Understanding Shopping Addiction

Compulsive shopping or shopping addiction refers to an overwhelming urge to spend money on goods or services, often regardless of need. It’s classified as a non-substance-related addiction due to its behavioural pattern similar to substance addictions.
It is also known as oniomania, being characterised by the uncontrollable desire to shop until it negatively impacts a person’s life.

Causes and Risk Factors

Various genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors can heighten the tendency to develop shopping addiction.
Impulsive behaviour, low self-esteem and an inclination towards perfectionism may contribute to developing an addiction to shopping.
The presence of mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder often occurs concurrently with shopping addiction and may exacerbate the condition.
Frequent exposure to consumerism especially in modern society makes it easier for some individuals to develop shopping addiction.

Compulsive shopping can result in significant financial difficulties and debt problems.
Shopping addiction can lead to severe relationship problems as it often involves secrecy, lies, and financial deceit.
The addict may experience withdrawal symptoms, feel distressed when unable to shop, or using shopping as a coping mechanism for negative emotions, similar to other addictions.
Long-lasting shopping addiction can lead to severe emotional states such as depression, anxiety, and feelings of shame.

Diagnosing shopping addiction can be complex and is often done using the DSM-5 criteria for behavioural addictions. Similarly to gambling, these include spending a lot of time thinking about shopping, trying to cut back, and shopping to cope with negative feelings.
Shopping addiction typically needs to have caused significant impairment or distress for the individual, such as financial issues or broken relationships, before it is diagnosed.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has proven to be effective in battling shopping addiction by helping individuals identify and change unhealthy shopping patterns and behaviours.
Self-help groups and workshops can provide emotional support and a shared understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with the shopping disorder.
Medication is not usually the first line of treatment for shopping addiction, but certain types may be utilized in management especially if there are co-occurring mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.