually only stops when the money runs out. Or when the gambler is unable to obtain money by some other means (ie. raid other accounts or borrow/sell/steal something etc).

That kind of behaviour seems insane to a normal person. But to the gambler’s mind it is normal, as their circuits have rewired themselves as a result of their gambling experiences.

Dopamine Addiction – Evolution Hijacked

The brains’ ability to re-wire itself through learning is known as “Plasticity.”

Neural Plasticity is one of the features in human evolution:

• Without survival instincts we wouldn’t know to run from a bear
• Without a reward system humans wouldn’t be motivated to hunt or pro-create

This cycle reinforces the existing neural pathways and makes them deeper.

So with each new gambling session, the chances of the gambler making a different choice next time gets less & less.

Watch this brilliant 5 minute video which summarises some a lot of what is going on:

The Gambling-Dopamine Hangover

Once the gambling has stopped, the Adrenaline & Dopamine roller coaster is replaced with the heavy feelings of Guilt & Fear. Reality bites.

The gambler panics. They cry. Feeling the fear of being found out, they experience massive stress of not being to pay bills or debts.

The gambler comes out into the cold light of day or turns off their device. Realising they have made the problem worse not better, they are in a bigger mess than before. Desperate.

After a long gambling session the gambler may not have eaten for a long time. Their blood sugar will be low. So they need another hit to bring them back up, like sugar or alcohol. They will certainly avoid other people and will turn off their phone.

Gambling Brain Chemicals Vs

He or she will vow to return as possible and chase back their money, or vow never to gamble again.

But their gambler brain is wired to follow the same established pathways. Consequentially the person is unable to see their promise through, even with the best intentions in the world. It is their current programming of they way gambling has wired their brain circuits.

Block Dopamine?

Can brain research overcome the effects of dopamine addiction?

Neuroscientists are actively pursuing the creation of drugs that block the learning induced by dopamine addiction.

However, they have had limited success. It is difficult to create a drug the blocks that learning without also blocking other functions of dopamine, such as feeling alert, motivated and happy.

So for the moment seek help in the ways that are proven to work.

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