How to End Compulsive Shopping?

December 10, 2023

How to End Compulsive Shopping?

Shopping compulsively damages your relationships and your finances. It affects your emotions. Compulsive buying is a disorder that makes you spend too much money and purchase items in excess. Sometimes you purchase the same items repeatedly and in vast quantities. Also, it causes anxious thoughts if you do not buy anything.

Ending compulsive shopping is not easy. Compulsive shopping is all about shopping to give temporary relief from pain, and uncomfortable feelings, and to hide your feelings. It is not about purchasing items, but it is a solution to avoid your emotional thoughts. Yet, compulsive shopping is addicting because you cannot stop purchasing items online or in the store. The need to shop can be caused by boredom, stress, a breakup, grieving, and other personal reasons.

Shopping just for satisfaction is why compulsive buying disorder is different than impulsive shopping. Although compulsive buying disorder can be caused by impulsive behaviors; It is different than impulsive shopping. Impulsive shopping makes you purchase items you do not need without planning to buy them. In contrast, compulsive shopping is planning to buy excessively and preparing your finances to shop continuously. After the feeling of satisfaction ends from buying too many items; You feel guilt, shame, and embarrassment.

Multiple emotions arise making you hide your spending from your partner and family. Compulsive buying disorder is an addictive behavioral issue. However, compulsive shopping can end gradually by finding group support, counseling, and therapy. It is recommended to shop with only cash and without credit cards. Do not sign up for new credit cards and only shop as needed.

Unsubscribe from sales promotions and throw away sales brochures. Practice managing your emotions. If you have a challenging time expressing your emotions to your therapist; Speak with honesty and without worrying how you say things grammatically. Compulsive shopping can also end by having a budget, tracking your expenses, and having support from your friends. Do not feel influenced to buy items that your friends have.

Know the reasons that make you want to shop. Limit your shopping experience by shopping every two weeks in the stores. If you are a compulsive shopper who only buys online, limit your online spending by only shopping every six months or once a year. Make a checklist and a time limit to purchase your items during the holidays. Schedule your shopping trip with a friend who does not influence you to spend too much money.

Spend less time online and stop yourself from researching new fashionable products. Ending compulsive shopping is possible. Add creative activities or activities to your schedule to prevent shopping every day. Get professional help from a behavioral addiction service. Here are websites about compulsive shopping.

Shopping Addiction-Signs, Causes, and Coping-Very Well Mind:

Shopping Addiction: Signs, Causes, and Coping (verywellmind.com)

7 Tips on How to Stop Compulsive Shopping-Minimalism Made Simple:

7 Tips on How to Stop Compulsive Shopping - Minimalism Made Simple

What You Need to Know About Compulsive Shopping-The Modern Addiction No One's Talking About:

What you need to know about compulsive shopping — the modern addiction no one's talking about (theconversation.com)