Pokémon TCG and Mental Health: Why This Hobby Feels So Good (and Sometimes Doesn’t)

Written By adam griffin

Pokémon TCG and Mental Health: Why This Hobby Feels So Good (and Sometimes Doesn’t)

Two things have always stuck with me: Pokémon and psychology. I grew up playing Pokémon, later earned a degree in psychology, and eventually found my way back into the hobby as an adult, you can read more about that here.

That combination and the current state of the market have had me thinking something interesting—collecting Pokémon cards isn’t just a hobby. It’s an emotional experience. Pokémon is a “dual mechanism” in that, it can provide support for your mental health, but also be detrimental to it as well.

For many of us, Pokémon is an escape. It brings nostalgia, excitement, and a genuine sense of joy. Opening packs, chasing cards, and building collections can be incredibly satisfying when it all goes to plan.

But if you’ve been in the streets lately trying to grab a pack, you’ll know it’s looking a bit Gloom-y at the moment.

There are highs, like pulling a chase card you’ve been after for weeks & there are lows, like empty shelves, overpriced resellers, or spending more than you planned and getting nothing in return.

So why does it feel so intense at the moment? And how can you immunise yourself to the stress?

The Psychology Behind Pokémon Cards

A lot of it comes down to dopamine, the brain chemical linked to reward and motivation.

Opening packs creates what’s known as a variable reward system. You don’t know what you’re going to get, which makes the experience more exciting. It’s the same psychological mechanism used in gambling and gaming systems.

Sometimes you win big. Most of the time, you don’t, but the possibility keeps you coming back.

This is why:

  • Big pulls feel amazing

  • Bad openings feel disproportionately disappointing

  • “Just one more pack” is so tempting (ask any one with ADHD including myself, and they will tell you how hard impulse control is, trust me.)

When a Hobby Starts Affecting Your Mood

For most people, Pokémon is harmless fun. But certain patterns can start to impact your mental health:

  • Overspending chasing pulls

  • Comparing your luck to social media

  • Feeling frustrated by stock shortages

  • FOMO (fear of missing out) on new releases

None of this means you should stop enjoying Pokémon, it just means being aware of how it affects you and then taking measures to reduce stress.

Keeping the Joy in the Hobby

The goal isn’t to remove the excitement—it’s to keep it healthy.

Pokémon should be something that:

  • Helps you relax

  • Gives you something to look forward to

  • Connects you with others

If it starts doing the opposite, it’s worth adjusting how you engage with it. For me, it is missing a drop every now and then, avoiding those busy, pushy queues. For others it may be spending on singles you want, not packs with no guaranteed hits. If you prefer collecting singles over gambling on packs, you can browse my latest stock here

In the next post, I’ll break down the most important rule for staying happy in this hobby: setting a budget and avoiding overspending.

adam griffin