Compulsive Shopping Addiction

Realife Intervention Solutions

Compulsive Shopping Addiction

What is compulsive shopping and spending?

People who "shop 'till they drop" and run their credit cards up to the limit often have a shopping addiction. They believe that if they shop they will feel better. Compulsive shopping and spending generally makes a person feel worse. It is similar to other addictive behaviors and has some of the same characteristics as as problem drinking (alcoholism), gambling and overeating addictions.

Compulsive shopping or spending can be a seasonal balm for the depression, anxiety and loneliness during the December holiday season. It also can occur when a person feels depressed, lonely and angry. Shopping and spending will not assure more love, bolster self-esteem, or heal the hurts, regrets, stress, and the problems of daily living. It generally makes these feelings worse because of the increased financial debt the person has obtained from compulsive shopping.
How can you tell if you are a compulsive shopper?

Shopoholics, when they are feeling "out of sorts, shop for a " pick-me-up." They go out and buy, to get a high, or get a "rush" just like a drug or alcohol addict. Shopping addiction tends to affect more women than men. They often buy things they do not need. Holiday seasons can trigger shopping binges among those who are not compulsive the rest of the year. Many shopping addicts go on binges all year long and may be compulisve about buying certain items, such as shoes, kitchen items or clothing; some will buy anything.

Women with this compulsive disorder often have racks of clothes and possessions with the price tags still attached which have never been used. They will go to a shopping mall with the intention of buying one or two items and come home with bags and bags of purchases. In some cases shopololics have an emotional "black out" and do not remember even buying the articles. If their family or friends begin to complain about their purchases, they will often hide the things they buy. They are often in denial about the problem. Because they can not pay their bills their credit rating suffers, they have collection agencies attempting to get what is owed, may have legal, social and relationship problems. They sometimes attempt to hide their problem by taking on an extra job to pay for bills.

Are You an Overshopper? Take this Test.

Shopping can be an important source of self-definition, self-expression, creativity, even healing. Done to excess, however, it can spin out of control and lead to serious problems, eroding rather than enhancing your quality of life. The more you use shopping as an attempt to fill an inner void, manage your feelings, repair your mood, or pursue a "perfect" image, the more likely it is that you need to take a closer look at what this behavior is costing you.

Frequency/ Intensity of Shopping

Do you often go on buying binges?

Do you find yourself spending more time and/or money buying on the Internet, in catalogues, or on the shopping channels than you want to?

Does money burn a hole in your pocket?

Reasons Why and When

Do you go shopping because you want to make yourself feel better?

Do you often buy things because you think they will make you more like your ideal image?

Do you sometimes feel that something inside of you pushes you to shop?

Do you shop to avoid doing something else in your life?

Feelings Before, During and After

Do you go on buying binges when you're lonely, anxious, disappointed, depressed, or angry?

Do you feel "high" when you go on a buying binge?

Do you feel anxious, guilty, or ashamed after you go on a buying binge?

Impulsive/Compulsive/Addictive Aspects

Do you buy things even though you don't need or can't afford them?

Do you ever feel on edge, agitated, or irritable when you haven't been able to buy something?

Have you tried to stop overshopping but been unable to?

Financial Consequences

Do you find yourself making more and more use of credit [acquiring more cards, increasing your credit limit, etc.?

Have any of your purchases ever resulted in problems with your bank or legal problems?

Do you worry about your spending habits but still go out and shop and spend money?

Other Consequences

Are your relationships with family and friends suffering because of your buying?

Has the craving to buy something ever caused you to miss a social engagement?

Has your job performance been suffering because of your buying?

Denial, Avoidance and Shame

Do you hide your purchases and shopping trips from family or friends?

Are you not opening your mail or answering your phone because you don't want to face the consequences of your buying?

Do you not know, or not want to admit, how much you shop?Each of these questions has been answered "yes" by compulsive buyers. Only you can decide whether your buying is a problem and, if so, whether it is enough of a problem to require help.