Case Example
Mo
Any case examples that I share here are completely anonymised. Names and some case details are altered, disguised or changed to protect my clients’ absolute right to privacy.
If you or someone you love is dealing with a gambling addiction - this Case example may help you.
When we think about gambling there might be a couple of pictures that come into our head.
The first might be a James Bond style character, who visits casinos at odd hours. The second is perhaps someone who places too many bets on the horses.
However, people who gamble don’t usually fit a comfortable stereotype. Gambling like most addictions, is often hidden, unexpected and invisible. Therefore, the following case study, should not come as a surprise, but it did to the client's family who discovered their mother had become an online bingo addict.
Jeet approached me with a real concern about the debts her mother Mo had run up in a short time.
She was extremely upset that during the enforced pandemic lockdown her mother had become addicted to online bingo games. Mo fell into the vulnerable category and was therefore isolating by necessity.
It transpired that Mo had begun, innocently enough by responding to an advert on her iPad to play free online bingo. It seemed to her to be a much more interesting and fun thing to do rather than watching yet more depressing news on the TV.
But then she moved on to some paid games, her credit card was connected to the account and before she realised it - her pleasurable lockdown outlet had begun to run up large debts.
Jeet asked if I would speak with her mother.
There is more information about addictions, including gambling here
Strategy
Treatment
Mo's quite natural fear - would she get the Corona/Covid19 virus? Being older and in the vulnerable category she didn't believe she would survive it combined with her simple ongoing daily loneliness. She'd gone from frequent family visits, looking after her grandchildren and a limited but uplifting social life to being stuck - in her home - alone for months.
She began adding money, the on-going desire to win and to have control over something simply overtook her.
The short-lived thrill and the adrenaline high of a win kept her encouraged and hopeful. It was all a wonderful distraction from the misery and isolation of the lockdown.
Had she been playing bingo in real-life someone would have noticed her new enthusiasm and perhaps advised caution. But at home alone, she could play for hours and hours and no-one knew she was even doing it.
When her daughter came around after lockdown ended and noticed the credit card statement Mo was still in denial. I think Jeet's suggestion that they turn the wi-fi off and Mo's resulting panic was what jolted her into being prepared to speak to me.
It was interesting that Mo shared something that I have heard many addicts disclose. She felt stronger each time she would win and in this case, lockdown was a struggle for her and out of her control as she lost her independence. Each win gave her a sense of hope. So Mo went through the winning phase, the losing phase and now she was experiencing the hopeless phase.
I will be continuing to maintain contact with Mo because, of course, lockdown continues. But as I think you can see from the message she sent me last week things have improved a lot for her.
Addiction is always a negative disruption
It affects lives and happiness
The outcome, whether you have an online gambling addiction, drugs, alcohol, shopping, sex, whatever it is it can lead to negative adverse effects.
You may lose your job because you decide to play bingo or you can begin arguments with your friends and family about your obsession.
The solution is to seek help.
That's why talking to someone is so important. It can solve an issue before the problem begins to bite into your own or your family's well-being.
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