Shop-a-Holics - Shopping Urges

Another name in the addictions list is shopping addictions. However, the condition of victim is far less critical as in other addictions but if unchecked, shopping addiction can lead havoc on the marital as well as financial status of a person.

A shop-a-holic generally, experiences cravings to shop whenever feelings of anxiety, disappointment, depression, loneliness, or anger spark. The addicts feel the need to buy something, in spite of their need or not. Mostly women are more affected by this disorder though this not being a hard and fast rule.

Shopping addictions often come from people with compulsive disorders. The persons mind is often in a neurotic state when the urge to shop develops. The person feeling depressed might endure withdrawal symptoms and at the state the person may run off to the shopping malls to binge.

Impulses, compulsions, or obsessive disorders will push the person to act out of ordinance, or act out spontaneously. The person rarely has forethought, yet will experience strong guilt feelings after behaving out of impulse. It is a form of behavior that emerges because of adrenaline rush, and the fantasy that an addict feels.

Shopping addicts like alcoholics/drug addicts often feel ashamed or guilty, yet they deny to someone’s face that a problem exists. This is not always true with alcoholics, since many people tell you they have a problem, but finds it difficult to accept.

Shopping addicts generally shop when they feel blue, and often spend more then, what their financial situation allows. Shopping addicts are similar to alcoholics or drug addicts, i.e. they will hide items purchased out of fear, or else never use the items purchased. While alcoholics and drug addicts use their purchases, the similarities of hiding their habits are prevalent in both.

Shopping addicts often shop, simply because their shopping makes them feel more secured and of more worth. Usually, it is for the reason tied to depression, anxiety, or to fill the need to fit in, and be noticed. Addicts of shopping often have impulsive disorders and compulsive disorders. Sometimes addicts have OCD-Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, which enforces their addiction.

At times the shopping is being carried out just as to avoid responsibilities or to hurt the other. When a person knows that other person is aware of his addiction but cannot stop him, the same behavior is carried out time and again, just to make other person felt helpless.

Besides these reasons, the present Malls, lucrative presentations, and offers along with strong marketing backup also play a role in impulsive buying.

These people believe that if they shop they will feel better. Going on frequent shopping binges, spending over budget for most of times, hiding purchases, purchase of unnecessary things, returning purchased items out of guilty are some of the clear indicators of shopping addiction.

A sufferer can have control over this addiction with help of some behavioral practices. The addict should always pay with cash or check, so they will be more aware of outflow. Limit discount shopping with fixed amount of money in wallet as discounts generally act as risers. No window-shopping in generally turns into real purchases. If possible the person should go shopping on foot as that will help to calm down the urge to shop.

As even after these remedies the person has no rest, they must consult a counselor or advisor to have a solution to the shopping addiction.

Shopping addiction often is a cause for the breakup of marital relationships. Also, sometimes the addict out of disappointment from his behavior can harm his life.

Shopping addicts will shop when they feel blue, and will often spend more than they financial situation allows. Shopping addicts are similar to alcoholics or drug addicts, i.e. they will hide items purchased out of fear, or else never use the items purchased. While alcoholics and drug addicts will use their purchases, the similarities of hiding their habits are never contrasting.

Shopping addicts like alcoholics/drug addicts will often feel ashamed or guilty, yet they will deny to someone’s face that a problem exists. This is not always true with alcoholics, since many will tell you they have a problem, but finds it difficult to accept.

Shopping addicts will often feel they their life is leading down a dead-end road, and could improve, only if they were able to get rid of their addictions. Like alcoholics and drug addicts, shopping addicts will often consider changing their life; yet often find it difficult to make the changes.

If you find self-going on frequent shopping binges, spending money you don’t have, including spending at stores, on the Internet, or through catalogues, you may have a shopping addiction. If every time you earn money and it causes impulsiveness and you must rush out to buy something to relieve the rush of adrenaline that flows throughout your body, creating impulses, you likely have a shopping problem.

Shopping addicts will often shop, simply because they feel it makes them feel of more worth. The addicts will feel the need buy something, whether they need it or not. Usually, it is for the reason tied to depression, anxiety, or buy to fill the need to fit in, and be noticed. Addicts of shopping often have impulsive disorders and compulsive disorders. Sometimes addicts have OCD-Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, which enforces their addiction.

Impulses, compulsions or obsessive disorders will push the person to act out of ordinance, or act out spontaneously. The person rarely has forethought, yet will experience strong guilt feelings after behaving out of impulse.

Some people will shop merely to escape responsibilities. Often others that expect something from them places stress on the person, which drives them to shop.

Shop-a-holic often experience cravings to shop when feelings of anxiety occur, disappointment, depression, loneliness, or angry emotions spark. We can review this information to help you better understand what drives these people to shop.

Emotions include joy, anger, happy, and sadness. Sadness and anger can lead to depression, anxiety, disappointment, and loneliness. At this point, a light bulb comes on, since that a person allowing the emotions to lead them to this level of hurt that the person is not in touch with their emotions, nor do they have an understanding of what the emotions function includes.

Shopping addicts will also feel a sense of high during their binge of shopping. This is what we must deal with, since the feeling often drives the craving, which in turn drives the person to shop. Like any addict, shop-a-holic often feels edgy, aggravated, or often will feel irritated when no money is available to support their shopping problems.  

Some people may think that shopping addictions is some new made-up mental health notion to enable mental health experts to increase their income by dragging in more clients. This is far from the truth. The fact is that some people do have shopping addictions, however shopping is not the problem, rather underlying mental illnesses and/or imbalances are existing that drives them shopping.

If you know someone that is constantly shopping even if money is not available, you might want to ask the person to seek help.