A great number of people are living with a shopping/spending addiction and it causes us and our families emotional distress and a great deal of financial hardship as well.
We use this compulsive and obsessive coping strategy to make us feel better about ourselves and our lives or situation whilst ignoring the uncomfortable reality of our normal everyday existence. We may be living with stress due to problems at work or the break up of a relationship, or anxiety around social situations, or deeper issues about grief and loss, but whatever the reason, our compulsion to spend money in order to feel happy and comfortable can be very strong.
This addiction may not be publicised as much as alcohol, drug or gambling addiction but it still leads to the break-up of relationships, marriages and families, physical illnesses, emotional breakdowns and perhaps suicide.
Consider seeking help regarding your shopping habits if any of the following apply…
- Do you feel euphoric prior to a spending spree?
- Do you fantasise about what you will buy or what you will spend money on?
- Do you feel guilty and ashamed after your spending spree?
- Do you spend time after your spree thinking about the money you have spent and feeling depressed?
- Do you get in to debt because of your compulsive shopping/spending?
- Do you hide how much you spend or the items you buy from your partner of friends?
- Do you have to return items after you realize how much you have spent?
- Do you and your partner experience tension and argue about finances because of your spending?
- Does your partner or a friend tell you they are worried about your spending or suggest you may be addicted to shopping?
- Have you ever committed or thought of committing an illegal act to finance your shopping binge?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions then you may have an addiction to shopping/spending. The Living Room has a long history of effectively helping people with addiction, and shopping/spending addiction can be successfully handled in the same way as other addictions by applying similar approaches. Talking to others who understand addiction in group can help us to discover, understand and address the underlying issues that contribute to our addiction.
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