Many people enjoy shopping, whether it’s the satisfaction of finding a great deal or visualizing how great they’ll look wearing the latest release from their favorite designer. Others, however, feel an irresistible urge to buy things even if they don’t need the items. Left unchecked, compulsive shopping, or spending addiction, becomes a vicious cycle that impacts financial, social and mental well-being.
If you can’t control your spending despite its negative effect on your life, know that you’re not alone. Compulsive shopping affects an estimated 5% of the American population. Find out when shopping is an addiction, how it relates to other psychological disorders and what you can do about it.
What Is Spending Addiction?
Spending addiction is the colloquial term used to describe compulsive buying disorder. People with a shopping addiction, called oniomaniacs, have an uncontrollable need to spend money, and often, they never use what they purchase. Many people with this disorder spend as a coping mechanism to manage stress and unwanted emotions.
Spending addiction impacts people’s financial health, but it can cause mental distress and affect their personal and professional relationships.
Signs and Symptoms of Shopping Addiction
A shopping addiction diagnosis requires an evaluation from a medical professional. However, a person may have a shopping addiction if they:
- Think about shopping constantly. Shopping addicts can’t stop thinking about shopping. It controls their thoughts and ultimately directs their behaviors.
- Continue spending despite unmanageable debt. Debt itself doesn’t mean a person has a shopping addiction. But when the debt comes primarily from shopping and the person continues to spend unnecessarily despite difficulty paying for their previous shopping behavior, that may be a sign of compulsive buying disorder.
- Purchase unnecessary goods. People who have a shopping addiction routinely purchase items they don’t need or can’t use.
- Neglect responsibilities to shop. Skipping work or school to shop is a signal that a person may have a shopping addiction. Some people may go shopping instead of spending time with family or handling other important matters.
- Lie about shopping. People with compulsive buying disorder often lie about their purchases and hide them due to the guilt they feel from their behavior.
- Can’t stop shopping. Recognizing the need to stop spending is one of the first steps toward change. But when attempts to stop continue to fail, the person may have a spending addiction.
- Spend as a coping mechanism. Spending to manage stressful situations and reconcile difficult emotions may be a sign of a shopping addiction.
Shopping Addiction Versus Stress, Depression and Anxiety
A study evaluating people at risk of shopping addiction reports that 95% of those with compulsive buying disorder also have one or more mood disorders. In another study, researchers looked for risk factors for compulsive shopping behavior. During their review, they found that more than 30% of the people observed in a related study experienced major depressive episodes in addition to their compulsive spending.
In an attempt to identify the emotions and behaviors that precede compulsive buying, one study looked at self-esteem and the major personality traits. Findings indicated that depression, anxiety and neuroticism were some of the strongest triggers.
Whether they do it consciously or not, many people use coping mechanisms to manage stress, depression and anxiety. For compulsive shoppers, these feelings often trigger their unrestrained spending. However, the fleeting satisfaction they gain from shopping frequently turns into guilt and shame due to spending on unnecessary and unwanted items. To cope with those feelings, they find something else to buy, feeding the cycle.
Conditions Similar to Shopping Addiction
Shopping addiction shares similarities with many other addictions. Whether it’s alcohol, prescription pills, illegal drugs or shopping, addicts routinely engage in self-sabotaging behavior that provides short-term relief with long-term consequences. People with compulsive shopping disorder often have substance abuse disorder as well.
The behaviors of people with spending addiction are similar to the symptoms of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder and impulse control issues. Impulsive spending is also among the symptoms of borderline personality disorder and is considered an indicator of someone going through a manic episode.
Next Steps to Take
Shopping addiction doesn’t have to rule your life. You can free yourself from the strain it places on your finances and personal relations. The steps below may help you get a handle on your uncontrollable spending.
- Acknowledge the problem. Similar to other addictions, admitting you have a problem is the first step in recovery. If you remain in denial about the effects of your shopping, you won’t hold yourself accountable.
- Create a budget. Determine how much you can afford to spend on shopping. This helps you become more selective about what you buy. It also provides an objective way to determine if your spending is harmful.
- Attend support groups. Many people struggle with overspending. Attending support groups helps you build a network of people who understand the challenges you face and allows you to learn from their progress.
- Find out what triggers the urge. Pay attention to the situations and emotions that occur before you begin spending. Whether it’s a stressful meeting at work or feelings of depression, knowing your triggers can help you process your thoughts in the moment and remind you that shopping isn’t the solution.
- Find alternatives to shopping. Look for hobbies and other activities you enjoy that don’t require you to spend money.
If you’re worried your overspending is a psychological disorder, meeting with a mental health professional may be the best step. A therapist who specializes in addictions can guide you to understand why you overspend and address the root causes. Cognitive behavioral therapy is among the best strategies for treating shopping addiction.
Between addiction counselors, support groups and treatment programs, numerous resources are available to help anyone who’s struggling to control their spending. Contact the Mental Health Hotline for free assistance finding help near you.