Does playing poker relieve stress or increase it?

[Chicken_destroy]

According to the AI:
When does it help to REMOVE stress? (Recreational Use)
For many, poker works as an “active disconnect” tool.
Total focus: As a game that requires a lot of concentration, it forces your brain to stop thinking about work or personal life problems. It's hard to worry about bills when you're trying to decipher if someone is bluffing.
Socialization: Playing a “home game” with friends, with symbolic bets, encourages laughter and social connection, which lowers cortisol levels.
Intellectual Stimulation: Solving mathematical and psychological problems can be rewarding and give a sense of accomplishment.
When does stress increase? (Competitive or Problem Use)
Poker has inherent elements that can trigger anxiety if not managed well:
The Variance (Bad Luck): You can make the 100% right decision and still lose due to chance. This lack of control can be very frustrating for people with a low tolerance for uncertainty.
bankroll Management: If you're playing money you need to live, the stress will be extreme. Fear of loss activates the body's “fight or flight” system.
Mental Fatigue: Long sessions require maintaining maximum alertness. When the brain gets tired, stress increases and mistakes are made (tilt), creating a vicious cycle of frustration.

 

[yakovlev]

in my case not sure about stress, but adrenaline increased for sure

 

[Viking26]

In long term I think increase IT...You won T winn every single game...and every single bust /loss is a nerv gathering ,regardles how small IT is...with Time IT Will increase

 

[Cooking]

For me 80% of the times it increase my stress and 20% help to reduce the stress.

 

[bodil19982]

I like to play poker because it relaxes me.

 

[mase]

Always depends on the cards you get

 

[KeyPatience]

According to the AI:
When does it help to REMOVE stress? (Recreational Use)
For many, poker works as an “active disconnect” tool.
Total focus: As a game that requires a lot of concentration, it forces your brain to stop thinking about work or personal life problems. It's hard to worry about bills when you're trying to decipher if someone is bluffing.
Socialization: Playing a “home game” with friends, with symbolic bets, encourages laughter and social connection, which lowers cortisol levels.
Intellectual Stimulation: Solving mathematical and psychological problems can be rewarding and give a sense of accomplishment.
When does stress increase? (Competitive or Problem Use)
Poker has inherent elements that can trigger anxiety if not managed well:
The Variance (Bad Luck): You can make the 100% right decision and still lose due to chance. This lack of control can be very frustrating for people with a low tolerance for uncertainty.
Bankroll Management: If you're playing money you need to live, the stress will be extreme. Fear of loss activates the body's “fight or flight” system.
Mental Fatigue: Long sessions require maintaining maximum alertness. When the brain gets tired, stress increases and mistakes are made (tilt), creating a vicious cycle of frustration.

Anything you love doing without getting tired is a stress-free thing!

 

[flattershay]

I'm not that emotional at poker. So it's kinda does nothing? I just play it as a game.

 

[10gerka]

For me, it's a game where I have a great time and it relieves my stress. I don't care if I win or lose; what matters to me is playing my game correctly and having fun.

 

[hilary antonik filho]

It depends on each person.
For me, it eliminates stress, and I don't live stressed out either.

 

[Shadow6969]

If u play good stress decreases and if you play bad stress increases . It's completely on you so Play properly with proper bank roll management. I have seen many of my friends who have depression due to poker and gambling so Play properly 😁

 

[Lena M]

According to the AI:
When does it help to REMOVE stress? (Recreational Use)
For many, poker works as an “active disconnect” tool.
Total focus: As a game that requires a lot of concentration, it forces your brain to stop thinking about work or personal life problems. It's hard to worry about bills when you're trying to decipher if someone is bluffing.
Socialization: Playing a “home game” with friends, with symbolic bets, encourages laughter and social connection, which lowers cortisol levels.
Intellectual Stimulation: Solving mathematical and psychological problems can be rewarding and give a sense of accomplishment.
When does stress increase? (Competitive or Problem Use)
Poker has inherent elements that can trigger anxiety if not managed well:
The Variance (Bad Luck): You can make the 100% right decision and still lose due to chance. This lack of control can be very frustrating for people with a low tolerance for uncertainty.
Bankroll Management: If you're playing money you need to live, the stress will be extreme. Fear of loss activates the body's “fight or flight” system.
Mental Fatigue: Long sessions require maintaining maximum alertness. When the brain gets tired, stress increases and mistakes are made (tilt), creating a vicious cycle of frustration.

For me, poker is entertainment that distracts me from my problems. When I play, I don't feel stressed or anxious. On the contrary, I try to stay focused, not get distracted, and play disciplined. This approach allows me to not only enjoy the game, but also make money

 

[austral]

If you are well-trained and emotionally balanced, poker is usually not relaxing, but it is not necessarily harmful either: it is a form of functional stress, similar to that experienced by an athlete.
On the other hand, when emotional control or financial stability is lacking, poker tends to significantly increase stress.

 

[WellAA]

For me 80% of the times it increase my stress and 20% help to reduce the stress.

I agree, most people get too much stressed, for that not happen You need to make fun losing with aces against 27 off. Most people keeps crying about a week not getting and complaining with everybody asking how's that possible?

 

[Toruk Makto]

It will depend a lot on the results...

 

[hardongear]

I play poker because I enjoy it, find it fun so I guess that would be less stressful for me. Of course most of us are likely mostly comparing the stress level poker causes to what we do for a living day in and day out and the stress level we can handle.

Cheers!!!

 

[moraeskvmi]

If you're stressed, don't even play.

 

[ammje]

Well, if you have a losing session it could increase stress, but if you have a winning session your mood could improve.

 

[Roller]

Poker increases stress levels in most players but also gives and adrenaline and endorphin rush on the win, basically wash in the end.

 

[Rost]

Poker can certainly be stressful if you spend more than you can afford. For players who don't know how to play disciplined and don't follow bankroll management, poker is essentially one big stress.

 

[tuitui]

Five tournaments. Five times the same moment: a few more players before the money, and then it's all over. (Ok, I did get to second Place in the qualifier for one of them, but that does not much ease the pain.) Four out of five it was bad beat. Just when the goal seems within reach, the game suddenly ends, and all that's left is an empty feeling. I could continue to next game as they were about one after another, but now after spending my well earned ticket, the GAME IS OVER. 😕I have to say I do feel quite stressed now. But I would be even more stressed if I had played with money, this was freerollish stuff.

 

[Like2Play2]

I use poker to relieve stress. But unfortunately, because of the nature of the game it usually augments my stress.
At a time in my life it did relieve stress. But many years later, knowing the game it usually augments my stress, and that is why I play very little poker.

 

[Newzooozooo]

Poker helps me relieve stress and relax. Although I play with focus and patience, the process of playing itself has a calming effect on me. Thanks to the game, I get rid of the negativity I experience, and overall, poker always has a positive effect on my mood.

 

[Kasztor007]

For me, poker reduces or increases stress depending on how and why you play. With proper bankroll management and a process-focused mindset, it can be relaxing and mentally engaging. But when you play tired, emotionally, or with money you can’t afford to lose, it easily becomes a major source of stress.

 

[eberetta1]

Poker increases my stress by 10 fold. Been doing other less stressful stuff in addition to poker to make some small money like getting paid $49 for completing city 21 in a certain amount of days. Then I don't have to worry about bad beats ruining my day.