The term ‘shopaholic’ is usually is used to describe folks that have a shopping addiction, or oniomania. While this can be often described as united of the foremost socially acceptable addictions, this behavioral addiction can create serious problems in a very person’s life.
What are the symptoms of being a shopaholic?
In popular culture, the image of a compulsive shopper could be a cheerful, superficial girl concerned with little over the most recent shoes and purses. the recognition of the “Confessions of a Shopaholic” books and movies speaks to the appeal of this image.
Research paints a distinct picture of this poorly understood condition. However, it’s important to recollect that shopping addictions may form for a variety of reasons. Take a more in-depth take a look at a number of the key characteristics that folks with shopping addictions tend to share.
1. Approval-Seeking
The shopping addict or shopaholic personality has been found to be more agreeable than non-shopaholic research subjects, meaning they’re kindhearted, sympathetic, and not rude to others. Often lonely and isolated, the shopping experience provides the shopaholic with positive interactions with salespeople and also the hope that what they need to be bought will improve their relationships with others.
2. Shopaholics even have a bent to be easily influenced by others.
The good news is you’re a shopaholic is that having a form, the agreeable disposition will make it easier for you to ascertain a decent therapeutic relationship if you seek treatment for your addiction. This personality type may additionally predispose you to follow the recommendation of your therapist and to be influenced by the positive encouragement of others in psychotherapy.
3. Low self-worth
Low self-esteem is one of the foremost commonly found characteristics in studies of the shopaholic personality. Shopping could be a way of trying to enhance self-esteem, particularly when the specified object is related to a picture of what the shopper wants to be. However, low self-esteem also can be a consequence of shopping addiction, particularly as debt can intensify feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness.
Excessive shopping can often become a crutch to address emotions. People find themselves buying things to form themselves feel better once they are sad, stressed, angry, bored, or afraid. The good news is that with deeper self-reflection, perhaps with the assistance of a therapist, you’ll realize there’s much to actually value about yourself, like your kindly disposition, mentioned above.
4. Emotional Problems
As well as a general tendency for emotional instability or mood swings, studies have also found that shopping addicts often suffer from anxiety and depression. Shopping is usually used as a way of lifting the spirits, even temporarily. The good news is that both anxiety and depression are often treated with psychological therapies and drugs, if necessary. These treatments are far more effective than the short-lived thrill of shopping for.
5. Poor Impulse Control
Impulses are natural — a sudden, intense urge to try and do something grips you, and you’re feeling the requirement to act. most people find it fairly easy to regulate their impulses and learn to try to do so during childhood. Shopaholics, on the opposite hand, find impulses, particularly impulses that involve buying something, both overwhelming and irresistible. Shopping can sometimes become a way of gaining an illusory sense of control.
Compulsive bargain shopping, for instance, involves seeking out great deals and buying often unneeded items simply because they’re on sale. Finding such great deals can give people a way of power and control over their environment.
6. Indulges in Fantasy
The ability to fantasize is stronger in shopaholics than it always is in people. There are several ways in which fantasies can reinforce the tendency to shop for an excessive amount. The shopaholic can fantasize about the joys of shopping while engaged in other activities; they will imagine all the positive consequences of shopping for the required object, and that they can escape into a fantasy to flee the cruel realities of life. The good news for shopaholics is that having a robust capacity for imagination may be extremely beneficial during addiction treatment and may be helpful in developing skills that may facilitate your overcome your addiction, like relaxation training.
7. Materialistic
Research shows that shopaholics are more materialistic than other buyers, but there’s a complexity to their love of fabric possessions. They’re surprisingly disinterested in owning things and are literally less driven to accumulate material possessions than other buyers, which explains why shopaholics buy things they do not need or use. So how are they more materialistic? Well, there are two other dimensions to materialism, envy, and non-generosity, and these are the weaknesses of the shopaholic. They’re far more envious and far less generous than others. This is often surprising, given the actual fact that gifts are a standard purchase of shopaholics, but this seems to be an effort to “buy” love and increase social station, instead of a real act of generosity.
– by Shinjini Chatterjee
