Your friends may tell you you’re a shopping addict, a shopaholic. But where do you draw the line between an impulse buy and a destructive shopping addiction? Let’s find out.
We all give in to that occasional impulse to buy things we don’t really need, or splurge on things that we really like. Sometimes, it’s really just hard to resist the pull of a sale or the attraction of a beautiful item on a shopping window. However, there is a difference between impulsive buying and compulsive buying–and that difference can mean shopping addiction.
For shopping addiction, the phrase “shop till you drop” can be too real. For the families of shopping addicts, this can be too painful.
What is Shopping Addiction?
Shopping addiction is clinically known as Compulsive Buying Disorder, which is a real impulse-control problem that many people around the world deal with today. Shopping addiction, like sex addiction and compulsive gambling, is a behavioral addiction and can have many negative effects on the individual.
Signs of Shopping Addiction
- Tagged items tucked away. You have many items that you’ve bought a long time ago and they were still unused and tucked away somewhere. They still have their tags attached to them, likely forgotten.
- Unnecessary. You buy things you don’t really need.
- Unplanned. You buy things you didn’t initially plan to buy.
- Triggers. Shopping has turned into your escape, so that when you face conflicts and arguments, you suddenly have the urge to shop.
- Shopping “high.” Much like cocaine users snorting coke or meth heads smoking in their pipes, those with shopping addiction can also feel a “high” from shopping and owning what they bought.
- Remorse and guilt follows. After that binge on buying, you will suddenly feel guilty about all that you bought. However, you may also tend to rationalize your behavior and buying decisions.
- Restlessness. It’s either you’re shopping or thinking of shopping. Otherwise, you feel restless.
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