Shopping Addiction?

[gerbilwoman]

I'm starting to wonder if I'm in the early stages of a shopping addiction. When I buy something, it makes me happy. So I keep buying little things so I'm always happy but don't go broke. I feel like I'm trying to buy happiness. Sometimes, when I'm sad I feel like ordering something online. It's not that there is anything I am out of or need to buy. Rather, I feel I need to buy something for the sake of buying something. Should I be worried? At what point does it become an addiction?

 

[LaSorcia]

Well, you seem to already intuitively know that something is wrong!
You summed it up rather well. Now, you can either stop it now, which will be tough for a bit, or let it escalate and it will be really tough to do anything about it as well as any other secondary issues it causes.
Good luck.

 

[gerbilwoman]

I think I'll try to stop it now.

 

[LaSorcia]

Yay! Hey, I was there in my early 20's. I stopped at the early warning signs, too, thank God.

 

[Gabriel Anton]

I think I'll try to stop it now.

When you get feelings to shop for happiness, go and pray or read the Bible instead. Cost you no $$$ and good for you. You can put the money you save in your piggy bank and save it for a rainy day or for charity.

 

[Paul808]

I don't know it's an addiction or not, but I do like shopping as well. Whenever I go shopping I just feel good. Whenever I feel sad, I also go for shopping, it changes my mood quickly.

 

[JacquelineDeane55]

I guess I'm just a typical girl, because one of my hobbies is...you guessed it, shopping. I don't view it as a problem though because unlike you guys, I can control it really well. I really view it as only a hobby and not an addiction or a problem.

 

[sparkle123]

I'm kind of struggling with this right now. I buy things out of boredom or to feel good. I think I am spending a little too much and I have too many items of clothing. My husband is irritated about it and sometimes I hide what I spend. It does give me a high but I usually just feel guilty because it's a shallow and vain thing, in my opinion, to care so much about my appearance. But to be honest, I buy a TON of books too, and have stacks that I haven't even read yet. Ok. Maybe I do have a problem..
If you're still reading this, I have been thinking about getting rid of my smartphone or at least unsubscribing from all the websites that send me shopping promotions (groupon, GAP, etc). It's really hard though because it does make me happy too. Do you have any ideas on how to cut down on shopping? Ugh. Good luck. You're not alone.

 

[SHETALKSTOANGELS]

I am a full fledged shopaholic, and I don't worry about it. As long as I can pay the credit card bill at the end of the month, I am ok.

Just like others who freak out at my showering, I take up to 6 per day, it is one of my OCD issues, I let them freak out and complain it ' too much ', and carry on doing what I need to do.