Shopping addiction is a disorder in which an individual engages in a pattern of chronic, repetitive purchasing and shopping. The person can’t stop regardless of negative consequences. Compulsive buying disorder (CBD) is the term used by the American Psychiatric Association.
Some of us may think it’s merely irresponsibility with finances or lack of maturity. Also, some people believe a person can change his or her behavior. However, this damaging disorder is centered around the process of spending. It’s a ritual and the addict does not have control over it.
Compulsive shopping requires treatment, just as any other addiction or impulse control disorder. It’s similar to pathological gambling (gambling addiction).
Who is at Risk for Shopping Addiction?
Shopping is a part of life for most people whether it is in a store or online. For many, shopping is a pleasurable activity. A new shirt or dress, a fun trinket, colorful accessories, or new shoes can give any person a sense of reward. Humans experience a natural high when a reward is received. But, for some people, the pursuit of that reward can become compulsive and dangerous. Just as addiction to drugs and other behaviors, shopping addiction drives one to seek out the reward or “high.”
Approximately 6% of the American population is thought to have a shopping addiction. In fact, it usually begins in the late teenage years, and into the early twenties. This is an essential time in one’s life. For instance, in their late teens and early twenties most people begin to get credit cards, open bank accounts, and are mostly independent of their parents for the first time. A young person’s first credit card, or opportunity to spend for him or herself can be an exciting time. But, compulsive shopping can develop within this time frame.
Shopping Addiction and Mental Health Disorders
Spending money to get a reward of something new causes a release of dopamine in the brain. The rush of dopamine leads to a “high,” which is extremely mild for most people. Nonetheless, this rush of pleasure experienced by one who has just completed a purchase can be overwhelming.
Some mental health concerns may be more severe than others. But, anything from overly high expectations of oneself to bipolar disorder and other impulse control disorders may lead to and exacerbate, shopping addiction.
Hoarding
Hoarding is the inability or unwillingness to discard large quantities of items. An emotional bond exists between that person and his or her things. They may refer to the items as their “collection.”
Hoarders compulsively purchase more of these items to expand the collection. But, the dysfunction is evident when one does not open or use the items. Also, the person experiences tremendous difficulty with the thought of losing them.
Hoarding is one of many behavioral disorders that leads to and severely exacerbates shopping addiction. Hoarders are continuously compelled to add more to his or her collection. They ignore all the consequences.
Depression and Anxiety
No matter what the cause, when someone suffers from depression and anxiety, shopping and spending can become easily addictive. Purchasing new items produces a release of dopamine. Then, the brain receives a reward message, which reinforces the repetition of the behavior. For one who is struggling with depression, the pleasure associated with spending can provide a temporary release from his/her depressive state.
Compulsive shopping can be a form of self-medicating for those suffering from depression, stress, or anxiety. Typically, there is a build-up of anxiety just before completing a transaction, followed by an immediate “high” of pleasure, and release of tension.
However, this release is temporary and no solution to the problem. In this way, shopping and spending can be a self-medicating exercise for those suffering from anxiety. It reinforces the repetition of the behavior.
Low Self-Esteem
People suffer from low self-esteem for any number of reasons. Plus, the effects of low self-esteem can vary in each person. Some people respond to low self-esteem is by setting overly high expectations. They attempt to feel better about themselves and impress others. This behavior is seen in those who seek the latest and greatest of whatever they can purchase.
These types of people are never satisfied. They insist on having the most cutting-edge version, best quality available, or the latest release of an item. But, shopping and spending do not resolve any low self-esteem issues. A void remains in the individuals who continually seek to fill it with material things.
As this behavior progresses, the need to shop and procure more items for a sense of self-worth gets stronger. The individual loses control over his or her spending. As technology and products continue to evolve, and the individual’s need to have them deepens, the process of shopping for the newest thing never stops.
Escape From Reality
The fact is that almost anyone could potentially become addicted to shopping. After all, shopping is a pleasurable experience. Plus, there is a definite reward associated with the experience of spending money. For those addicted to shopping, this process serves as an escape from reality, relief from other disorders, or in conjunction with co-occurring disorders.
Whatever fuels shopping problems, serious negative consequences are inherent to the problem.
Signs and Symptoms of Shopping Addiction
Like addictions of any kind, there are several warning signs and symptoms of problematic behaviors. There is an essential distinction between a shopping splurge and a shopping addiction, and the two should not be confused.
A shopping splurge is occasional and only occurs rarely, such as around the holidays, birthdays, or other special times. Sometimes, a shopping splurge may happen for no good reason. But, it is not compulsive shopping that occurs on a daily or frequent basis, continuing despite adverse consequences.
- Consistent overspending: Occasionally, some people go shopping and spend more than initially intended.
- Denial of spending: The person lies about the amount of money spent and becomes angered when confronted about it.
- Emotional spending: A person spends money when feeling sad, angry, depressed, anxious, or bored.
- Preoccupation with shopping: Continually thinking about shopping, planning the next shopping venture, and reliving a previous shopping experience are all examples of concern with the behavior.
- Guilt and shame about shopping and spending: After shopping and spending money, if feelings of guilt and shame always follow, they point to a shopping addiction.
- Damaged relationships: If shopping and spending are placing a strain on a personal relationship, whether it is with a significant other, friends, or family, there is likely a problem present. If shopping and spending continue despite these problems, shopping addiction is almost certainly afoot.
- Compulsive spending: If there is a pattern of intention to purchase a shirt, but instead, the result is spending excessive money on that shirt in every color and variation, this is a symptom inherent to shopping addiction.
Many of these signs and symptoms of shopping addiction are similar to drug, alcohol, and behavioral addictions.
Four Phases of Shopping Addiction
According to the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, a branch of the National Institute of Health, this addiction process involves four phases.
These four phases are:
- Anticipation: The individual develops preoccupations and urges with a particular item.
- Preparation: A person prepares for his or her shopping expedition. This may include specific places to shop, what to wear, and what method(s) of payment to use.
- Shopping: The individual engages in shopping for a particular item, or for several unintended items. It is exhilarating, and for some, sexual.
- Spending: The financial transaction takes place and completes the experience. Once completed, there is often a feeling of disappointment with oneself. This can lead to depression, self-criticism, and anger.
Shopping Addiction Can Be Helped
Understanding that like any potentially addictive behavior, shopping addiction is dangerous. It destroys lives and relationships when left untreated. Recognizing a shopping addict is difficult initially. But time will show his or her true difficulties. Those difficulties include controlling urges, obsessions, and compulsiveness associated with shopping and spending.
Shopping addiction help is available to restore healthy and normal patterns of shopping.
A Forever Recovery Understands the Intricacies of Shopping Addiction
At A Forever Recovery, we understand the difficulties one can experience with an out of control addiction. This is why we work with each to get to the cause of his or her problems and address them. This clears the path to recovery and significantly decreases the risks of relapse and the introduction of other destructive behavior.
We work on an open-ended basis to ensure that each person has accomplished the goals necessary for healthy survival after leaving treatment. Shopping addiction and its underlying causes can be overcome. Call us now to find out how.
- psychologytoday.com – Compulsive Buying Disorder