Shopping Addiction
Shopping is a favorite activity for many people. Being able to buy new clothes, furnish a home, or even find gourmet foods at the grocery stores, are all things people relish. Shopping can be a fun experience and an outlet away from the hum-drum of the day. But, for thousands of individuals, shopping can be a menace. And for these people, shopping addiction, known in medical circles as "oniomania" and "compulsive buying disorder", is their reality.
One might ask how anyone can be addicted to shopping, but the truth is, it is very easy. Having new clothes and shoes, for example, can create an immediate feeling of elation, a sense of contentment, and even excitement. The act of shopping becomes a crutch or a fix. But what differentiates someone who shops for the "high", and someone who shops for necessity is, that generally the one shopping for the high is trying to cover up other feelings. Shopping is used as a means to feel good. In most instances, the items are not even required. They sit in closets, and often, the tags are never removed. And frequently, the shopping addiction is so far advanced, that in reality, the individuals doing the buying cannot really afford all the things they have accumulated.
On the surface, shopping addiction seems harmless and without problems. Some people may buy what others think is too much, but then, why should others judge what someone else purchases? Yet, the issue here is that the shopping consumes individuals. They do not feel good about themselves unless they are buying something. Then, the immediate feeling of well-being is short-lived. Once they have the item and have gone home, they do not feel any better, so they have the urge to buy more. The cycle never ends and eventually, most people have racked up so much debt, that trouble is definitely looming.
As with most addictions, shopping addiction can lead to lying to hide one's activities, bankruptcy due to missed credit card and lines of credit payments, foreclosure because money earmarked for the mortgage has been spent in advance on other things, and possibly even theft when the individual tries to overcome the mountain of debt and numerous bills piling up. For those who can afford an endless supply of trinkets, shopping addiction is not readily recognized. But for others, usually, the debt problems are their downfalls. Realistically, speaking, this is not always a bad event, because in most instances, the individuals are forced to take action. They must now confront their addictions, as well as find solutions to their over-indebtedness. Once they take the first step of acknowledging the shopping addiction, they can move forward in an attempt to identify the triggers or underlying feelings that cause the addiction, and then to treat the addiction.
For many, going through a foreclosure or bankruptcy is enough incentive to make changes. Being forced to destroy credit cards, create a concrete budget for the future, and attend counseling sessions emphasize structure and a new beginning. For others, however, more thorough treatment is required, such as consulting a psychiatrist or other professional.