ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SHOPPING ADDICTION

Shopping addiction is the need to purchase or possess an item regardless of financial status or previous possessions.

While shopping addiction does not seem to pose as much problem as say drug or alcohol addiction, there is usually a damage to financial reputation and important relationships.

Similar to other forms of addiction, it results in an imbalance in the brain’s reward centres – modification in the structure and performance of the brain.

Some factors that may cause shopping addictions are: stress (people who are overwhelmed by stress may shop as a way of dealing with it, this.

If unchecked could lead to addictions), the need for enjoyment, esteem issues, lack of self-control, females are also slightly at a higher risk than men, so being female could be a likely cause of a shopping addiction.

Ordinarily, shopping feels positive on a short term – there is a new gadget, new set of clothes, the feeling of never running out of shoes or never being out of vogue. However, the real issues come in the long run:

  • Debt

Non-stop shoppers often run into problem with managing their income and they sometimes end up buying on credit to satisfy their cravings.

Some even run into problems at work because they have either spent too much to spare for other job related expenses or have decided to tamper with their organisation’s treasury. This leads them into incurring debts that could otherwise have been avoided.

  • Relationship disasters

Other times, they may want to tell lies just to borrow money they need for shopping. Ordinarily, an average person is likely to be angry especially if money lent out on more important grounds is spent frugally, thus there is a damage to relationships.

It could be more disastrous in marriages especially if only one partner is an addict, this could result in confrontations and anger from the other partner.

  • The need to hide

A number of times, shopaholics feel the need to hide what they have purchased from loved ones, probably so as not to be seen as too frugal a spender or for the shame that comes with not being thrifty enough.

  • Hoarding

Usually, goods purchased are not needed and shopping addicts sometimes do not want to let them go, thus piling up unwanted clothing or shoes.

  • Depression and anxiety.

As it is with other forms of addiction, a shopping addict may soon come to terms with how much they have damaged – their relationships, their financial life. And this understanding may cause worries and anxieties. Also capable of causing depression is the shame they feel from their lack of control.

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