Shopping Addiction | Effects and Treatment

There are a number of factors which can potentially lead to the development of shopping addiction. These include:

• Low self-esteem – People with low self-esteem may use shopping as a way to try and boost their confidence by buying items they believe will make them more attractive or accepted. Ultimately, most people find that material possessions cannot make them happier in the long term.
• Stress – Shopping can temporarily distract people from difficult emotions, giving them a brief respite from anxiety or depression. As the financial and emotional consequences of excessive shopping become more apparent, however, the individual may be left feeling worse than before.
• Social pressure – Seeing friends and family members shopping can trigger the desire to buy something in order to “keep up” or fit in. It can also be fuelled by the idea that money and possessions equal success and status.
• Persuasive marketing tactics – Companies have become more sophisticated in their ability to encourage people to buy items through clever marketing and advertising campaigns. This can be particularly difficult to resist for people with a shopping addiction.
• Genetics – A predisposition to addiction, in general, can mean that individuals may be more susceptible to developing shopping addiction.
• Underlying mental health disorders – Excessive shopping can be both a symptom and a trigger of underlying mental health issues such as depression, bipolar disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some people may use shopping to try and escape from the associated feelings and thoughts these conditions cause but this will only provide temporary relief and won’t address the underlying issues.

Shopping addiction can affect every aspect of your life. It can have a serious impact on your finances with large amounts of money being spent on items which may not even be necessary. It can also put a strain on relationships as you become more and more obsessed with shopping and neglect your loved ones or lie to them about it.

Compulsive shopping can be detrimental to your health as you may prioritise shopping over basic needs like food and sleep. This can lead to dramatic changes in weight, exhaustion from overexertion and an overall decline in well-being.

As shopping addiction can be both a trigger and symptom of underlying mental health issues, these can also be exacerbated by the condition. People with a shopping addiction may be at an increased risk of depression, anxiety, insomnia and even suicidal thoughts, made worse by the financial, emotional and health consequences caused by compulsive buying.

Identifying the signs and symptoms of shopping addiction in a loved one can also be very difficult as their condition will likely cause them to deny there is an issue or hide their spending behaviour. Here are some warning signs to look out for if you think a friend or family member may have a shopping addiction:

• Spending a lot of time shopping online
• Borrowing money from you and others to fund their shopping habits
• Hiding items from you or lying about how much something costs
• Displaying mood swings when talking about shopping or finances
• Being distant or missing engagements regularly to go shopping
• Being frequently tired, exhausted or unwell due to overexertion from shopping sprees

If you have noticed any of these symptoms of shopping addiction in someone you care about, it may be time to approach them and start a conversation about their shopping habits. It is very important that you listen to them without judgement and try to encourage them to seek help.

It is also crucial that you don’t enable your loved one’s shopping addiction. This means setting boundaries and not giving them money or taking them to the shops for items they don’t need. It also means not lying or covering up for them when it comes to their spending. While it may be hard, tough love may be what is needed to help your loved one towards recovery.

If you think that you or a loved one has a shopping addiction, it is important to seek help and support as soon as possible. Recovery Lighthouse can provide you with the help, guidance and support that you need throughout your stay in shopping rehab and beyond.