How much do you love shopping? If it already results to certain negative consequences or the habit is used as an adaptive behavior, then you may already have some serious shopping addiction.
A shopping addiction is also termed as onomania or compulsive buying disorder, which may be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, or bipolar disorder. Either way, since it can get severe, it may also require medical interventions through medications and cognitive behavioral therapies.
Australian counselors have recently shared some of the telltale signs you are addicted to shopping.
First, you may already have the condition if the habit leads to a financial downward spiral. Those who already have the addiction are having a hard time controlling their spending they max out their credit card limits quickly and fast before they know it. In turn, they struggle with repaying their debts, and their repayments continue to increase over time until they can no longer meet their financial obligations.
Credit card debt can also affect their other financial responsibilities such as utilities and even mortgage. The thought of huge debts alone can sometimes lead to anxiety attacks and depression.
A shopping addict is also more likely to conceal her problem, particularly if her habit is catching up to her. They may try to give the idea that everything is under control even if debts and other personal issues are already mounting. Without telling friends and loved ones, they are taking in more jobs while secretly getting more credit cards.
Like any kind of addiction, compulsive buying disorder may drive a person to isolation, lies, and secrecy that in the long run, when it gets worse, it destroys personal relationships, according to Melbourne-based counselor Adam Szmerling.
A shopping addict may also use retail therapy as a way of coping with negative feelings such as loneliness and anger, another counselor, Michelle Laving, said. The problem is since the void is deep and different, the addict will always feel the discontent and will only continue to shop more.