During these days of home confinement due to Covid19, online shopping has not stopped. On the contrary, it is increasing as a result of several causes. On the one hand, many companies forced to close physical distribution points are promoting it. On the other hand, worry, anxiety, and even boredom lead some to exploit this supply channel, which was previously perhaps limited to travel, shows, or similar activities. The truth is that digital commerce has significantly increased its activity. In this situation, an additional risk arises for people who were already showing a tendency towards excessive online purchasing and, in some cases, an online shopping addiction.
Digital Shopping Can Now Foster Addiction
A period of confinement began a few days ago, forcing most of the population to stay at home. To avoid contracting or spreading the Covid19 virus, people must remain in their homes without going out, except for a limited number of activities. Thus, many are trying alternatives to avoid boredom and the psychological consequences they face. One of these is to stock up on the necessary products to “survive” this period as best as possible.
What in some cases may be a perfectly logical explanation, in others becomes a justification for denying, or continuing to deny, the reality of addiction. This situation is exacerbated by fear and uncertainty, and has found its ideal ground in online shopping.
In a context like the present, online shopping has gone from being considered an entertainment activity to an action of apparent necessity. This change can be dangerous because users who engage in compulsive shopping are susceptible to falling into abuse. Consequently, for the most vulnerable groups, it can mark the beginning of a dependency and lead to developing a behavioral disorder due to online shopping addiction.
Online Shopping: Psychological Consequences
When a person begins to shop excessively, consciously or unconsciously, they seek to fulfill a need. This activity starts with an episode of anxiety or stress in the individual upon noticing a lack of some kind. Only by performing the act of recurrent consumption do they achieve a state of emotional pleasure that provides the necessary well-being to feel “normal” or “complete” again. Consider something that has already happened in supermarkets with everyday products. For example, toilet paper and weekday food.
When an online shopper suffers from an addiction disorder, some of the symptoms they experience are:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Behavioral Disorders
- Changes in Habits
- Sudden Emotional Shifts Towards Negativity
These personality effects can be amplified in individuals with emotional vulnerability, mental illnesses, or other disorders such as bipolarity.
Characteristics of Online Shoppers
According to several addiction experts, the most common profile of an online shopper is a woman between 40 and 60 years old with an obsessive disorder. However, it also frequently develops in individuals with high stress levels or minors with adaptation problems to their environment. For them, online shopping represents an escape from the daily problems of their everyday reality.
Online shopping disorder is a serious illness that, in 60% of cases, can become a chronic condition. Therefore, it is crucial to detect this behavior early and mitigate its effects as soon as possible. CCAdicciones is a rehabilitation and addiction treatment center specializing in dependencies that can help people regain normalcy in their lives.
