Lesson 2: Understanding Your Brain
Why You Might Want to Gamble (or Shop, or Scroll, or...)
Welcome Back (1 minute)
Hey there. Back for lesson 2? Good.
Maybe you tried the phone thing last night. Maybe you forgot. Maybe you meant to but then crashed on the couch. All normal.
Just being here, reading this - it shows your counselor you're engaged. That matters more than being perfect.
Your Brain on Recovery (3 minutes)
Here's something that helps make sense of what you're feeling:
Your brain has a reward system. Like a GPS for feeling good. It remembers what works - morning coffee, a good meal, connecting with someone who cares.
But addiction hijacks this system. Whether it was opioids, stimulants, or whatever you used - your brain got used to massive floods of feel-good chemicals. Way more than normal life provides.
Now you're on medication that helps, but your brain is confused. It's like your favorite restaurant closed. Your brain's still hungry for those feelings, so it starts looking elsewhere:
"Remember how exciting gambling was?"
"Online shopping gave us a little rush"
"What about scrolling for hours?"
"Energy drinks might help"
"That person we shouldn't text..."
This isn't weakness. This is biology.
Nevada Makes It Harder (3 minutes)
Living here means your brain doesn't have to look far for substitutes:
Grocery store = video poker while you shop
Gas station = scratchers at every register
Everywhere = sports betting on your phone
TV = gambling ads every commercial break
Check cashing = "Free" at casinos (but we know the real cost)
Some people call this "addiction switching." Makes sense - your brain's just doing what it knows. Looking for relief. Looking to feel okay.
The tricky part? These substitute behaviors can mess up your recovery:
Blow your money before rent's due
Create new shame and stress
Give you reasons to use again
Make you miss clinic appointments
But here's the thing - now you know what's happening. You're not crazy. You're not failing. Your brain is just trying to survive the only way it knows.
What This Means for You (2 minutes)
If you've noticed yourself:
Thinking about gambling more lately
Shopping when you're broke
Eating way more sugar
Scrolling social media for hours
Looking for any quick fix to feel better
That's your brain trying to fill the gap. It's actually a sign that your medication is working - your brain's not getting what it used to from substances, so it's shopping around.
The good news? Once you see the pattern, you can work with it instead of against it.
Today's Simple Step (1 minute)
Today, just notice. That's it.
When your brain suggests:
"Let's get a scratch-off"
"Let's check out that sale"
"Let's eat a whole pizza"
"Let's text that person"
Just notice: "Oh, there's my brain looking for good feelings again."
Don't judge it. Don't fight it. Just notice like you'd notice the weather. "Huh, it's raining." "Huh, my brain wants a quick fix."
Remember This (30 seconds)
Your brain is healing. It's learning new patterns. This takes time.
Every time you notice these urges without judgment, you're:
Understanding yourself better
Building awareness that protects you
Giving your brain space to heal
Making progress even if it doesn't feel like it
Mention to your counselor if you're noticing more urges for gambling or other behaviors. They've seen this before. They can help.
Tomorrow we'll talk about what to actually DO when these urges hit hard. But today? Just notice.
See you in lesson 3.
