If winning releases dopamine...

[Ujimiflip]

So when we win a hand in poker we release a feel good chemical called dopamine, but what feel bad chemical are we releasing when we lose? 🤔 wonder if it's bad for our long term health as poker is mostly a losing game due to variance no matter how educated on the game you are because skill cannot beat down swings in luck. Eg. On a good day you have KQs and your opponent has QJs flop comes QQ2 your opponent goes all in you snap call, QQ2 67... on a bad day QQ2 6J Nothing feels worse than losing.

 

[puzzlefish]

There's no bad chemical, just not having the good chemical is bad enough. All addicts know this.

 

[monkeytilter]

Depends on how stressed you get but it will be cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrin.
They served a useful function throughout our evolution as they prepare you for fight or flight, which is handy when you have to fight off or run away from a predator, but repeated/extended exposure is detrimental for your health.

 

[Mortis]

Cortisol in your adrenal glands is what releases in times of stress. Too much cortisol released in your body can cause anxiety. While the lack of serotonin released can cause depression. Losing big hands can cause either of those to happen, just as a release of dopamine can happen when winning a big pot. Or if your body has trouble regulating those hormones, you might have a chemical imbalance that causes you to feel anxiety, depression, or even extreme amounts of happiness at anytime without needing an event to trigger it (this is what causes manic depression or bipolar disorder).

On that note, I wouldn't call Cortisol a "bad chemical" either. Cortisol is also what triggers one's "fight or flight" mode, and can actually be beneficial in some ways.

 

[pentazepam]

Understanding the stress response - Harvard Health

Research suggests that chronic stress is linked to high blood pressure, clogged arteries, anxiety, depression, addictive behaviors, and obesity....

www.health.harvard.edu

 

[bodil19982]

I try to stay positive even on bad poker days. There's nothing you can do about it, just move on.

 

[ManOfSky]

Of course there is joy in winning, you just have to play calmly and not tilt