What is Compulsive Shopping and How Can I Overcome It?

Oh, the thrill of walking out of the designer handbag store with a thick paper bag in hand. The ones that only the expensive stores offer, with sturdy handles and their luxury brand logo tastefully displayed on the front. You walk through the courtyard of the shopping center, and you notice eyes glancing toward your bag. You can almost sense curiosity and maybe even a touch of envy in the eyes of your fellow shoppers.

Life seems particularly difficult, so you make an unplanned stop at the local big-box store. You just want some time to yourself, and you may as well pick up a few necessities while you’re there. In less than an hour, your trunk is full of those few necessities and a whole lot of new makeup, a hoodie in your favorite color, and a lot of other items that were “too good to pass up.”

You carefully lift the stack of packages off your chair. You have been moving this same stack of packages for weeks. It has grown a little as new mail arrives from the home shopping network. You sit down to go through the latest arrivals with a smile. The only problem is, you have nowhere left to display these beautiful bargains in your already cramped home.

If any of these scenarios seem familiar to you, you may have a compulsive shopping issue.

What is Compulsive Shopping?

Compulsive shopping or shopping addiction (oniomania) is a relatively common mental health issue. This compulsion tells you that your stress will be reduced or your emotions will be uplifted if you spend money and accumulate items, despite negative consequences. The worst part is that it does. At least temporarily.

Most of us get a little bit of a high when we get a new pair of shoes or a fancy new electronic device. But when the high wears off, you’re left with the negative consequences of uncontrolled spending, such as debt and a cluttered house. This cycle of guilt and relief and consequences can lead to some substantial long-term financial and even emotional and relational issues.

The consequences of compulsive shopping aren’t always immediate, but they can snowball quickly. It is for this reason that many people don’t even realize they have an addiction. In the early stages, it might just feel like a little overindulgence or a little treat to lift your spirits when they’re down.

But if this spending continues, it can lead to feelings of guilt and regret. You may start avoiding those credit card statements or cringe when your spouse intercepts yet another delivery. Clutter can accumulate and relationships can suffer, yet you continue to feed your need to shop.

Overcoming Compulsive Shopping

If your spending is out of control, consider talking with a therapist. There may be some underlying causes for your compulsive shopping, like stress, loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. You may be particularly vulnerable to societal influences such as social media or even materialism. But there is hope.

A Christian therapist can give you guidance on being a good steward of the resources God has blessed you with and can help you identify and manage your emotional triggers. Through emotional regulation techniques, a trained mental health specialist can help you build healthier spending habits as well as address any co-occurring mental health issues.