Are you addicted to worry?

There are a lot of addictions that we are warned about in our lifetime.  Cigarettes, gambling, etc…  But does anyone ever talk to you about the addiction to worry?

The addiction to worry works in a similar way that gambling addiction works. Think about why slot machines are so addictive.  Part of the draw with slot machines is that you just never know when you’re going to hit that big jackpot.  The tension and excitement builds as you put in another coin, and another.  Each time, you feel a sense that next time will be the one.  If you play long enough, eventually, you WILL hit a jackpot.  Nevermind that you spent $100 to win $50.  It feels AMAZING to win.  To be right.  You get a big dopamine rush.  

To understand what makes slot machines (and worry) so addictive, we have to look below the surface.  We need to understand some classic behavioral psychology.

B.F.Skinner is famous in the world of psychology for his behavioral experiments on rats.  He created something still referred to as the “Skinner Box”.  It’s also still used in many experiments.  The Skinner box basically allows the researcher to control the environment the rat lives in.  For example, when the rat will get food.  

Skinner is the one who introduced us to a concept called Intermittent Behavioral Reinforcement.  In the Skinner box, it looked like this.  There are levers in the Skinner box that can give the rat food if they press it.  The rat discovers it usually by accident but then learns that he’ll get food if he presses the lever.  But, as many experiments go, there’s a trick.  In some groups of rats, the lever worked EVERY TIME but in other groups, the food only came out RANDOMLY.   Which rat do you think pushed the lever the most?  

The rats who were only rewarded (received food) randomly pressed the lever the most.  Not only that, those rats became kind of obsessed with the lever.  

Even though we are very different from rats (well, I like to think I am), we do have this behavioral characteristic in common.  The reason people can become addicted to slot machines is that the rewards are given out randomly.  It’s called Intermittent Behavioral Reinforcement.  You could also call it, “Sometimes you win”.  

Worry is like the slot machine.  If we worry long enough about enough different topics, eventually, we’ll be right.  We will get the dopamine hit in our brains because dopamine is related to survival.  Whenever we do things that help us survive like eat, drink, compete for survival, or reproduce, we get a release of dopamine.  Being “right” when we worry about something does the same.  It’s our brain’s way of saying, “keep doing that”.  The problem with worry is that sometimes we are right but many times we worry and everything works out.  It’s Intermittent Behavioral Reinforcement…”sometimes you win”.  That’s why it can be so addictive.  That’s why we can become obsessed with our worried thoughts. 

I have some good news. One very important thing that makes us different from rats is our ability to think about our thoughts.  We can reflect.  We can choose again.  We can choose to retrain our own minds and thoughts.  Yes, it takes practice.  Yes, you probably need some tools.  But, it’s totally possible.

If you haven’t downloaded my free guide yet, "4 Steps to Freedom from High-Functioning Anxiety", you can check it out here.  There are practical tips you can use including a journal and symptom tracker.  

You deserve the joy and peace you desire!  I’m cheering you on!

Much Love,

Stacey