We are surrounded by advertising, telling us that buying will make us
happy. We are encouraged by politicians to spend as a way of boosting
the economy. And we all want to have what those around us have –-
consumerism has become a measure of our social worth.
Although widespread consumerism has escalated in recent years, shopping addiction is not a new disorder. It was recognised as far back as the early nineteenth century, and was cited as a psychiatric disorder in the early twentieth century.
Almost everyone shops to some degree, but only about 6% of the Australian population is thought to have a shopping addiction. Usually beginning in the late teens and early adulthood, shopping addiction often co-occurs with other disorders, including mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, other impulse control disorders, and personality disorders.
Normal Shopping v. Shopping Addiction
So what makes the difference between normal shopping, occasional
splurges, and shopping addiction? As with all addictions, shopping becomes the person’s main way of coping with stress, to the point where they continue to shop excessively even when it is clearly having a negative impact on other areas of their life. As with other addictions, finances and relationships are damaged, yet the shopping addict feels unable to stop or even control their spending.
The Controversy of Shopping Addiction
Like other behavioural addictions, shopping addiction is a controversial idea. Many experts balk at the idea that excessive spending can constitute an addiction, believing that there has to be a psychoactive substance which produces symptoms such as physical tolerance and withdrawal for an activity to be a true addiction.
There is also some disagreement among professionals about whether compulsive shopping should be considered an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), impulse control disorder (like pathological gambling), mood disorder (like depression), or addiction. It has been suggested that, along with kleptomania (compulsive stealing) and binge-eating disorder (BED), it be viewed as an impulsive-compulsive spectrum disorder.
How Is Shopping Addiction Like Other Addictions?
There are several characteristics that shopping addiction shares with other addictions. As with other addictions, shopping addicts become preoccupied with spending, and devote significant time and money to the activity. Actual spending is important to the process of shopping addiction; window
shopping does not constitute an addiction, and the addictive pattern is actually driven by the process of spending money.
As with other addictions, shopping addiction is highly ritualised and follows a typically addictive pattern of thoughts about shopping, planning shopping trips, and the shopping act itself, often described as pleasurable, ecstatic even, and as providing relief from negative feelings. Finally, the shopper
crashes, with feelings of disappointment, particularly with the themselves.
Compulsive shoppers use shopping as a way of escaping negative feelings, such as depression, anxiety, boredom, self-critical thoughts, and anger.
Unfortunately, the escape is short-lived. The purchases are often simply hoarded unused, and compulsive shoppers will then begin to plan the next spending spree. Most shop alone, although some shop with others who enjoy it. Generally, it will lead to embarrassment to shop with people who don’t share this type of enthusiasm for shopping.
What If I Have a Shopping Addiction?
Research indicates that around three-quarters of compulsive shoppers are willing to admit their shopping is problematic, particularly in areas of finances and relationships. Of course, this may reflect the willingness of those who participate in research to admit to having problems.
Fortunately, treatment is available at Coaching With Substance. For most individuals with this addiction the Coaching With Substance rehab program has proven very successful. Statistics show that child physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse are very common factors in many cases.
If you or someone you love in the grips of a shopping addiction, call us today and let one of our COACHING WITH SUBSTANCE (CWS) Addiction Recovery Coach Specialists assess your problem and set out a recovery coaching plan for you. Call us today 07 5606 6315 (7days)
Confidentiality and privacy assured. INTERNATIONAL CALLERS 61 7 560 66315.
Remember, you are a worthwhile person, no matter how much or how little you own.
We are Australia's leading award winning addiction treatment and rehab consultants for gambling, drugs, alcohol, sex, eating and internet addiction, along with eating behavioural disorders and co-dependency for Australasia and New Zealand.
Maria Pau is a 4x No. 1 best-selling author on the subjects of addiction and co-dependency and spiritual wellness. She is the Program Director of Coaching with Substance, the first of its kind in Australia as registered public benevolent institution, charity and not-for profit association that focuses on wellness using coaching principles of peak performance. We run a cutting edge holistic addiction treatment program and outpatient rehabilitation consultancy firm that ensures you are released from the shackles of addiction once and for all.
Primary care at CWS is personalised to treat each individual using programs that integrate mind, body and soul. CWS programs are enhanced by highly effective group coaching and therapeutic processes as well as individual coaching, spiritual insights, therapy and extensive aftercare assistance.
All clients are thoroughly assessed by a highly trained and experienced recovery coach, registered provisional psychologist, ordained Monk, mental health officer and certified naturopaths (including Ayurveda and Acupuncturist). Clients may also be referred for psychometric testing and assessment, if needed. International clients welcome.
We welcome enquiries from all English speaking people from Asia, Europe, Africa, India and South America.
Sources:
Black, D. “A Review of Compulsive Buying Disorder.” World Psychiatry.
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Black, D. “Compulsive Buying Disorder: A Review of the Evidence.” CNS
Spectr. 12(2):124-32. Feb 2007.
Christenson G, Faber R, de Zwaan M, Raymond N, Specker S, Ekern
M, Mackenzie T, Crosby R, Crow S, Eckert E, et al. “Compulsive
buying: descriptive characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity.” J Clin
Psychiatry.55(1):5-11. Jan 1994.
McElroy S, Keck P Jr, Phillips K. “Kleptomania, compulsive buying, and
binge-eating disorder.” J Clin Psychiatry. 56 Suppl 4:14-26. 1995.
Mueller A, de Zwaan M. “Treatment of compulsive buying.” Fortschr
Neurol Psychiatr. 76:478-83. Aug 2008.
Tavares H, Lobo D, Fuentes D, Black D. “Compulsive Buying Disorder: A
Review and a Case Vignette.” Rev Bras Psiquiatr. 30 Suppl 1:S16-23. May
2008.
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