Therapy for Shopping Addiction: Treatment Options in 2024
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Published:
Jul 16, 2024
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06:40 p.m.
ET
Updated:
Sep 23, 2024
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02:28 p.m.
ET
For most people, shopping is harmless. It can be seen as an enjoyable hobby or simply a mandatory activity to purchase life’s necessities. But for some people, urges to shop and spend money can become uncontrollable and cause serious problems.
Research from the University of Iowa found that 5-8% of the global population suffers from compulsive shopping. Research has shown that shopping addiction has become more socially acceptable with the increasing loneliness epidemic and the onslaught of social media. In a way, shopping can offer individuals a sense of community.
In this guide, we’ll explore how shopping addiction is defined, identified and treated to hopefully help you or someone you know evaluate their shopping behaviors and determine the best path forward.
What is shopping addiction?
Shopping addiction is when someone has an uncontrollable urge to shop or spend money. It’s often referred to as oniomania or compulsive shopping. The amount of purchases or money spent is so great that it can negatively impact every aspect of a person’s life. It can ruin their finances, work situation and even interpersonal relationships.
Shopping can be a pleasurable activity done alone or with others. Many people shop to find connections with others. However, shopping can become an addiction when people seek pleasure through their shopping adventures.
Every time someone purchases a new item, their brain’s “feel-good” chemical can provide a feeling of euphoria. (More on this later.) This feeling itself can be highly addictive. This leads some people to shop often to get those feelings back.
Some individuals shop to escape the stresses and pressures of daily life. “Retail therapy” is often used for those who shop to cope with their emotions and feelings. This cycle can spiral into an addiction, in which some individuals depend on shopping to avoid uncomfortable or negative feelings.
Therapy and other treatment options for compulsive shopping
The mental health industry hasn’t officially recognized shopping addiction as a behavioral addiction. As a result, the DSM-5 didn’t include shopping addiction, according to Current Addiction Reports. That’s not to say that you can’t get help for your compulsive shopping. Fortunately, there are treatment options that can help you manage your addiction.
Therapy
The most common type of therapy associated with shopping addiction is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of therapy has helped various behavioral addictions, such as gambling addiction, sex addiction, and gaming addiction. CBT helps individuals become aware of their emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
They’ll understand the motives behind their unhealthy shopping habits. CBT also allows them to get to the root of their addiction. They’ll learn healthier coping strategies they can use to manage stress.
CBT can be administered in person or virtually, depending on patient preferences and accessibility.
Virtual Treatment
Birches Health offers virtual treatment for shopping addiction. Your recovery starts with a full assessment. You’ll receive an official diagnosis from a licensed clinician. From there, you’ll receive a mental health plan for your disorder.
Treatment for compulsive shopping can begin with one of the following steps with Birches:
You can also just call 833-483-3838 or email hello@bircheshealth.com to connect with the Birches team right away.
Medication
Some individuals who struggle with compulsive shopping might also suffer from other co-occurring mental health problems, such as bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. Some of these conditions are either the cause or result of compulsive shopping.
Antidepressants might be administered to help treat anxiety and depression. Some medications can help reduce the cravings associated with shopping addiction. According to one study, Citalopram was a safe and effective option. This antidepressant is part of a group of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that commonly treat depression and major depressive disorder (MDD).
Self-Help Books
Self-help books on shopping addiction can offer intervention ideas and coping strategies. These valuable reads offer more than scientific research and ideas. Self-help books can be a great source of inspiration for your recovery. They’ll motivate you on your path of recovery.
Two recommended books are:
Spent: Break the Buying Obsession and Discover Your True Worth by Sally Palaian, Ph.D
The Ultimate Guide To Overcoming Shopping Addiction: The Most Effective, Permanent Solution To Finally Control Compulsive Shopping And Buying Disorder by John K.
Support Groups
A support group is a safe space where you can share similar experiences. Being part of a group can provide emotional support and encouragement. Sharing your stories and hearing others can make you feel more understood. Debtors Anonymous is a common support group focused on community-building, support, and recovery.
Coping strategies for managing shopping urges
Developing healthy coping strategies is essential in managing shopping urges. Mindfulness techniques like deep breathing or meditation can help reduce impulsive behavior. Setting a strict budget, avoiding shopping triggers, and finding alternative activities to replace shopping can also aid in breaking the addiction cycle. Engaging in hobbies, exercise, or social activities can provide fulfillment without the need to shop.
Warning signs and symptoms of shopping addiction
Around five percent of the U.S. population has been affected by compulsive shopping. There are several causes for this behavioral addiction. The most common signs and symptoms associated with shopping addiction include:
Increasing the frequency of your purchases
Buying items you can’t afford or can’t use
Increasing preoccupation with planning shopping strategy, thinning about sales, or planning the next shopping activity
Relying on shopping as an escape from stress, anxiety, or depression
Struggling with surmounting debt and legal issues as a result of compulsive shopping
Feeling euphoria or joy after shopping
Hiding purchases or lying about shopping habits from friends and family, causing stress and tension in relationships
Increasing time spent on shopping habits
Increasing money spent on items to achieve the desired state
Returning to shopping habits after quitting, controlling, or cutting back behavior
Feelings of anxiety, sadness, boredom, or discomfort when not shopping
Inability to cut back or quit despite negative aftermath
Financial Consequences of Shopping Addiction
Excessive shopping can lead to significant financial consequences, including mounting debt, damaged credit scores and even bankruptcy. Many individuals find themselves in a cycle of spending beyond their means, using credit cards and loans to finance purchases. This financial strain can add stress and anxiety, further perpetuating the cycle of addiction.
Normal Shopping vs. Compulsive Shopping
Normal shopping is typically goal-oriented, involving purchasing items as needed and staying within budget. It’s a functional activity, often planned and controlled.
In contrast, compulsive shopping is defined by an overwhelming urge to buy, often impulsively and without regard for necessity or financial limits. It serves as an emotional escape, leading to feelings of regret and guilt. Unlike normal shopping, compulsive shopping can disrupt daily life and cause financial and emotional distress.
When to Get Help for Shopping Addiction
Recognizing when to get help for shopping addiction is crucial for treating the condition effectively. Here are some signs that indicate you or someone you know might need treatment:
Financial problems related to compulsive shopping
Neglecting important responsibilities with family, work, or school
Ignoring your self-care or mental health
Increasing preoccupation with shopping that interferes with daily life and responsibilities
Using shopping as a coping tool for anxiety, depression, stress, or other negative feelings
Other indicators suggest it’s time to get professional help. Some individuals might experience feelings of guilt or shame after shopping binges. Other individuals might lie about their shopping habits or hide purchases from others. One underlying factor would be the inability to stop their shopping habit despite the negative fallout.
The next step would be to consider professional support. The first step is to admit that you have a problem. From there, you can get an official diagnosis from a mental health professional.
Dopamine and shopping
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that can play a role in shopping addiction. This chemical is affiliated with pleasure and reward, and the release provides euphoria or joy. When some people shop, their brains release dopamine, which offers a temporary “high.” This makes it likely for some individuals to repeat the behavior.
Individuals continue to seek this dopamine rush whenever they shop. They might increase the frequency or amount of their shopping habits. This is an attempt to achieve a desired feeling, especially if they use shopping to cope with stress or difficult situations. The immediate mood boost and temporary relief create a cycle that causes the shopping addiction.
The cycle turns a simple habit of shopping into an emotional experience. The rush of buying new items can become addictive, resulting in dopamine-induced pleasure. As a result, shopping addiction becomes less about the material items, and more about the emotional escape.
Sources:
A review of compulsive buying disorder - PMC
Compulsive shopping and spending – a sign of shopping addiction? - Priory
A review of compulsive buying disorder - PMC
DSM-5 and the Decision Not to Include Sex, Shopping or Stealing as Addictions
Citalopram treatment of compulsive shopping: an open-label study
