Key takeaways:
Shopping addiction is when you buy too much, buy things you do not need, and keep buying even when bad results are likely.
Shopping addiction is not currently a recognized mental health condition, but experts are looking into the condition to learn more about the risks and outcomes.
Treatment for shopping addictions may include antidepressant medications, therapy, self-help books, and support groups.
Shopping is a normal and expected part of life. Most people can simply pick up what they need at the store with no problems. Others, though, may struggle with shopping. Shopping addiction can turn a typical behavior into a serious issue that may threaten your mental, financial, and social health. When needed, professional treatment options like therapy, medications, and self-help techniques can help with this addiction.
Continue reading to learn more about compulsive shopping and what to do if you or a loved one has a shopping addiction.
What is a shopping addiction? Can I be addicted to shopping?
Unlike other behavioral addictions like gambling, shopping addiction is not officially recognized by professional organizations like the American Psychiatric Association (APA). But this does not mean that shopping cannot be addictive for some people.
A shopping addiction is when you spend a lot of time and money shopping and buying. You may not even want the item or have the money to pay for it, but you continue to buy. You may shop in secret and continue to shop even when others don’t approve.
Since the addiction is not yet a formal diagnosis, it may go by many names. You may hear people using different terms like:
Shopping addiction
Shopaholic
Pathological buying
Compulsive buying disorder
Compulsive buying behavior
Someone who doesn't have a shopping addiction will buy goods and services because they need them. They may also find value in these things or feel like they’re getting a good deal. If you have a shopping addiction, you could buy to:
Improve your mood
Manage high stress
Cope with boredom
Gain attention or approval from others
Feel better about yourself
In these cases, the shopping isn’t about the value or worth of the item. It is about the mental health benefits you feel are linked to the process of shopping, buying something, or what the item represents. Someone may talk about “retail therapy” as a way to explain the way shopping makes them feel, but not everyone who shops as a way to cope with stress will have an addiction.
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
It’s impossible to know just how many people have a shopping addiction, but recent studies suggest that about 5% of adults will struggle with the condition.
What makes shopping addictive?
People naturally feel happy when they engage in healthy activities like:
Eating good food
Having sex
Having a fun experience
Exercising
This good feeling is linked to a chemical in your brain called dopamine. The flow of dopamine that is released when you do these behaviors encourages you to repeat the behavior in the future.
Unfortunately, a range of unhealthy behaviors and substances, like alcohol and other drugs, can also release dopamine. The more you shop, the more this rewarding chemical gets pumped into your brain. This can make you want to repeat the behavior more and more. After a while, dopamine can cause you to repeatedly shop even when it starts causing problems in your life.
What are behavioral addictions, and how does shopping compare?
The idea that you could be addicted to a behavior may seem obvious. But mental health experts only recently began to accept that things other than drugs and alcohol could be addictive. Behavioral addictions happen when you:
Repeat a behavior even when negative outcomes happen
Feel unable to control yourself or your actions
Repeat the behavior without thinking about it
Have strong urges to do the behavior
Behavioral addictions are not limited to shopping. There is a wide variety of behavioral addictions. Some of the more common ones are:
Pornography and sex
Internet and social media
Exercise
Work
Currently, gambling disorder is the only behavioral addiction recognized by the APA, but the idea that behaviors can result in addictions may open the door to more behaviors being recognized as addictive in the future.
What are the symptoms of compulsive shopping?
Not all people will show their compulsive shopping behaviors in the same way. But you could see several signs and symptoms of compulsive shopping, such as:
You spend a lot of time and energy shopping and buying things, either online or in person.
You have a sense that you cannot control, limit, or stop shopping.
Your shopping leads to debt or problems with the law.
Family and friends become upset about your shopping.
You feel a “high” or “buzz” after making a purchase.
You need to shop for longer periods of time or buy more expensive items to feel good.
When you’re not shopping, you feel odd, anxious, sad, or uncomfortable.
Even if you can stop shopping for a bit, you tend to relapse and restart the behavior.
Seeing the difference between typical shopping and addictive shopping can be really hard. To help, consider asking for help from a trusted friend or family member to give you their honest feedback.
How can I tell if a loved one has a shopping problem?
Like other addictions, there is a level of secrecy and denial attached to shopping addiction. Your loved one may not accept or admit they have a problem.
Because of this, you should look for some signs that a loved one is dealing with a shopping problem. Signs to watch for include:
Consistent guilt and shame
Financial issues and asking to borrow money
Legal problems due to outstanding debt, collections, or unpaid bills
Increased lying and secrecy about what they are doing
Many packages in the mail or empty boxes around the house
Take some time to gather information about their shopping and pick a calm moment to mention your concerns. Avoid passing judgment and reacting with anger to increase the chances for a good conversation.
How can you treat shopping addiction?
With shopping addiction not yet being a fully accepted mental health disorder, there are no approved treatments for the condition. Still, experts interested in the condition found treatments that may help manage shopping addiction, including:
Medications, especially antidepressants: These medications may help by treating the shopping addiction directly or by improving symptoms of anxiety and depression that could be feeding into the need to shop.
Therapy options, like CBT: Cognitive behavioral therapy is a useful type of therapy for various mental health disorders and addictions. By looking at the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, CBT helps you understand the role shopping plays and can also give you coping skills to manage your behavior. Group CBT sessions have helped people with shopping addiction in 12 weeks or less
The above professional treatments are great ways to address your addiction. Some nonprofessional options may boost their success:
Self-help books about shopping addictions: Finding credible guides that address the complex issues of shopping addictions could offer helpful information.
Support groups: A 12-step support group specifically for shoppers, like Debtors Anonymous, or a more general support group, like SMART Recovery, can connect you with a group of people dedicated to recovery.
The bottom line
Shopping addiction may not be an official disorder yet, but that does not mean it doesn’t affect people every day. Understanding the warning signs and symptoms can help you identify problems in yourself or a loved one. When spending seems out of hand, consider scheduling an appointment with a mental health professional to limit the influence of compulsive buying.
Why trust our experts?
References
Alavi, S. S., et al. (2012). Behavioral addiction versus substance addiction: Correspondence of psychiatric and psychological views. International Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Black, D. W. (2007). A review of compulsive buying disorder. World Psychiatry.
Debtors Anonymous. (n.d.). Welcome to debtors anonymous.
Granero, R., et al. (2016). Compulsive buying behavior: Clinical comparison with other behavioral addictions. Frontiers in Psychology.
Grant, J. E., et al. (2010). Introduction to behavioral addictions. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
SMART Recovery®. (n.d.). There’s life beyond addiction.
Yau, Y. H. C., et al. (2015). Gambling disorder and other behavioral addictions: Recognition and treatment. Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
