Sales are a danger for shopping addiction. It is the perfect excuse to shop without control. A shopping addict is camouflaged among the excesses that characterise the sales period, and the abuse seems justified. Today’s society is based on mass consumption. It has normalised buying excessively and unnecessarily to such an extent that it is not only not frowned upon, but opportunities to shop compulsively are actively promoted. These factors mean that many people with an addiction are not aware that they have a shopping addiction and need to put themselves in the hands of professionals. CCAdicciones is here to help shopping addicts, or anyone with an addiction, and offer them a treatment that allows them to start a new life.
Compulsive buying disorder
Shopping addiction is defined by impulsive behaviour. The person loses control and the ability to decide when it comes to shopping. People who suffer from shopping addiction end up experiencing psychological consequences similar to those of drug addicts due to the alteration produced in the reward circuit and impulsive behaviour. An imbalance occurs in the reward circuit, and people who suffer from this illness are unable to stop the urge to buy.
Experts identify 4 main reasons that can explain an addiction to compulsive shopping. The reasons are:
- Obsession with physical appearance
- Low self-esteem
- Emotional deprivation
- An escape route to avoid facing problems
What consequences does shopping addiction cause?
The resulting consequences always depend on the addiction. It is not the same to suffer from a substance addiction as a behavioural one, as the effects will be different because in one of them narcotics are being consumed while in the other they are not. However, it is a mistake to think that because it is a non-substance addiction, the risks will be lower. Shopping addiction involves a loss of control that causes distress, anxiety, worry, shame… In addition, it can lead to a poor relationship with family or a partner.
It is a disorder in which the person spends a lot of money because they are constantly buying unnecessary products. So, it is not surprising that financial problems end up arising due to all the spending and the person ends up in debt with loans to repay.
The phases of compulsive shopping
A person addicted to compulsive shopping goes through a mental process that involves different stages. At first, they feel an intense desire to buy that product. They are overwhelmed by the need to buy. They cannot control the impulse and must acquire it. Without questioning absolutely anything. They do not think about whether they need it or whether they will use it, or even whether they can afford it or the consequences of their purchase. In reality, what they buy is even secondary because in most cases the item is not as important as the act of buying. They are addicted to the sensations linked to this action. For this reason, after doing it they feel a strong euphoria, but it is momentary.
Next, when they reflect and realise what they have done, the spending involved, or the impact of their impulsive decision, feelings of guilt and shame appear. To avoid confrontations, arguments and reproaches, they hide from those around them everything they have bought or the debts accumulated due to their addictive behaviour. Despite identifying the problem and, in a moment of clarity, recognising all the negative consequences that compulsive shopping is causing them, they are not able to stop. After a short time, they will repeat the same pattern again because, even if they want to, they will not be able to control it.
A new element on the scene: online shopping
The Internet has changed everything: the way we understand the world and how we act. The Internet offers the possibility of shopping under different conditions from those that existed before the technological era. It brings convenience to consumers because you do not have to travel, queue for long periods, walk through crowded streets… Browsing the Internet, you can find an endless number of products to buy and, with a simple click, you accept the purchase, pay, and you can have it at home even the next day.
There may have been some reluctance to shop online before, but the pandemic helped people take the step. It is now an established practice for many, who even prefer online shopping and opt for this model over the traditional one. It offers certain advantages to buyers, as it allows you to buy any product without travelling, it is very convenient, and it features exclusive offers that cannot be found in physical shops. Due to the success of online shopping, there are many brands that do not have physical shops because they were born in the digital era and choose that system, or they have only a few shops.
These strengths of online shopping are precisely what make access easy, but for addicts this ease will be a problem because it will worsen their addiction. With online shopping it is even harder to know when to stop, as there is an endless number of products within reach—just a simple search on a mobile device.
Treatment for shopping addiction
Now that sales are starting, which are a danger for shopping addiction, it reinforces the need for addicts to begin treatment. Compulsive shopping is a behaviour that can be overcome. To overcome shopping addiction, it is not necessary to undergo medical detoxification because it is a non-substance addiction, but it does require going to a centre to begin treatment with experts in the chronic illness of addiction.
Once the patient is stabilised, the therapeutic process of breaking the habit begins through group and individual therapies. In this process, techniques and tools are made available to the patient and their family members to help control emotions and behaviour, and regain control of their life. Work is done specifically on controlling impulses and emotions to learn how to manage them without falling into the addictive behaviour of compulsive shopping. It is important to start professional treatment as quickly as possible because people who suffer from addictive behaviour are at greater risk of developing a substance addiction.
Exit addictions
Sales are a danger for shopping addiction. For this very reason, do not wait for sales to arrive and get ahead by getting in touch with CCAdicciones. A medical and therapeutic team supports patients throughout the recovery process and offers them personalised care. Taking back control of your life is possible.
