gotrocks, am sure you will get many more answers that work for other people similar to the above. if these answers were going to work for your niece, they would already have done so.
I've learned that when some one is behaving in a way that "doesn't make sense" .... then the the school of hard knocks is actually not going to work for them... and I look for the truly underlying problem.
It's too simplistic to believe that a person should simply exert self control and all will be well..... this approach implies that the person is capable of making a long series of difficult decisions which are ALWAYS in their own best interest until the problem is completely resolved. This approach doesn't work for a 6-year old... and won't work for anyone, regardless of cronological age, whose mental capabilities have not developed, for whatever reason, to that stage we might call "informed, reasonable and intelligent adult decision making."
There is a problem here... I can't tell from afar exactly what it is... but consider that the person could be mentally ill... this illness takes many forms. Your description of the behavior, unwise finantial decisions, is one of the symptoms of the "up" side of bipolar-disorder. Fundamentally, the person's perception of the consequences of their actions is so seriously impaired that they do not serve as the impediment to life decisions that the rest of us have. ..... the behaviour is driven by desire and self interest and abdication of personal responsibility to someone else.... the credit company...and they repeatedly ignore the consequences and are willing to suffer them. This isn't the only reason people demonstate exceptionally poor judgement in life decisions, but it is more prevelant than usually recognized.
One percent ( 1%) of the US population has bipolar disorder annually.
Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:
- Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
- Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
- Extreme irritability
- Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
- Distractibility, can't concentrate well
- Little sleep needed
- Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
- Poor judgment Spending sprees
- A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
- Increased sexual drive
- Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
- Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
- Denial that anything is wrong
More info re bipolar disorder is here.
Definition of mania is here.
To truly help your niece, I think somehow professional help must be provided to her.... you are not that help, but might be instrumental in convincing her to get that help. Providing $$ to get out of the current hole is futile without knowing that the root cause/problem is actually being addressed. That's the responsible thing
YOU can doThis could mean that she has to "hit bottom" from the consequences (if she will not accept professional help before then) ... watch for signs of depression and suicide thoughts...
Sorry to be so blunt... but mental illness is real, just like heart disease and diabetes... and must be delt with professionally... Medications exist that help or resolve the problems in many cases... it's a long road, like any serious illness.
It's sad that mental illness is stigmatized such that people don't want to talk about it or admit to benefiting from the medications that help them and their loved ones. It's America's hidden epidemic.
PM me, if you wish, if anything I've said rings true and you wish to discuss firther.
