Addiction to shopping can be serious and damaging to physical and mental health. If a person has a strong craving for shopping, he may periodically feel as if he is on an emotional roller coaster - he may be engulfed in euphoria, which is sharply replaced by depression.
Dependence on purchases mainly affects women, but world statistics may be slightly distorted, as men are less likely to admit that they are shopaholics. However, based on official data, it can be concluded that up to 80–95% of people who are addicted to shopping are women.
The article will tell you in detail about what shopaholism is - a disease or lifestyle? It will also describe why people become addicted to shopping and how to deal with it.
How does shopaholism develop?
Social norms and gender roles are likely to play a role in demographics of behavioral health in general. Facts show that men tend to be addicted to gambling and sexual addiction, while women are more likely to develop addiction to food and shopping.
In most cases, shopping can be seen as a rather positive activity, because in general it is interesting and useful. Sometimes purchases are a kind of reward. For example, a person can set a goal to quit smoking, and instead promise himself that if he lasts a month without nicotine, he will allow himself to purchase a new gadget or something from clothes. However, any activity that stimulates the reward center carries a certain risk of dependence.
It is believed that the development of shopaholism disease is influenced by several factors. The most common of these are age and gender, with young women at greatest risk. According to most studies, a typical buyer of compulsive disorder is a young girl with a low level of education. In addition, studies suggest that if a person is addicted to purchases, then he may be prone to drug and alcohol abuse.
Age is also a factor in the emergence of shopaholism. The disease most often manifests itself in the period from 20 to 30 years. Psychologists argue that this phenomenon is due to the appearance in people of the ability to independently make decisions about what they spend their money on. But sometimes it happens that a person crosses the line of reason and becomes dependent.
Some people are more likely to develop addiction to shopping than others. Studies show that there is a serious association between depression, anxiety disorders, and compulsive shopping. If a person is worried or depressed, he can use shopping as a way to deal with negative emotions.
Depression is one of the most common concomitant symptoms that accompanies compulsive shopping disorder. Nevertheless, it is difficult to say what follows initially - a disorder from shopping illness or depression.
One theory is that people with depression do their own shopping and do this to temporarily relieve their symptoms caused by anxiety. Another theory is that addiction to purchases changes the brain's reward pattern (just like other addictions), which may increase the likelihood of developing depression.
If we more or less figured out the general scientific data on the development of such a psychological pathology, then it is worthwhile to examine in more detail the causes of the disease of shopaholism. This will help to delve into the issue and understand what, besides depression, can cause compulsive buying disorder.
Causes of the disease shopaholism
Conventionally, all reasons can be divided into several groups, namely:
- childhood injuries;
- depression;
- reduced self-esteem and stress.
It is worth examining each of these groups in more detail.
Childhood injuries
When a therapist communicates with his patient and tries to find the right treatment for the disease of shopaholism, he collects a thorough medical history. According to experts, most of the root causes of compulsive buying disorder come from childhood.
Shopaholism can develop due to the fact that a person did not receive proper attention and love from his parents, he was limited in things, toys, etc. Buying a huge amount of often unnecessary things, he tries to compensate for something that was not enough for him in childhood, but unfortunately, such a replacement becomes the basis for sustainable dependence.
Depression
When a person makes a purchase, the body produces serotonin, which is often called the “good mood hormone”. The body does not receive this substance due to the depressive state, and a person, sometimes not realizing it himself, tries to make up for its deficiency with the help of such a pleasant ritual of making a purchase, which leads to compulsive buying disorder.
Stress and low self-esteem
If a person encounters difficulties at work, at home, quarrels with family or friends, or experiences the mockery of others, he puts his body under stress. But while shopping, he feels free choice and satisfaction. This compensation of emotions is similar to the last paragraph on depressive states.
Symptoms
If a person is addicted to shopping, he probably has a lot of guilt and regret for his habits, and stress from guilt can lead to depression and anxiety. In addition, serious conflicts or tensions can arise in the family due to this dependence, as financial problems can aggravate relations with relatives. This state of constant stress can lead to serious depressive symptoms.
Typically, the symptoms of a shopaholic are:
- constant sad, empty or anxious mood;
- guilt and worthlessness;
- irritability;
- sense of hopelessness;
- fatigue;
- difficulty making decisions, concentrating, or remembering;
- loss of interest or pleasure from labor and social activities;
- a person begins to move or speak more slowly;
- having difficulty sleeping;
- changes in appetite occur, weight can decrease or increase dramatically;
- thoughts of death or suicide may appear.
People with compulsive shopping disorder often have problems controlling their impulses. An important characteristic of behavioral addictions is the inability to resist the urge or temptation to do something harmful to oneself.
Trading addiction is very different from a love of shopping. People with addiction continue to shop, despite serious negative consequences. Many intrusive buyers are faced with consequences such as serious credit card debt, inability to pay current bills, debts.
Stages
If a person believes that he may be addicted to shopping, then he probably can feel:
- Anticipation. A person feels a desire to shop and cannot stop thinking about it.
- Training. A person makes a decision about when and where to go, what to wear and how he will pay. At the same time, he can spend considerable time studying fashion trends or sales.
- Purchase. A person experiences great excitement while shopping.
- Costs. The ritual is completed by purchase. A person may feel euphoric or relieved, accompanied by a feeling of frustration or self-loathing.
The tendency to shopping is difficult to detect in another person, as this is largely a personal experience. Most intrusive buyers shop alone and keep any debts a secret. Shopping addiction has little to do with individual well-being. Purchases can be made in a variety of places: from expensive boutiques to second-hand stores and sales. Addiction-prone buyers most often buy clothing, followed by shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, and household items.
Behavior
In addition to psychological symptoms, shopaholics have other changes in their behavior, namely:
- they become greedy for any goods;
- addiction to fashion magazines, brochures, store flyers, etc .;
- they constantly talk about purchases and purchased goods;
- they cannot leave the store empty-handed or without examining all departments;
- staying in retail outlets improves mood;
- sometimes they cannot remember what was bought last, etc.
Having understood what this dependence is and what its causes may be, it is important to consider how to treat shopaholism in order to cope with it once and for all.
Treatment
There are currently no proven pharmacological treatments for compulsive shopping disorder. If a person turned to a specialist, then he can prescribe to the patient only drugs from the group of antidepressants in the treatment of shopaholism disease.
The causes of the occurrence and determination of the level of dependence are key in the treatment process, therefore, a person should independently realize the importance of this moment and not interfere with the specialist.
Relatives and friends of a shopaholic should understand that getting rid of addiction cannot be imposed or forced. Otherwise, the efficiency will be very low.
Studies show that the best way to treat shopping addiction is through cognitive-behavioral therapy, a form of conversational therapy in a group setting. A person has the opportunity to learn to question the patterns of thinking and understand how they affect behavior and emotions. Then they help him develop a strategy for changing self-destruction models and learn how to cope with stressful situations without addiction.
Conclusion
Trade addiction is characterized by intense preoccupation with purchases and an uncontrolled desire to acquire something, despite serious negative consequences.
Having examined issues such as what is the disease of shopaholism, the causes and treatment of this pathology, we can conclude that compulsive shopping disorder leads to irreversible consequences that can ruin a person’s life. It is very important to recognize the problem in time and take measures to resolve it.
Seeking help from friends, family or a professional psychologist is the first step to a complete cure. The most important thing is to identify the cause of the disorder and eradicate it for the benefit of your own life and the happiness of others.