Shopping Addiction: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
We generally associate the concept of ‘addiction’ with the consumption of some substance or narcotic that generates a physical reaction in our body. However, in the modern era there is also another type of addiction that corresponds to a specific activity such as gambling, betting or work. Without a doubt these latest trends have to do with the consumer society that surrounds us.
In this sense, we will stick to the phenomenon of shopping addiction, or more scientifically speaking, oniomania. The inability to control this desire to consume compulsively is what gives it the label of addiction, given the high degree of dependence. Giving up acceptance of the problem and its corresponding resolution adds more weight to considering this behavior as a phenomenon to be taken into account like any other common illness.
Unlike what it may seem at first glance, it is not so easy to determine or detect a person with this pathology. We live in a time called the “age of consumption”, where this activity is practiced as if it were a sport. We buy permanently, every day and at any time thanks to new technologies and distribution platforms.
Without going much further and avoiding complex explanations, Shopping addiction is observed when the consumer loses any notion of a real need when purchasing the product, even reaching the absurdity of buying things that will not even be taken out of the packaging. The user buys to buy; being sad or happy; enjoy the purchasing process -especially through credit cards-; You feel relief when making the purchase and a long list of symptoms.
It is worth highlighting the explosion of businesses and companies dedicated to selling through online platforms or even applications on mobile devices that have perfectly adapted to consumer demands. The immediacy and ease with which any product can be obtained aggravates the degree of addiction of those who suffer from it. Nowadays you can shop at the supermarket.
Likewise, the main cause that responds to this shopping addiction is not very different from conventional ones: it generally responds to profiles of people with deep personal problems, situations of depression or even low self-esteem, especially in individuals who consume textile products in Industrial quantities.
Although it is brief and relatively easy to make purchases, it is still a moment of distraction for anyone who is going through an emotional rough patch. A moment to disconnect from bad thoughts is what an individual in a depressed state always looks for. Another element that we must take into account is that the profile most affected by shopping addiction occurs among young women.
Consequences and effects
The difficulties faced by shopping addiction sufferers are not minor The first resentment is found in their own financial resources, necessary to meet basic day-to-day expenses. It has been the case that some individuals give up good nutrition in order to cover material expenses.
From an emotional point of view, the degrees of depression and sadness are extremely intense. The accumulation of unused objects generates a feeling of suffocating guilt. By not knowing where to hide the products, they become a reflection of the problem since they are visible at all times.
As is often the case with any pathology, The first step to take is the recognition that the subject has shopping addiction It is not trivial to acknowledge it to your own friends and family to feel psychological support. The environment must show real empathy and a willingness to help the affected person. Therefore, collaboration between these actors will be essential.
Obviously, the correct treatment must be accompanied by many other measures. The help of a professional is essential, but another exercise of willpower lies in controlling consumption. For example, canceling trust credit cards is a good method to follow. In some banking companies there is the possibility of restricting this type of services and/or products by limiting the amount of credit or consumer facilities.
Finally, we must take into account the increase in this problem in the global world, especially in Western societies. Some studies show a clear trend towards shopping addiction that, in the United States alone, for example, cases have doubled in just under a decade, going from 5% in 2007 to 10% of the total population.
