A shopping addict is someone who shops compulsively and who may feel like they have no control over their behavior.
There are six different types of shopping or spending addictions.
- Compulsive Shopaholics- who shop when they are feeling emotional distress.
- Trophy Shopaholics- who are always shopping for the perfect item.
- Shopaholics- who want the image of being a big spender and love flashy items.
- Bargain Seekers- who purchase items they don’t need because they are on sale.
- Bulimic Shoppers- who get caught in a vicious cycle of buying and returning.
- Collectors- who don’t feel complete unless they have one item in each color or every piece of a set.
What causes an addiction to shopping?
People develop shopping addictions because when they shop their brain releases endorphins, which is a chemical release designed to relieve stress, and dopamine, which is a hormone that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure. Over time, these feelings become addictive. Much like what food or artificial stimulants do to a person.
What are the signs of a shopaholics?
In some cases it can be difficult to tell if a person is a shopaholic. People adore shopping, many people also spend too much. It is important to note that a shopping spree once in a while does not mean a person is a shopping addict. However, there are signs and symptoms shopping addicts display.
Emotional Symptoms
Like all addicts, shopping addicts may try to hide their addiction. If credit card bills, shopping bags or receipts are hidden, that person may be a shopaholic. A person may admit they went shopping; however, they may lie about how much they spent. Some other emotional symptoms could be:
- Spending more than they can afford
- Shopping as a reaction to feeling angry or depressed
- Shopping as a way to feel less guilty about a previous shopping spree
- Harming relationships due to spending or spending too much
- Losing control of the shopping behavior
Physical Symptoms
Although most addictions have physical symptoms related to them, shopping addictions may not. In most cases, the symptoms experienced due to shopping addictions will be emotional in nature. The only physical evidence of a shopping addiction may include a declining financial situation.
Short-Term and Long-Term Effects
Short-term effects of a shopping addiction may feel positive. In many cases, a person may feel happy after completing a shopping trip. However, these feelings are often mixed with anxiety or guilt, and in most cases, the guilt or anxiety may propel the individual back to the store for even more shopping. Hence, the Bulimic Shoppers who get caught in a vicious cycle of buying and returning.
Long-term effects of a shopping addiction can vary in intensity and scope. Many shopping addicts face financial problems and they may become overwhelmed with debt.
Treatment Options
Shopaholism is not curable but it is treatable. There are several different medications available to help with this compulsion. There are also many therapeutic treatments such as a therapy session X many times depending on how bad the addiction is and learning self-control techniques.
