Dissecting Through A Gambler's Mind

The mind of a gambler can be a complex scenario of different neuronal and biological activities. There are researches that were conducted that correlate gambling behaviors to the different neurobiological system occurrences inside the brain. It has been an established fact that accounting to the neurotransmitters released through a neuronal process of a brain, there has been a significant correlation between these neuronal transmission to the behavioral aspect that are manifested by gamblers.

The villain to the complex neuronal transmission that occur in the brain with direct manifestations to a gambler's behavior are the neurotransmitters that are relaying signals through the brain to effect an action and behavioral manifestations. The neurotransmitters namely serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine have direct influences to the emotional, psychological and physical behaviors seen among gamblers.

Serotonin influences the emotional center of the brain thereby affecting behavior of a gambler to manifest emotional instability, impulsive behavior and a depressive state. The norepinephrine is the "flight and fright" system of the body that reacts to a dangerous situation, anxiety and stressful conditions. The neurotransmitter dopamine is responsible with the satisfaction and pleasurable feelings that a gambler usually feels when participating in gambling activities.

Any disturbances on the natural equilibrium state of transmission of these signals in the brain are enough to cause havoc in a gambler's behavior. It is believed that this condition can have biological and genetic predisposition which identify a specific person to likely manifest compulsive gabling behavior than other fellow gamblers.

However in relation to these neurobiological influences in a gambling behavior is a study that shows that although the brain is quite responsible for causing gambling behavioral instability, the state of mind of a person can have a strong influence on how to control their gambling activities. The brain may be responsible with the physiological state of erratic behavior but the mind has control on how to respond to these physiological factors that are established by the brain.

While brain functions are absolute, the mind can function with choices. In the presence of a distressing situation, the mind can choose from meditation, prayer, relaxation technique to manage frustrating feelings or turn to drugs, alcohol, and excessive gambling to escape from the frustrating situation. The mind can have the choice on how to accept a certain situation such as losing from gambling and learn how to focus on managing the impulses associated with gambling.

Compulsive gamblers usually have difficulties in controlling the impulses sent by the brain in response to their gambling behaviors. However it is stated that if a gambler is able to turn to compulsive gambling as a form of escape from a particular situation, then they can also have the ability to change the brain waves to do something more meaningful. Addictive behaviors and gambling activities usually provide an illusion of relief from distressing situations to a gambler. It was stressed that if a gambler is able to maintain a conscious contact to live with mindfulness instead of the mindlessness state brought by gambling addiction, compulsive gamblers are able to turn against the illusionary effect presented by gambling addiction.