How can trauma push someone to make decisions that are far from reality?

The disappearance of nurse Gabrielly Sabino after her addiction to the ‘tigrinho game’ has raised interesting questions about mental health

The disappearance of 23-year-old nurse Gabrielly Sabino in the hinterland of São Paulo, and her subsequent reappearance, a week later, in Mato Grosso do Sul, raise two interesting points to discuss from a mental health perspective: how Anxiety crises can lead a person to adopt behaviors of partial or total disconnection from reality, and the growing risk among young people of online gambling addiction.

It’s not 100% clear what happened, but Gabrielly is said to have been addicted to the “game of tigrinho”, a sort of virtual slot machine, in which players bet money with the aim of lining up three identical figures in three different rows . Whoever gets it right wins financial rewards. The desire to win more and more would have made her bet a lot and get into debt.

Today there is much discussion about the addictive effects that screens have on young people. The more time you spend online, the harder it will be to disconnect. When some kind of reward is involved, as is the case with virtual games and betting platforms, the risk of addiction is even greater.

According to her mother, the nurse had accumulated debts of around R$ 25,000, which caused her to develop an anxiety attack, unable to resolve her anguish and thinking that disappearing would be the best way out. From interviews and statements, it is not clear to what extent she was aware of the decisions she had made. Thus, the young woman ended up at the home of a woman from another state whom she had met online.

According to her parents, during the time she disappeared, she continued to view messages, but did not respond or answer calls. The nurse left home for work on June 14 but did not return. Images obtained by police showed her driving her car to the Piracicaba bus station and boarding a bus to the Tietê bus terminal in São Paulo.

Gabrielly has always had a balanced financial life, but in recent weeks she has borrowed money from friends and family and turned to loan sharks. It is important to understand how pressure and stress can lead many people, instead of seeking help, to make disruptive decisions, such as disappearing, often partially or totally disconnected from reality.

Over the years I have treated patients who, during a depression or anxiety crisis, or even after a psychological trauma (argument, separation, violence, aggression) disappeared from their homes, lost their memory and the notion of who they were, and only regained consciousness weeks or months later. This loss of contact with reality (epidemic) can occur for various reasons and make these people more vulnerable to all kinds of risks.

Without knowing all the details and the clinical picture, it is impossible to make a diagnosis or know exactly what happened to Gabrielly. He may have had this involuntary “break” of contact with reality due to the pressure he faced, or he may have made an intentional decision to disappear to escape a problem he was unable to solve and for which he was ashamed of ask for help . Even in this second case, the ability to think and make the right decision can be compromised by distortions caused by fear and stress.

The tiger game is developed by a company that has no headquarters or representation in Brazil, and in recent weeks it has been investigated because it is suspected of hiring digital influencers who would use a “rigged” version of the platform to win more easily and, therefore, convince other people to bet. The game would also send invitations via social media from fake profiles so that people can place their bets.

It is worth warning that parents and friends should be more aware of the changes in behavior that a person can face in a situation of psychological pressure and, also, of the addiction cure that gambling can bring. The younger you are, the greater these risks.

*Jairo Bouer is a psychiatrist and writes weekly for Terra Você

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.