Shopping addiction, also known as compulsive buying disorder, is a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive and impulsive shopping behavior. Here are seven common symptoms:
- Preoccupation with Shopping: Constantly thinking about shopping, planning future shopping trips, or browsing online stores even when it interferes with other responsibilities or activities.
- Compulsive Buying: Engaging in frequent and unplanned shopping sprees, purchasing items that are not needed and often beyond one’s means, sometimes resulting in financial problems.
- Emotional Triggers: Using shopping as a way to cope with negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, depression, or loneliness. Shopping provides a temporary mood boost or distraction from emotional pain.
- Loss of Control: Difficulty controlling impulses to shop, feeling powerless to resist the urge to buy even when it leads to negative consequences like debt, clutter, or conflicts with loved ones.
- Financial Consequences: Experiencing financial difficulties due to overspending, such as maxing out credit cards, borrowing money, or struggling to pay bills.
- Hiding or Denying Behavior: Concealing the extent of one’s shopping habits from family and friends, feeling guilty or ashamed about the amount spent, or making excuses to justify excessive shopping.
- Negative Impact on Life: Experiencing disruptions in relationships, work, or daily functioning as a result of excessive shopping. This could include neglecting responsibilities, sacrificing social activities, or experiencing strain in personal relationships.
It’s important to note that occasional shopping or enjoying retail therapy is normal, but when shopping becomes a compulsive and destructive behavior, it may indicate a deeper issue that requires professional help. If you or someone you know is struggling with shopping addiction, seeking support from a therapist or support group specialized in addiction treatment can be beneficial.