Compulsive shopping, also known as shopaholism, shopaholism or simply shopaholism, is a condition that, until recently, was not considered a separate disease entity. The increasing popularity of the phenomenon has caused interest on the part of experts in the field of psychology, psychiatry and broadly understood human behaviorism. How to recognize shopaholism and how to treat it?
It is estimated that the problem of shopaholism may concern up to 20% of people. population. This phenomenon was described as early as in the 80s by scientists from Canada and the United States as CBD, or compulsive buying disorder. Currently, buy-addiction is associated with behavioral disorders related to abnormal behavior. They rely on the so-called obsessive-compulsive disorders that cause difficulties in moderation and a constant need for consumption.
Shopaholism – causes
The development of shopaholism is influenced by various factors. They include psychological, social, as well as spiritual and biological aspects. The latter include impairment of the secretion and production of neurotransmitters, e.g. norepinephrine, dopamine or serotonin. These monoamines have a profound effect on the reward system, which is an integral part of the limbic system. It is also important to intensify the production of endogenous compounds which, by stimulating opioid receptors in the central nervous system, strongly improve mood. These substances include, among others endorphins and dynorphins. Certain social aspects also lead to the development of an obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is certainly a shopaholism. An increased tendency to fall into this type of addiction was observed in those people who encountered a similar problem in a close family. In addition, shopaholism can also apply to people with a low social status, who want to gain applause from the surrounding social group by increasing the amount of material goods. Sometimes, however, it may also be the result of peer pressure and reluctance to feel inferior. The innate or acquired tendency to make impulsive, ill-considered decisions or susceptibility to various types of addictions are also important.
Shopaholism – symptoms
In the light of research, it turns out that shopaholism can be divided into four phases. The first is the very thought of shopping, the second is planning what place to choose, where to go to the store. The third phase is called the stage of excitement, i.e. the very moment of shopping. During the last stage, there may be remorse regarding the amounts spent and sometimes reflection on the real need to have the purchased items. Experts in the fields of psychology and psychiatry also distinguish other types of shopaholics, including the so-called:
- collectors who usually collect collections of one type, such as watches, jewelery, etc .;
- gadżeciarzy, i.e. people who are interested in all news and currently fashionable material goods;
- bargain hunters, which include those who “hunt” for promotions and sales;
- consumers who cultivate the so-called window shopping, which means that they only need to view the items for sale, without feeling the need to buy them.
The first signs of shopaholism may include:
- spending a lot of time shopping;
- frequent or constant thought about making purchases;
- improving your mood by buying new material goods;
- neglect of the household budget due to the allocation of large sums for purchases;
- thoughtless, impulsive purchase of things that are not useful;
- hiding purchased material goods from relatives;
- concealment of real sums spent on purchases;
- borrowing from friends and family just to spend money on errands;
- remorse over the sums spent;
- a strong need to make purchases and feeling deeply euphoric at the same time.
Shopaholism – how to treat it?
First of all, try to reduce the amount of money you spend unnecessarily by making a shopping list. A good way is also to go shopping with other people or assume the maximum amount that an addicted person can spend on buying material goods. However, if simple methods fail, shopaholism should be treated under the care of a specialist who will make a diagnosis and select an individual treatment method. It relies heavily on cognitive behavioral therapy to help overcome the problem. Pharmacological treatment is not used in the treatment of shopaholism.