Addected to shopping when you dont know when to stop

Addicted to Shopping
When You Don’t Know When To Stop
Shiladitya Verma
(Masters in Management Science, Masters in Arts (Drawing & Painting), Masters in Arts (Psychology))
Associate Professor, MBA Department
Lakshmi Narain College of Technology & Science, Bhopal, M.P., INDIA

Shopping generally refers to the act of buying products. Sometimes this is done to obtain
necessities such as food or clothing; sometimes it is done as a recreational activity. To many,
shopping is considered a recreational and diversional activity in which one visits a variety of
stores with a premeditated intent to purchase a product.
Recreational shopping often involves window shopping (just looking, not buying) and
browsing and does not always result in a purchase. "Window Shopping" is an activity that
shoppers engage in by browsing shops with no intent to purchase, possibly just to pass the
time between other activities, or to plan a later purchase.
To some, shopping is a task of inconvenience and vexation. Shoppers sometimes go though
great lengths to wait in long lines to buy popular products as typically observed with early
adopter shoppers and holiday shoppers.
More recently compulsive shopping has been started to be recognized as an addiction. Also
referred as shopping addiction, "Shopaholism" or formally oniomania, these shoppers have
an impulsive uncontrollable urge to shop. The term "Retail Therapy" is used in a less serious
context.
Addiction
Addiction has long been understood to mean an uncontrollable habit of using alcohol or other
drugs. Because of the physical effects of these substances on the body, and particularly the
brain, people have often thought that “real” addictions only happen when people regularly
use these substances in large amounts.
More recently, we have come to realize that people can also develop addictions to behaviors,
such as gambling, and even quite ordinary and necessary activities such as exercise and
eating. What these activities have in common is that the person doing them finds them
pleasurable in some way.

There is some controversy about which of the “behavioral” addictions constitute
scientifically validated “true” addictions, with both professionals and the public failing to
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reach an agreement. More research is needed to clarify this issue.
Although the precise symptoms vary from one addiction to another, there are two aspects that
all addictions have in common:
Firstly, the addictive behavior is maladaptive or counter-productive to the individual. So
instead of helping the person adapt to situations or overcome problems, it tends to undermine
these abilities.
For example, a gambler might wish he had more money – yet gambling is more likely to
drain his financial resources. A drinker might want to cheer herself up – yet alcohol use
contributes to the development of her depression. A sex addict may crave intimacy – yet the
focus on sexual acts may prevent real closeness from developing.
Secondly, the behavior is persistent. When someone is addicted, they will continue to engage
in the addictive behavior, despite it causing them trouble.
So an occasional weekend of self-indulgence is not addiction, although it may cause different
kinds of problems. Addiction involves more frequent engagement in the behavior.
The question is that if one still enjoys It, It Can’t Be an Addiction, Right?
Wrong. Because the media, in particular, have portrayed addicts as hopeless, unhappy people
whose lives are falling apart, many people with addictions do not believe they are addicted as

long as they are enjoying themselves, and they are holding their lives together.
Often people’s addictions become ingrained in their lifestyle, to the point where they never
or rarely feel withdrawal symptoms. Or they may not recognize their withdrawal symptoms
for what they are, putting them down to aging, working too hard, or just to not liking
mornings. People can go for years without realizing how dependent they are on their
addiction.
People with illicit addictions may enjoy the secretive nature of their behavior. They may
blame society for its narrow-mindedness, choosing to see themselves as free-willed and
independent individuals. In reality, addictions tend to limit people’s individuality and
freedoms as they become more restricted in their behaviors. Imprisonment for engaging in an
illegal addiction restricts their freedom even more.
When people are addicted, their enjoyment often becomes focused on carrying out the
addictive behavior and relieving withdrawal, rather than the full range of experiences which
form the person’s full potential for happiness. At some point, the addicted person may realize
that life has passed them by, and that they have missed out on enjoying much other than the
addiction. This often happens when people overcome addiction.
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What’s the Problem if it isn’t doing any harm?
Addictions are harmful both to the person with the addiction, and to the people around them.
The biggest problem is the addicted person’s failure to recognize the harm their addiction is

doing. They may have denials about the negative aspects of their addiction, choosing to
ignore the effects on their health, life patterns and relationships. Or they may blame outside
circumstances or other people in their lives for their difficulties.
The harm caused by addiction is particularly difficult to recognize when the addiction is the
person’s main way of coping with the other problems they have. Sometimes other problems
are directly related to the addiction, for example, health problems, and sometimes they are
indirectly related to the addiction, for example, relationship problems.
Some people who get addicted to substances or activities are very aware of their addictions,
and even the harms caused by the addiction, but keep doing the addictive behavior anyway.
This can be because they don’t feel they can cope without the addiction, because they are
avoiding dealing with some other issue that the addiction distracts them from (such as being
abused as a child), or because they do not know how to enjoy life any other way.
The harm of addiction may only be recognized when the addicted person goes through a
crisis. This can happen when the addictive substance or behavior is taken away completely,
and the person goes into withdrawal and cannot cope. Or it can occur as a consequence of the
addiction, such as a serious illness, a partner leaving, or loss of a job.
Symptoms of Addiction
All addictions, whether to substances or to behaviors, involve both physical and
psychological processes. Each person’s experience of addiction is slightly different, and
addiction usually involves a cluster of some of the following symptoms. You can still be
addicted even if you do not have all of the symptoms.
There are many different addictions, but similar symptoms span them all.
Some of the symptoms common to addictions are:
•

Tolerance - the need to engage in the addictive behavior more and more to get the
desired effect

•

Withdrawal happens when the person does not take the substance or engage in the
activity, and they experience unpleasant symptoms, which are often the opposite of the
effects of the addictive behavior
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Difficulty cutting down or controlling the addictive behavior

•

Social, occupational or recreational activities becoming more focused around the
addiction, and important social and occupational roles being jeopardized

•

The person becoming preoccupied with the addiction, spending a lot of time on
planning, engaging in, and recovering from the addictive behavior

Signs of Addiction
Symptoms can only be experienced by the person with the addiction, whereas signs can be
observed by other people. You can never know what someone else is experiencing unless
they tell you, so if you are concerned that someone else may have an addiction, look for signs
as well as for symptoms.

You might see some signs in an addicted person but not others. These are signs which occur
across many (but not necessarily all) addictions:
•

Extreme mood changes – happy, sad, excited, anxious, etc

•

Sleeping a lot more or less than usual, or at different times of day or night

•

Changes in energy – unexpectedly and extremely tired or energetic

•

Weight loss or weight gain

•

Unexpected and persistent coughs or sniffles

•

Seeming unwell at certain times, and better at other times

•

Pupils of the eyes seeming smaller or larger than usual

•

Secretiveness

•

Lying

•

Stealing

•

Financially unpredictable, perhaps having large amounts of cash at times but no
money at all at other times

•

Changes in social groups, new and unusual friends, odd cell-phone conversations

•

Repeated unexplained outings, often with a sense of urgency

•

Drug paraphernalia such as unusual pipes, cigarette papers, small weighing scales, etc
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“Stashes” of drugs, often in small plastic, paper or foil packages

Caution
Most of the signs of addiction have other explanations. For example, someone can be
secretive because they are planning a birthday surprise for a friend. People can have changes
of energy for numerous reasons, health related and otherwise. They can make new
friendships and end old ones for many reasons other than addictions.
Most of the signs of addiction are similar to normal teenage behavior. Unfortunately,
teenagers are one of the groups most vulnerable to addiction. Parents who are concerned
about their teenage child should be very careful when discussing addiction with a teenager.
Be cautious about jumping to conclusions. Unless you have found drugs or drug
paraphernalia, or have some other obvious evidence of an addiction, it is likely there is
another explanation. However, do not be naïve if you have found drugs or drug
paraphernalia, as you may end up with legal problems if you do not address the situation.
The most important factor in finding out whether someone has an addiction or not is trust.
Trust needs to be earned, so try to be supportive. A confrontation with someone with an
addiction is likely to just lead to denial and rejection from the addicted person.
Symptoms and Signs of Specific Addictions
The links below will give you more details of the signs and symptoms of specific addictions.
Substance Addictions
•

Alcohol – for example, wine, beer, liquor

•

Amphetamine or similarly acting sympathomimetics – for example, speed, crystal
meth

•

Benzodiazepines - for example, Xanax, Valium

•

Caffeine – for example, coffee, tea, sports drinks

•

Cannabis – for example, marijuana, grass, hash

•

Cocaine – for example, coke, crack

•

Hallucinogens – for example, acid, ecstasy

•

Inhalants – for example, poppers, aerosols

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Nicotine – for example, cigarettes, cigars, nicotine patches

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Opioids – for example, heroin, morphine, painkillers

•

Phencyclidine (PCP) or similarly acting agents – for example, angel dust, ketamine

•

Sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics – for example, sleeping pills, downers

Behavioral Addictions
•

Computer – for example, internet, video games, social networking sites, cybersex,
online gambling

•

Eating – for example, overeating, binging

•

Exercise – for example, weight loss, sports

•

Gambling – for example, VLTs, casinos, slot machines

•

Gaming – for example, computer games

•

Sex – for example, porn, cybersex, multiple partners

•

Shopping – for example, spending, stealing

•

Work – for example, overwork, money, power

Addiction Diagnosis
The diagnosis of an addiction can seem like a daunting experience, but it can be the starting

point for making positive changes in your life.
Where Should I Go for a Diagnosis?
If you recognize the symptoms of addiction in yourself, the easiest way to find out whether
you have an addiction is to make an appointment with your family doctor. They may decide
to refer you to a specialized addiction clinic or clinician who specializes in addictions for a
full assessment and addiction diagnosis if appropriate.
Who Will Make the Diagnosis?
Many different health care professionals are trained to conduct addiction assessments,
including addictions counselors, physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers and other
therapists. They are often called “clinicians” when they are carrying out assessments or
therapy.
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Occasionally, there is more than one person involved in making the addiction diagnosis. For
example, you may be interviewed once by a counselor and again by a physician. Do not let
this put you off – you will have two experts’ opinions instead of one!
All health care professionals are trained to treat people with addictions with courtesy,
respect, and a non-judgmental attitude. You can trust them to keep the information you give
them confidential.
How Will They Decide If I Am Addicted?
The clinician will make the addiction diagnosis using a combination of objective criteria and
clinical judgment.
Objective criteria are usually based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), which lists the symptoms of addiction for substance and gambling
addictions. As some addictions, such as sex addiction and computer addiction, are not

included in this version of the DSM, the clinician should use the most recent diagnostic
criteria published in scientific journals.
Diagnostic information can be gathered in several different ways, including:
•

Standardized assessment tools and other questionnaires that the clinic staff will
give you to fill out.

•

Face to face “open-ended” interviewing, which is like a conversation, with the
clinician making notes. This is best for history-taking so you can explain the
circumstances in your own words.

•

Face to face “structured” interviewing, in which the clinician will ask standard
questions and write down your answers. It’s a bit like completing a questionnaire,
but you can discuss questions as you go along.

•

The questions and focus of the discussion will involve some or all of the
following:

•

The history of your addiction, including when and how you started the addictive
behavior, how it has progressed, and factors which have contributed to its
development.

•

Your current pattern of addictive behavior – what your addictive behaviors are,
how much and how often you engage in them.

•

Your current symptoms of addiction.
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The effects of your addiction on the other areas of your life, including your
family, social life, work life and financial situation.

•

Your readiness to change.

You may also be asked for a urine sample to assess the levels of drugs in your system. Blood
samples are not routinely taken, but if you have signs or symptoms of serious physical
illness, a clinician may request a blood sample, for example, to assess your liver function.
Not all addiction clinics are set up to take urine or blood samples.

A good diagnostic assessment will also gather information on your general mental and
physical health to assess whether you are suffering from another condition such as
depression, anxiety disorder or personality disorder. You might be referred to medical
physician if there are specific physical concerns, or to a psychiatric physician if there is an
indication of another significant mental health issue. Inpatient or outpatient detoxification
may also be advisable at this stage.
Co-existing conditions can and should be treated at the same time as the addictive behavior.
It will help the process if you follow these Tips for Getting an Accurate Diagnosis.
What Next
Most clinics will be able to give you a verbal addiction diagnosis right away. Occasionally,
there may be a delay, for example, if a psychologist wants to score your standardized tests
before making a diagnosis. If so, you should make an appointment to come back to get your
diagnosis in person.
Your diagnosis and the information gathered will form the basis of your treatment plan. This
plan will be made in consultation with you, with the opportunity to discuss their
recommendations and the options available.
You are free to withdraw from the process at any time. Often times, just knowing your
addiction diagnosis can be the start of making positive changes in your life.
Addiction Treatment
Approaches to addiction treatment depend on the needs of the individual, and may include:
•

Detoxification to medically manage withdrawal from alcohol or drugs

•

Individual therapy to help the person reach a greater understanding of their addiction
and how to overcome it
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Group therapy to allow people with the same addiction problem to share
understanding, support and encourage each other

•

Residential treatment to give people the chance to get away from their usual lifestyle
into a safe supportive atmosphere with intensive therapy

Many people successfully overcome addictions without professional help through “natural
recovery”.
Both natural recovery and addiction treatment can be enhanced through self help groups. The
best known addiction self-help group is Alcoholics Anonymous or AA, which is a 12 step
program, although there are many others which use different theories of addiction treatment.
How Do I Know Which Treatment Approach to Use?
In reality, people often use a combination of approaches to addiction treatment. It may take
several different treatments to successfully overcome an addiction.
Quitting takes time, and involves several stages:
•

The decision to change –- you may not be ready to quit, but services exist to help
you make this decision.

•

Preparing to change –- deciding on the best way to quit.

•

Withdrawal from the addictive behavior – can last a week or two.

•

Developing a lifestyle without the addictive behaviour.

•

Finding non-addictive ways of coping.

•

Maintaining a non-addictive lifestyle over the long-term – this will take the rest of
your life.

•

Many different addiction treatments help people overcome addictions. The
effectiveness of your therapy will depend on:

•

Your readiness to change.

•

How well you get on with your therapist.

•

How severe your addiction is –- it is dangerous to withdraw from some drugs,
including alcohol, without medical supervision.
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Your physical health –- you may have problems such as liver disease, which also
need immediate treatment.

•

Your mental health –- your addiction may be co-occurring with another mental
health problem, which will also need immediate treatment.

•

The amount of social support you have. Generally, family and friends who do not
share the addictive behaviour can support your recovery, but people still engaged

in the same addictive behaviour tend to make it more difficult.

•

Your financial circumstances –- you may need to take time off work, and if you
have difficult financial circumstances, treatment services can connect you with
financial and housing support.

How Do I Begin Addiction Treatment?
The best place to start is to discuss your addiction with your family doctor. Some ways that
they help are:
•

Providing a long-term therapeutic relationship -– don’t underestimate the value of
someone who can see you progress from being addicted to long-term recovery.

•

Diagnosing physical and mental conditions you may not even be aware of.

•

Referrals to other medical, psychiatric and formal addiction services.

•

Advice on addiction treatment approaches.

•

Medical management of your withdrawal –- they can explain how this will work,
whether you need to go into a detoxification facility or hospital, and refer you to
appropriate services.

You can also contact a helpline, to put you in touch with treatment services directly.
Helplines provide immediate anonymous support and information, often 24 hours a day. You
may still need a referral from your family doctor to get into a treatment program.
What Can I Expect From Addiction Treatment?
Addiction treatment services vary, but expect some or all of the following:
•

Confidentiality with very few exceptions.

•

Supportive professionals who will collaborate with you, accept you for who you
are, empathize with your situation, encourage you to keep trying, and help you
solve problems.
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•

Individual counseling to discuss how you became addicted, your reasons for
quitting, and what will help you quit.

•

Group therapy, where you will meet other people in addiction treatment, to
support each other and learn about addiction and recovery.

•

Your addiction treatment service may or may not involve:

•

Drug testing -– only if abstinence from alcohol or drugs is one of the goals you
agreed with your therapist.

•

Medication management by an on-site medical professional -– a great advantage
if you are detoxifying, or if you have other mental or physical concerns.

•

Family support and/or couples counselling to give support to people in your life
who could help your recovery.

•

Follow up –- to make sure that you are still doing OK after completing the
treatment program.

Will I Be Judged?
Generally, healthcare providers take a nonjudgmental approach to treating people with
addictions. Anyone working in the medical system should treat you with dignity and respect,
and if they do not, you can make a complaint.
Sometimes people in group therapy are judgmental of others. A facilitator will prevent this
from happening by setting ground rules for participants at the beginning of the session. It is
part of their job to ensure that group members are respectful to each other.
The lack of facilitators is one of the difficulties of self-help groups. If you feel judged or
uncomfortable with a self-help group you are attending, try a different group.
What if I Can’t Quit?
Successful recovery from an addiction takes time and patience. The most important factor is
your commitment to quitting. Support is available, and if you relapse, you can always try
again. It is common to have several attempts before you are successful.
Addicted to Shopping : When You Don’t Know When To Stop
Oniomania
Oniomania is the psychiatric term for compulsive shopping, or shopping addiction. People
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with oniomania shop on impulse as a way of coping and find it difficult to control their
spending or shopping behaviors.

Oniomania (the word is derived from the Greek Words: onios = "for sale" and mania =
"insanity"), often colloquially referred to as shopaholic, is a medical term for the compulsive
desire to shop. Oniomania is the technical term for the compulsive desire to shop, more
commonly referred to as compulsive shopping, compulsive buying, shopping addiction or

shopaholism. Another common version of this syndrome is credit card addiction, also can
take the form of compulsive credit card use. All of these are considered to be either clinical
addictions or impulse control disorders, depending on the clinical source: First described by
Kraepelin in 1915, and then Bleuler in 1924, as oniomania from the Greek oneomai, to buy,
included among other pathological and reactive impulses, compulsive buying went largely
ignored for nearly sixty years.
Omniomania, compulsive shopping (or what's more commonly referred to as shopping
addiction), is perhaps the most socially reinforced of the behavioral addictions.
We are surrounded by advertising, telling us that buying will make us happy. We are
encouraged by politicians to spend as a way of boosting the economy. And we all want to
have what those around us have –- consumerism has become a measure of our social worth.
Although widespread consumerism has escalated in recent years, shopping addiction is not a
new disorder. It was recognized as far back as the early nineteenth century, and was cited as
a psychiatric disorder in the early twentieth century.
Almost everyone shops to some degree, but only about 6% of the U.S. population is thought
to have a shopping addiction. Usually beginning in the late teens and early adulthood,
shopping addiction often co-occurs with other disorders, including mood and anxiety
disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, other impulse control disorders, and
personality disorders.
Normal Shopping v. Shopping Addiction
So what makes the difference between normal shopping, occasional splurges, and shopping
addiction? As with all addictions, shopping becomes the person’s main way of coping with
stress, to the point where they continue to shop excessively even when it is clearly having a
negative impact on other areas of their life. As with other addictions, finances and
relationships are damaged, yet the shopping addict feels unable to stop or even control their
spending.
The Controversy of Shopping Addiction
Like other behavioral addictions, shopping addiction is a controversial idea. Many experts
balk at the idea that excessive spending can constitute an addiction, believing that there has12
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to be a psychoactive substance which produces symptoms such as physical tolerance and
withdrawal for an activity to be a true addiction.
There is also some disagreement among professionals about whether compulsive shopping
should be considered an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), impulse control disorder
(like pathological gambling), mood disorder (like depression), or addiction. It has been
suggested that, along with kleptomania (compulsive stealing) and binge-eating disorder
(BED), it be viewed as an impulsive-compulsive spectrum disorder.
How Is Shopping Addiction Like Other Addictions?
There are several characteristics that shopping addiction shares with other addictions. As
with other addictions, shopping addicts become preoccupied with spending, and devote
significant time and money to the activity. Actual spending is important to the process of
shopping addiction; window shopping does not constitute an addiction, and the addictive
pattern is actually driven by the process of spending money.
As with other addictions, shopping addiction is highly ritualized and follows a typically
addictive pattern of thoughts about shopping, planning shopping trips, and the shopping act
itself, often described as pleasurable, ecstatic even, and as providing relief from negative
feelings. Finally, the shopper crashes, with feelings of disappointment, particularly with the
him/herself.
Compulsive shoppers use shopping as a way of escaping negative feelings, such as
depression, anxiety, boredom, self-critical thoughts, and anger. Unfortunately, the escape is
short-lived. The purchases are often simply hoarded unused, and compulsive shoppers will
then begin to plan the next spending spree. Most shop alone, although some shop with others
who enjoy it. Generally, it will lead to embarrassment to shop with people who don’t share
this type of enthusiasm for shopping.
What If I Have a Shopping Addiction?

Research indicates that around three-quarters of compulsive shoppers are willing to admit
their shopping is problematic, particularly in areas of finances and relationships. Of course,
this may reflect the willingness of those who participate in research to admit to having
problems. Fortunately, although not yet well-researched, compulsive shopping does appear to
respond well to a range of treatments, including medications, self help books, self help
groups, financial counseling, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). It should be noted,
however, that although some medications show promise, results are mixed, so they should
not be considered a sole or reliable treatment.
If you believe you may have a shopping addiction, discuss possible treatments with your
doctor. You may also find it helpful to get financial counseling, particularly if you have run
up debts by spending. It is recommended that you abstain from use of checkbooks and credit
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cards, as the easy access to funding tends to fuel the addiction.
Shopping only with friends or relatives who do not compulsively spend is also a good idea,
as they can help you to curb your spending. Finding alternative ways of enjoying your leisure
time is essential to breaking the cycle of using shopping as way of trying to feel better about
yourself. Remember, you are a worthwhile person, no matter how much or how little you
own.
Is Shopping Addiction, or Overspending, a Real Addiction?
Since the popularity of the movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic, it is not uncommon to hear
people, particularly young -- and young at heart -- women talk of being "shopaholics." As
shopping addiction has become associated with wealthy, attractive celebrities, and characters
such as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, who overspent on shoes, it has almost become
fashionable to "admit" to uncontrolled spending. But is overspending, or shopping addiction,

a real addiction, like alcoholism or drug addiction?
Shopping addiction is not currently recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (4th edition), and there is no agreement among experts on whether it
should be included in future editions. However, that doesn't mean overspending isn't a
problem.
People with serious problems with overspending can be diagnosed with Impulse Control
Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, a diagnostic label that can apply to a range of excessive,
impulsive behaviors, including compulsive buying. Excessive shopping is also given as an
example of a behavior that can be a characteristic of a manic episode, as part of bipolar
disorder.
It is clear that whether it is called "shopping addiction," "compulsive shopping," "compulsive
buying," or "overspending," it shares many features of other addictions, including spending a
lot of time thinking about, planning, and repetitively engaging in the behavior, even when it
becomes harmful; having difficulty controlling the behavior; and experiencing distress or
disruption to other areas of life as a result.
Keep in mind that shopping addiction is only an addiction if it is problematic or harmful in
some way, it is not a label that can simply be applied to anyone who enjoys shopping or who
spends a lot of time and/or money shopping.
While "shopping addiction" is not officially recognized, there are several treatments that may
help with problematic aspects of these behaviors. Effective treatments include individual
therapy, group cognitive-behavioral therapy, marital and couples counseling, credit
counseling and debt management. In some cases, medication can help, particularly if the
behavior is stemming from mania related to bipolar disorder, or from depression, which
occurs in around 50% of shopping addicts. Research is still emerging, so in the years to
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come, we can expect approaches to treating shopping addiction and overspending more
effectively.
The bottom line: While shopping addiction isn't officially recognized as a disorder, that
doesn't mean it doesn't exist. As shopping addiction can be a symptom of serious mental
illness, if you or someone you know has "shopping addict" like behavior, you should talk
with your doctor as soon as possible.
Is Compulsive Shopping Really an Addiction?
Shopping addiction, also known as compulsive shopping, compulsive spending, compulsive
buying or oniomania, is often trivialized in the media. It is posed as the behavior of
superficial fashion victims -- invariably female -- and typified by wealthy celebrities with
little more to do with their time than purchase shoes.
The movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic" in some ways reinforced this view, although it also
contained some observations that are relevant to those suffering from problems of overspending.
Rarely is shopping addiction taken as seriously as addiction to substances like alcohol and
drugs or other behaviors, such as compulsive gambling. Is this because it is not a legitimate
addiction?
Latest Developments
Although there is a large and growing body of research into compulsive buying, unlike
research into other addictions, much of the compulsive buying research is published in
journals on marketing and consumer research. These journals have a different audience,
consisting mainly of marketing professionals rather than clinical professionals. Clearly, the
motives of those interested in marketing and understanding consumer behavior are quite
different from those who are interested in preventing and treating addictions. So, for
compulsive shopping to be recognized as a disorder in its own right, it will have to be taken
on as a topic worthy of research by the addiction and medical fields and studied from that
perspective.
One of the latest developments in compulsive shopping research is the finding that shopping
online is particularly attractive to people who are "addicted" to shopping. This is because
online shopping appeals to several motivations that are particularly strong in compulsive

shoppers, including the need to seek out variety in and information about products; to buy
without being seen; to avoid social interactions while shopping; and to experience pleasure
while shopping.
As secrecy in carrying out the activity and intense pleasure while engaging in the activity are
common across all addictive behaviors, this research supports the notion that compulsive
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shopping is, indeed, an addiction.
Online shopping is one of several computer-based activities that have an addictive
component; others include online gambling, online porn, and video game playing. Although
under consideration for inclusion in the DSM (the manual for clinical diagnosis) for now, it
seems that these activities will not be included as stand-alone addictive disorders just yet.
While these "cyber-addictions" are yet to gain full recognition, that is largely a reflection of
the lack of a strong record of research on which to base the required detail for DSM-listed
conditions. It does not indicate that cyber-addictions are not prevalent, problematic or taken
seriously by the psychiatric community.
There is also a growing awareness of the need to help people who suffer from financial
hardship as a result of compulsive shopping.
Background
Compulsive shopping has been recognized for the past 100 years, and people with problems
controlling their spending can be diagnosed under impulse control disorder, not otherwise
specified. Although shopping addiction, along with many other behavioral addictions, was
under consideration for inclusion in the next version of the DSM (DSM-V), it is not currently
listed under the proposed new behavioral addictions, nor as a stand-alone impulse control
disorder.

Some experts have suggested that shopping addiction is a form of obsessive compulsive
disorder (OCD). A continuum between obsessive-compulsive disorders and impulse control
disorders, with shopping addiction and other behavioral addictions appearing around the
middle of the continuum, has been proposed. However, in reviewing the available evidence,
the DSM taskforce has argued that shopping addiction does not fit with OCD criteria. The
conditions have different phenomenology, there is a lack of OCD family history in people
with shopping addiction, and there are different treatment responses in people with shopping
addiction -- for whom SSRIs may be ineffective -- from people with bone fide OCD.
An alternative suggestion is that shopping addiction is a form of "affective spectrum
disorder," based on its similarity to bipolar disorder. Overlap between bipolar disorders and
impulse control disorders include engaging in behaviors that are potentially harmful,
sensation-seeking and/or pleasurable; rapid, impulsive thinking; poor insight into dangers or
consequences; and the association of mood symptoms with impulses, and euphoria with
carrying out the "impulsive" behavior, such as shopping.
The DSM-IV criteria for a manic episode include, among many other symptoms, "Excessive
involvement in activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (e.g., engaging
in unrestrained buying sprees...)." However, excessive buying is just one example of manic
behavior, and people who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder are not all compulsive
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shoppers.

What's the Difference Between Compulsive Shopping and Impulsive Shopping?
Experts who have looked into this issue say that the difference between compulsive shopping
and impulse buying rests with the internal motivation, or reason, for the making the purchase.

While impulse buying is largely unplanned, and happens in the moment in reaction to an
external trigger -- such as seeing the desired item in the shop -- compulsive shopping is more
inwardly motivated. A compulsive shopper will plan the shopping experience as a way to
avoid or relieve uncomfortable internal feelings, such as anxiety.
Compulsive shoppers are also more likely to experience negative consequences as a result of
their shopping than impulse buyers, such as running into financial difficulties, having
arguments with family members, and experiencing emotional confusion. They are also more
likely to fall into a pattern of addictive behavior, in which they shop more and more in an
attempt to stave off stress and anxiety. This is how shopping addiction develops
Taking Shopping Addiction Seriously
Shopaholics, their friends, families and supporters, are often confused about the nature of the
problem. Lots of people like to shop, and payment by credit card is a way of life, so when
does it cross the line and become an addiction?
Generally, as with all addictions, shopping becomes an addiction when it is used to avoid
other problems in life, and is relied upon more and more as a coping strategy, even when it
causes further problems. This is a cycle seen in all behavioral addictions. But there is some
controversy over whether shopping addiction is really an addiction, given the fact that it can
crop up as part of a manic episode in people who have bipolar disorder, and some feel it is
part of the spectrum of obsessive compulsive disorders, rather than an addiction.
Furthermore, with shopping addiction being trivialized in the media, by stereotypical "girly"
characters, such a Rebecca in Confessions of a Shopaholic, many wonder whether shopping
addiction should be taken seriously as a real addiction. In an increasingly materialistic
society, it has become almost fashionable to call yourself a "shopaholic," and so many people
feel overshopping is a natural off-shoot of the more towards credit cards and a self-indulgent
society.
But shopping addiction can be serious, and should be taken seriously. Not only can it be a
sign of other mental health problems, it can lead to serious consequences for finances and
relationships. So if you think you or a loved one might be a shopaholic, don't be shy in
asking your doctor for help.
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Portrayal of Addiction In "Confessions of a Shopaholic" : Movie Portrays Several
Misconceptions About Shopping Addiction
"Confessions of a Shopaholic" does not intend to be a serious film, yet it portrays a serious
subject -- shopping addiction. Although the movie contains some elements of truth, it also
reinforces some unhelpful ideas about shopping addiction. Here are several misconceptions:
1. Shopping Addiction Is a Largely Female Problem
This misconception is even reflected in the literature on shopping addiction, with early
estimates being that up to 95% of shopping addicts were women. However, recent research
has indicated that the problem also affects men. In the movie, the main character, Rebecca, is
the stereotypical shopping addict -- a young woman in pursuit of designer clothing and
accessories. However, men were represented in her 12-step group.
2. Shopping Addiction Is All About Feeling Good
Rebecca was not shown to experience any of the negative emotions associated with the
addictive cycle. She was shown to experience excitement and ecstasy during her shopping
trips, but she did not seem to have any negative feelings about it, such as disappointment,
which usually occur in shopping addiction after a purchase has been made. The negative
consequences were mostly limited to other people's reactions to her lies and debt.
3. Debt Problems Arising From Shopping Addiction Are Easily Solved
Probably the most implausible aspect of the movie was the way that Rebecca's debt problems
were resolved in a very short space of time, through her re-selling of clothing and accessories
at a huge profit. While in the movie Rebecca had become something of an overnight celebrity
(itself a highly unlikely event), in reality, a shopping addict is likely to have to invest a lot of
time and effort -- and take a considerable loss -- when reselling items, even if they are in
good condition. Longer term consequences of credit card debt, such as a poor credit rating,

are not mentioned in the movie.
4. Family and Friends Quickly Overcome Undermined Trust
In the movie, Rebecca lies to everyone, and particularly hurts her best friend/roommate and
her employer/boyfriend. Both overcome their hurt feelings and forgive her quickly and easily
once she begins her recovery. In reality, it can be very difficult and take time for people with
addictions to gain forgiveness and regain trust when they have hurt loved ones through their
addiction.
5. 12-Step Programs Are a Joke
I am yet to see a responsible portrayal of a 12-step meeting in a movie, and "Confessions of a
Shopaholic" is no exception. Although 12-step meetings are not for everyone, they are a
valuable source of support for many people, and the problems they address are serious.
Addiction is no laughing matter, and I hope people who are looking for support are not put
off trying 12-step programs because of what I consider the ridiculous way that the groups,
their leaders, and their participants are portrayed in this movie.
6. Recovery Is Quick and Easy
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The process of recovery from an addiction is a lifelong process. There are many different
theories about addiction, but what they share is that overcoming an addiction is not easy.
Furthermore, whether you aim for lifelong abstinence (which would be extremely difficult
with shopping, as it is a necessary activity) or better control over your shopping, restraint has
to be exercised at every step along the way. The emotional problems that caused the
addiction to develop in the first place still need to be addressed, and the stress of daily life
still needs to be managed. None of these issues were touched upon in the movie.
Disorders

Psychiatrists often call oniomania a compulsive disorder or addiction, but it has only been
accepted as a disorder by the Deutsche Gesellschaft Zwangserkrankungen (German
organization for obsessive-compulsive disorders), for several years. In the United States,
impulsive-compulsive buying behavior may be diagnosed as an Impulse control disorder Not Otherwise Specified in the DSM-IV-TR. It may be under consideration for inclusion as a
separate specific Impulse-Control Disorder in the next edition of the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Only in the past twenty years has specific and persistent inquiry into the disorder occurred.
Although the study of compulsive buying is still in its infancy compared with some of its
psychological siblings—alcoholism, eating disorders or drug abuse—there is more and more
evidence that it poses a serious and worsening problem, one with significant emotional,
social, occupational, and financial consequences. As many as 8.9 percent of the American
population may be full-fledged compulsive buyers. and the problem is fast becoming a global
one.
The terms compulsive shopping, compulsive buying, and compulsive spending are often used
interchangeably, but the behaviors they represent are in fact distinctly different. However,
one may buy without shopping or certainly shop without buying. Most current researchers
use the term compulsive buying and subscribe to an exceptionally specific definition
proposed by McElroy and her colleagues (1994) as follows:
1. Compulsive buying is a maladaptive preoccupation with buying or shopping, or
maladaptive buying or shopping impulses or behavior, as indicated by either: frequent
preoccupation with buying or impulses to buy that is/are experienced as irresistible,
intrusive, and/or senseless, or frequent buying items that are not needed or cannot be
afforded or shopping for longer periods of time than intended.
2. The buying preoccupations, impulses, or behaviors cause marked distress, are timeconsuming, significantly interfere with social or occupational functioning, or result in
financial problems, and they do not occur exclusively during periods of hypomania or
mania.
Symptoms
Similar to other compulsive behaviors, sufferers often experience the highs and lows
associated with addiction. Victims often experience moods of satisfaction when they are in
the process of purchasing, which seems to give their life meaning while letting them forget

about their sorrows. Once leaving the environment where the purchasing occurred, the19
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feeling of a personal reward has already gone. To compensate, the addicted person goes
shopping again. Eventually a feeling of suppression will overcome the person. For example,
cases have shown that the bought goods will be hidden or destroyed, because the person
concerned feels ashamed of their addiction and tries to conceal it.
Causes
Personal
The addicted person gets into a vicious circle that consists of negative emotions like anger
and stress, which lead to purchasing something. After the buying is over, the person is either
regretful or depressed. In order to cope with the feelings, the addicted person resorts to
another purchase.
Shopaholism often begins at an early age. Children who experience parental neglect often
grow up with low self-esteem because throughout much of their childhood they experienced
that they were not important as a person. As a result, they used toys to compensate for their
feelings of loneliness. Adults that have depended on materials for emotional support when
they were much younger are more likely to become addicted to shopping because of the
ongoing sentiment of deprivation they endured as children. During adulthood, the purchase
instead of the toy is substituted for affection. Shopaholics are unable to deal with their
everyday problems, especially those that alter their self-esteem. Most of the issues in their
lives are repressed by buying something.
This disorder is often linked to emotional deprivations in childhood, an inability to tolerate
negative feelings, the need to fill an internal void, excitement seeking, excessive dependency,
approval seeking, perfectionism, general impulsiveness and compulsiveness, and the need to
gain control. Compulsive buying seems to represent a search for self in people whose identity

is neither firmly felt nor dependable. Most shopaholics try to counteract feelings of low selfesteem through the emotional lift and momentary euphoria provided by compulsive
shopping. These shoppers, who also experience a higher than normal rate of associated
disorders—depression, bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), anxiety, substance
abuse, eating disorders, and impulse-control disorders—may be using their symptom to selfmedicate.
Systemic
Social conditions may also play an important role, especially in capitalist societies that are
dominated by a consumerist economy. Ubiquitous marketing and advertising promotes a
culture of consumerism, by encouraging the creation of artificial needs. Debt, facilitated by
credit cards, enable the casual spending beyond that of ones means. What differentiates
oniomania from healthy shopping is this compulsive, destructive and chronic nature of the
buying.
Consequences
The consequences of oniomania, which may persist long after a spree, can be devastating.
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money, defaulted loans, and general financial trouble. The resulting stress can lead to
physical health problems, marital problems, ruined relationships, and in some cases, suicide.
Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD) is characterized by an obsession with shopping and
buying behavior that causes adverse consequences. Most persons with CBD meet the criteria
for an axis II disorder. CBD is found in 5.8% of the United States population, of which
approximately 80% are female. It is frequently co-morbid with mood, anxiety, substance
abuse and eating disorders. Onset of CBD occurs in the late teens and early twenties and is
generally chronic. CBD is similar to, but distinguished from OCD hoarding and mania.
Promising treatments for CBD include medication such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors (SSRIs), and support groups such as Debtors Anonymous.

Retail Therapy
Retail therapy is shopping with the primary purpose of improving the buyer's mood or
disposition. Often seen in people during periods of depression or transition, it is normally a
short-lived habit. Items purchased during periods of retail therapy are sometimes referred to
as "comfort buys".
Retail therapy was first used as a term in the 1980s with the first reference being this
sentence in the Chicago Tribune of Christmas Eve 1986: "We've become a nation measuring
out our lives in shopping bags and nursing our psychic ills through retail therapy."
In 2001, the European Union conducted a study finding that 33% of shoppers surveyed had
"high level of addiction to rash or unnecessary consumption". This was causing debt
problems for many with the problem being particularly bad in young Scottish people.
How to Get Retail Therapy
Retail therapy (or shopping to feel better when you are feeling down) can be a useful tool,
when not used to excess. Read on for tips to keep your retail therapy enjoyable (rather than
guilt inducing and bank breaking).
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Limit your retail therapy. Retail therapy is actually the kind of activity that is more
enjoyable "in doses" rather than done excessively. When you "over shop," you run the
risk of going broke, which will only increase your anxiety exponentially, rather than
soothing you and making you feel better.
Pay attention to your mood when you shop. You don't want to become addicted to
shopping. Are you using retail therapy to feel good and happy, or are you using it to
numb your feelings the way a compulsive gambler turns to poker or a binge eater
turns to chocolate? If you feel genuinely good when you shop (rather than numbed
out), and if you can control your shopping habits, these are both good signs.

Remember you don't need to shop at fancy, overpriced department stores to get your
retail therapy "fix." A trip to Target can be just as fruitful, if not more so, because you
will get much more bang for your buck!
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Try to shop with cash (or with your debit card rather than with a credit card). Don't charge
your retail therapy. If you can't afford it, find a different way to feel good. Remember,
shopping only has therapeutic value if it actually improves your mood and gives you pleasure
rather than making you feel guilty or bad or negative in any way. If your current budget does
not allow for retail therapy, remember there are lots of other cost-free ways to feel good, such
as taking a walk or talking to a good friend, both of which can lift your spirits enormously,
and neither of which costs a dime.
Researchers at Melbourne University have advocated its classification as a psychological
disorder called oniomania or compulsive shopping disorder.
Buyer's Remorse
Buyer's remorse is the feeling of regret after a purchase. It is frequently associated with the
purchase of higher value items such as a car or house. It may stem from a sense of not
wishing to be wrong, of guilt over extravagance or from feeling that one has been persuaded
by a salesman.
Buyer's remorse is the term given to the feeling a person often gets after making a large
purchase. Although excited at the time of the purchase, once they've spent a lot of money,
many people feel a deep regret and concern that they made the wrong decision, referred to as
buyer's remorse.
Buyer's remorse takes many different forms, most of them typified by a high level of anxiety,

usually about having made the wrong decision. Sometimes buyer's remorse strikes when a
person makes a purchase they may not have actually had the money or credit for, and after
buying it they begin to realize that they were living well outside of their means, and worry
begins to grow over the consequences. This is especially true of purchases such as buying a
new home, which is one of the most common triggers for buyer's remorse, due in no small
part to the huge amounts of money usually involved.
Buyer's remorse may also focus on the worry that a purchase was made at the wrong time,
and that by waiting a better deal could be had. This type of buyer's remorse is especially
common in the technology sector, and in automobiles, where new generations of products are
released regularly. A person might make a purchase and then immediately begin wishing
they had waited for the next generation to come out, as their product will soon be outdated.
This type of buyer's remorse is largely unfounded, since the same case can be made at any
point in time, as new generations are constantly being rolled out. It is especially prevalent
when a new generation of a product is immediately released, however, leading the buyer to
wish they had waited a week or two before committing to a purchase.
Buyer's remorse may also express itself as extreme guilt over the buying act itself. Especially
with people who may have a problem with over-consumption, after making a purchase they
may begin to feel regret for having once again succumbed to an addiction. This may also
manifest as a concern for how others will view their purchases, especially if they may easily
be viewed as frivolous or in bad judgment.
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Psychologically, buyer's remorse makes perfect sense. A consumer switches from one state
to another when making a purchase, where the state before they've made the purchase has
enormous positive influence, and the purchase afterward loses a great deal of that. Before

making a purchase, a buyer is faced with a great deal of choices, giving them a sense of
agency and power in the world. They have money or credit to spend, and get to exert their
dominance over the marketplace by placing their purchasing power.
After the purchase, however, all options have vanished. Buyer's remorse may set in as they
see themselves locked into a single decision, which may or may not have been the best, and
seek their purchasing power reduced. No longer acting from a position of control, many
people react by seeking to distance themselves from the purchasing act, to reaffirm their
sense of having had a wide field of choices. Buyer's remorse is, in this way, seen as a very
simple state of cognitive dissonance, where the desire to retain complete control and infinite
possibilities clashes with the reality of actually exerting that control by limiting those
possibilities.
Causes
The anxiety may be rooted in various factors, such as: the person's concern they purchased
the wrong product, purchased for a bad price, purchased instead of waiting for a newer
model, purchased in an ethically unsound way, purchased on credit, or purchased something
that would not be acceptable to others.
In the phase before purchasing, a prospective buyer often feels positive emotions associated
with a purchase (desire, a sense of heightened possibilities, and an anticipation of the
enjoyment that will accompany using the product, for example); afterwards, having made the
purchase, they are more fully able to experience the negative aspects: all the opportunity
costs of the purchase, and a reduction in purchasing power.
Also, before the purchase, the buyer has a full array of options, including not purchasing;
afterwards, their options have been reduced to:
•
•

Continuing with the purchase, surrendering all alternatives.
Renouncing the purchase.

Buyer's remorse can also be caused or increased by worrying that other people may later

question the purchase or claim to know better alternatives.
The remorse associated with some extreme shopping activity may be, again, a sign of some
deeper disquiet; normal "buyer's remorse" should not be confused with the complex
emotional dynamics of "shopaholic" behaviour, any more than eating too much on special
occasions should not be confused with a serious eating disorder such as bulimia.
Origins
Buyer's remorse, when evidence exists that it is justified, is a classical example of cognitive
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dissonance. One will either seek to discount the new evidence, or truly regret and try to
renounce the purchase.
Post-Purchase Rationalization
Post-purchase rationalization is a common phenomenon after people have invested
significant time, money, or effort in something to convince themselves that it must have been
worth it. Many decisions are made emotionally, and so are often rationalized retrospectively
in an attempt to justify the choice.
This rationalization is based on the principle of commitment and the psychological desire to
stay consistent to that commitment. Some authorities would also consider this rationalization
a manifestation of cognitive dissonance.
References:
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Retailing Management: Levy, Weitz, Pandit (Tata McGraw-Hill Publications, India)
Mall Management: Sheikh, Fatima (PHI, India)
Consumer Behaviour: Schiffman, Kanuk (PHI, India)
Abnormal Psychology & Modern Life: Carson, Butcher, Mineka (Pearson, India)
Social Psychology- Sociological Perspectives: Editors; Rosemberg, Turner (Basic Books, Inc;
Publishers, NY)
Introduction to Psychology: Morgan, King, Weiz, Schopler (Tata McGraw-Hill Publications, India)
Cognitive Psychology- Mind & Brain: Smith, Kosslyn (PHI, India)
Personality- Classical & Modern Theories: Friedman, Schustack (Pearson, India)

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