How to stop problem gambling, according to experts
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Understanding more about why people gamble is key to overcoming addiction, psychologists say.
Why it matters: Gambling addictions can push people into debt and fuel mental health crises. Studies show people with such addictions are at higher risk for depression and suicide.
The big picture: Psychologists once labeled excessive gambling as compulsive, but now recognize it as an addiction since repeated exposure builds tolerance and demands more play to feel the same excitement.
- Experts say people with lower incomes can be more vulnerable because big wins could radically change their lives.
Zoom in: Casino game designers have exploited a brain quirk first identified by psychologist B.F. Skinner, who studied animals confined in boxes with levers for food. He discovered animals pressed levers more when food arrived randomly.
- That same desire for unpredictable rewards keeps us hooked on games.
- "When we don't know when, or even if we're going to win, that adds to that thrill — that build up of dopamine," Brian Mullan, a local therapist specializing in treating people with gambling addiction, tells Axios.
Plus: "Near misses" dial up suspense, convincing gamblers they're one move away from winning, author Michael Easter writes in his book, "Scarcity Brain."
The state offers a helpline and other resources for people with gambling addiction.
- Mullan shared some advice for anyone in need of help.
Manage idle time.
Idle hours once spent gambling can feel overwhelming.
- Mullan says it's important to find healthy outlets — a hobby, reconnecting with friends or joining a support group.
Remember losses, but build a future.
Charting a brighter path forward can help prevent falling back into bad habits.
- Take the money you once spent on gambling and put it into savings.
"If you say, 'I'm going to put $10 a day aside,' don't skip it. Don't feel like, 'Oh, I won't do it today, but I'll do $20 tomorrow.' No, you won't," Mullan says.
Stay accountable.
If you slip, tell someone you trust.
- A setback "doesn't have to turn into a full-blown relapse," Mullan says.
- "It doesn't mean that you forgot all the lessons. It means you're working on changing behavior. And you haven't quite acquired the skills yet."