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Time of India
23-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
From bets to breakdown: Youngsters spiralling into gambling debt; rehab struggles to keep up
HYDERABAD : In a quiet room at a city rehab centre, a 19-year-old sits across from a therapist recounting how he blew through Rs 14 lakh borrowed from friends and family, on a cricket betting app. He spent six months in rehab but relapsed shortly after. Today, the teenager is buried under a mountain of ₹40 lakh debt. B ehavioural addictions like betting or even online gaming and pornography, once considered mild and treatable through outpatient counselling, have turned into severe crises now, say city psychologists. With caseloads increasing, they add how they are also reassessing treatment processes. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad 'Unlike in cases of substance abuse, we cannot put such patients in confinement,' said Praveen Kearl, a de-addiction therapist and founder of the Corner Stone deaddiction centre. 'So, we use different types of therapy which breaks the habit loop that keeps people addicted. We also use cognitive behavioural therapy, gestalt (focusing on the present) therapy, etc to help them understand their triggers and change their behaviour. ' GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS But Kearl maintained that recovery takes time and relapses are common. 'In order to support long-term recovery we are setting up support groups like Gamblers Anonymous or Sex Addicts Anonymous, where they can find community support.' Therapists say the average age group of behavioural addicts is 12 to 25 years. The treatment usually spans three to six months. 'Since many are teenagers, we allow parents to stay with the child under a parental care model if the case is severe. Even short stays improve recovery outcomes,' said Siddharth Zaveri, from Zorba Rehabilitation Centre. 'Some suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), others from low self-esteem. We use group sessions, individual therapy, and emotional regulation. If they hang on, they come out stronger,' he added. Gideon Surya Rao, founder of Living Sober, who has 14 young addicts of behavioural addiction, said, 'Parents think it's 'just a phase'. But by the time they reach us, the child is anxious, isolated, sometimes even hallucinating. For instance, a 15-year-old porn addict who locked himself in his room and stopped speaking. When his phone was taken, he hallucinated the same content. He eventually suffered from partial eyesight loss due to obsessive behaviour and stress.' He said many of them are now raising awareness among parents to help them identify early signs of addiction among their children. Covid trigger Experts say the pandemic triggered a surge. As schools went online and screen time soared, many teens turned to the internet for escape. The pattern stuck even after the lockdown ended. The problem is only getting more complex, with young people constantly finding new ways to stay hooked, other experts shared. 'Students are now connecting online and offline, engaging in group video watching sessions and multiplayer gaming on various platforms. In one incident, a school had to ask parents to delete their children's accounts. But how closely can parents or teachers realistically monitor them all the time?' said Devaki Rani, counsellor at Phoenix De-addiction and Counselling Centre.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Deaddiction centres in Hyderabad reassess therapies to tackle betting, gambling addicts
Hyderabad: In a quiet room at a city rehab centre, a 19-year-old sits across from a therapist recounting how he blew through Rs 14 lakh borrowed from friends and family, on a cricket betting app. He spent six months in rehab but relapsed shortly after. Today, he is buried under a Rs 40 lakh debt. Behavioural addictions like betting or even online gaming and pornography, once considered mild and treatable through outpatient counselling, have turned into severe crises now, say city psychologists. With caseloads increasing, they add how they are also reassessing treatment processes. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad 'Unlike in cases of substance abuse, we cannot put such patients in confinement,' said Praveen Kearl, a de-addiction therapist and founder of the Corner Stone deaddiction centre. 'So, we use different types of therapy which breaks the habit loop that keeps people addicted. We also use cognitive behavioural therapy, gestalt (focusing on the present) therapy, etc to help them understand their triggers and change their behaviour. ' Gamblers Anonymous But Kearl maintained that recovery takes time and relapses are common. 'In order to support long-term recovery we are setting up support groups like Gamblers Anonymous or Sex Addicts Anonymous, where they can find community support.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo According to therapists, the average age group of behavioural addicts is between 12 and 25 years. The treatment usually spans three to six months. Allowing parents to stay 'Since many of them are teenagers, we allow parents to stay with the child under the parental care model if the case is severe. Even short stays improve recovery outcomes,' said Siddharth Zaveri, from Zorba Rehabilitation Centre. 'Some suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), others from low self-esteem. We use group sessions, individual therapy, and emotional regulation. If they hang on, they come out stronger,' he added. Reiterating how parents are being involved in the process, Gideon Surya Rao, founder of Living Sober, who has about 14 young addicts of behavioural addiction, said, 'Parents often think it's 'just a phase'. But by the time they reach us, the child is anxious, isolated, sometimes even hallucinating. For instance, a 15-year-old porn addict who locked himself in his room and stopped speaking. When his phone was taken, he hallucinated the same content. He eventually lost partial eyesight due to obsessive behaviour and stress.' He said that many of them are now raising awareness among parents, through drives in educational institutions, to help them identify early signs of addiction among their children. Post-pandemic surge Experts say that the pandemic triggered a surge. As schools went online and screen time soared, many teens turned to the internet for escape. The pattern stuck even after the lockdown ended. The problem is only getting more complex, with young people constantly finding new ways to stay hooked, other experts shared. 'Students are now connecting online and offline, engaging in group video watching sessions and multiplayer gaming on various platforms. In one incident, a school had to ask parents to delete their children's accounts. But how closely can parents or teachers realistically monitor them all the time?' said Devaki Rani, counsellor at Phoenix De-addiction and Counselling Centre. She stressed the need for early intervention through awareness-based school programmes and family counselling. 'Digital boundaries, media literacy, and structured routines at home play a huge role. But more importantly, emotional needs must be addressed. Children usually don't develop these behaviours without a trigger; there's often an underlying emotional need or stressor that pushes them toward such addictions,' she said. 'I'm currently seeing nearly 30 behavioural addiction cases a month, up from just 5 or 6 three years ago. What has worked best for us is the motivation enhancement model alongside regular counselling. If the individual is genuinely distressed by their behaviour and adheres to the therapeutic plan, recovery is achievable. We track the number of days they remain addiction-free and use that as a positive reinforcement tool to sustain motivation,' said Dr C Pradhyumma, psychiatrist at Mallareddy Narayana Hospital.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Dave Ramsey Caller Skipped Her Car Payments To Gamble And Double The Money. The Plan Failed, And Now She's $19,000 In Debt With No Car
A caller to 'The Ramsey Show' recently shared a hard lesson learned about gambling and debt with hosts George Kamel and Jade Warshaw. Her decision to skip car payments and try her luck at the casino backfired in a big way, resulting in a repossession and a remaining debt of over $19,000. 'Instead of making my payments, I was thinking I can go to the casino and double it to make payments and things like that,' the caller said. But it didn't work out. The car was repossessed and later sold for about $3,500, leaving her responsible for the large remaining balance on the loan. Don't Miss: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: Invest early in CancerVax's breakthrough tech aiming to disrupt a $231B market. Adding to the confusion, she began receiving toll road bills tied to the vehicle even after it was sold. 'I did reach out to toll road. They did get confirmation that the car was sold,' she explained, noting she never received advance notice of the sale. The woman, who is in Dave Ramsey's Baby Step 1 with $1,000 saved, said the gambling addiction played a central role in the situation. She's taken steps to address it, including cutting off online ads and distractions, but admitted, she hasn't been to Gamblers Anonymous. Kamel emphasized that fixing the financial issue won't matter if the gambling problem isn't resolved: 'I just want to make sure that we've resolved the root problem here before we just fix the repo.' Trending: Tired of Grid Failures and Charging Deserts? This Startup Has a Solar Fix and $25M+ in Sales — When asked how much she owed in total debt, she replied, 'That's all I have for now.' Her income is $4,000 a month, and her only major monthly expense is $1,300 for rent, which includes utilities. With minimal transportation costs and no dependents, she believes she can save up enough to offer a lump-sum settlement. Kamel recommended that she negotiate a payoff amount, such as $7,000, and get the terms in writing. 'This is everything I have. Would you be willing to settle in full for this amount?' he suggested she say when reaching out to the lender. He also warned, 'Don't give them access to your checking account. Get it all in writing, and instead do like a cashier's check or a money order.'Warshaw reminded her to make sure the debt is officially marked as paid in full in writing to avoid future issues. If successful, this would leave her completely debt-free. 'I figured I can do it,' the caller said, adding that with her children now adults, she doesn't have the same financial responsibilities she once did. While the financial loss is steep, Kamel and Warshaw pointed out the emotional cost as well. 'It's heartbreaking to watch,' Kamel said of car repossession videos. 'I feel like the emotional toll on that is just as painful as the financial toll,' Warshaw added. Read Next: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they're on pace —Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article A Dave Ramsey Caller Skipped Her Car Payments To Gamble And Double The Money. The Plan Failed, And Now She's $19,000 In Debt With No Car originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NY man's debt explodes to $100K in less than a year due to gambling — what Dave Ramsey told him to do ASAP
When Jelani from New York called into The Ramsey Show about his financial problems, he didn't sugarcoat his situation. "I owe over $100,000. I'm kind of lost right now,' he told finance personality Dave Ramsey in a clip posted May 28. 'I don't know if I should file [for] bankruptcy. I just need some advice," he told celebrity finance personality Dave Ramsey. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Jelani shared he owed around $80,000 in credit card debt, $8,500 in student loans and $11,500 on a car loan. His debt accumulated rapidly since Thanksgiving, when he only owed $30,000. A truck driver earning between $110,000 and $140,000 per year, Jelani revealed his debt stemmed mostly from gambling via an online dice game. Ramsey and co-host Jade Warshaw warned Jelani about the mental and financial toll of gambling and the mental traps it creates. "Typically, when you have something that's been such a big part of your life and your habits, just removing it is not enough — you have to replace it with something else," Warshaw said. Jelani admitted he quit gambling cold turkey and hadn't yet sought help through therapy or Gamblers Anonymous, prompting Ramsey to urge him to get support from someone who understands the sobriety process. As for a financial recovery plan, Ramsey laid out a no-frills approach: Create a 'scorched-earth, no life' recovery budget where all spending halts except for necessities and tackling debt. 'Eat peanut butter and jelly. Eat beans and rice. That's it,' Ramsey advised. List debts from smallest to largest and use the snowball method to pay them down aggressively. Pick up extra shifts at work and aim to increase income as much as possible. Ramsey emphasized the urgency of his plan: 'You need to do this in a year to 18 months because that indicates the intensity by which you're running straight into the problem and from the thing that caused the problem — the gambling.' Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Online gambling has grown in America. The American Gaming Association reports online casino revenue increased 28.7% in 2024 from a year earlier in the seven states with full-scale legal iGaming. That figure represents $8.41 billion in growth. Sports betting also went up nationwide in 2024, with revenue increasing 25.4% up to a record revenue of $13.71 billion. Sports betting's rise in recent years may largely be attributed to increased accessibility as more states have legalized the practice. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), an estimated 2.5 million adults in the U.S. meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem in any given year. The organization also notes around 85% of adults have gambled at least once in their lives, while 60% have gambled within the past year, and that some form of gambling is legal across 48 states and the District of Columbia. The NCPG outlines several key warning signs of gambling addiction, which include: Increasing thoughts about, or time and money spent on, gambling Feeling out of control, or continuing to gamble despite negative consequences Chasing losses, or continuing to gamble in an attempt to win back money Feeling restless or irritable when not gambling Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
New York Post
05-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Dear Abby: My wife goes to the casino every night — she won't stop gambling
DEAR ABBY: The woman I've been married to for the last 10 years is spending her time away from home. She isn't seeing another man or hanging out in bars. She leaves at any time of the day and goes to the casino. She also plays online throughout the day or evening. She stays out all night until sometimes 8 or 9 o'clock the next morning. I have tried talking to her calmly — and I've tried the angry way, too. I've gotten nowhere about this issue. Advertisement I believe she's being disrespectful, which will lead to the end of our marriage. How can I get through to her that what she's doing isn't good for our relationship? I'm very close to saying 'Enough!' and it's time for us to go our separate ways. — FRUSTRATED IN MICHIGAN Advertisement DEAR FRUSTRATED: If what your wife is doing affects the financial stability of your marriage, you absolutely have to draw the line. From your description of her activities, your wife is addicted to the rush she gets from gambling. Suggest that she join Gamblers Anonymous for help, and you should explore a support group called Gam-Anon for yourself. However, if that doesn't help, consult an attorney and tell your wife that if she doesn't seek help, you will be forced to separate your finances, even if it means ending the marriage. Advertisement DEAR ABBY: My sister has stopped communicating with my parents and me. However, she still maintains contact with members of our extended family. What's strange is that none of us is sure what we did to cause this. We have asked her to share her side of the story, but her reasons keep changing. Sometimes, she says it's because I'm spoiled and get everything; other times, it's because Mom didn't praise her enough. Advertisement As for Dad, we're not sure why she's upset with him. He's a quiet person who mostly keeps to himself. At first, I didn't let this bother me much, but as time goes on, I'm starting to feel really upset. Our parents are getting older and could use some support, or at least a friendly conversation. Do you think I'll ever be able to let go of my anger, or will it linger until my parents are no longer with us? — BAFFLED BROTHER IN NEW MEXICO DEAR BROTHER: Accept that you can't change your sister. After your parents are gone and it is too late to make amends, your sister may feel guilty for her unwillingness to mend fences with them over their perceived slights. Family counseling might facilitate some healing, but only if everyone is willing to participate. As to your anger over your sister's behavior, it may take a session or two with a licensed psychotherapist to move beyond it. In the meantime, do the best you can to ensure that your parents know you love them and are grateful for all they have done for you. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
