THE THRILL THAT TURNS INTO TRAP

WHEN 17-year-old Vaibhav (name changed) from Thiruvananthapuram was brought to the outpatient clinic, his family believed he simply had a problem with excessive screen use. What they did not expect was the darker truth hidden behind the glowing phone screen.

- UNNIKRISHNAN S @ T'Puram

He had become deeply entangled in dubious online trading platforms, borrowing money, taking loans, and constantly demanding funds from his parents. He insisted he was “on the brink of a breakthrough” and would recover all his losses if given just one more chance to invest. But the losses only grew, and so did his desperation. He stopped going to school, became increasingly aggressive at home, and found himself unable to stop trading even as the consequences spiralled out of control.

On evaluation, doctors discovered that Vaibhav was suffering from pathological gambling disorder, compounded by traits of ADHD that had worsened with excessive screen exposure. “His vulnerability had been exploited, and he was unaware of his disorder,” explained Dr Jitha G, specialist in psychiatry and behavioural medicine at KIMSHEALTH, Thiruvananthapuram.

The teenager had to be admitted in a protected environment with zero screen access. His agitation and withdrawal symptoms required medication, and he is now undergoing long-term therapy, including Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT).