Do you know what the symptoms of shopping addiction are, and do you know what causes a person to suffer from compulsive shopping syndrome? We also discover its possible solutions.
A capitalist society encourages compulsive buying on many occasions. Some people are so subjected to it that they end up developing compulsive shopping syndrome or shopping addiction. But what symptoms do these people usually have and what are the causes of it?
A careful management of the purchases we make and a psychological and moral treatment can be good solutions to end this addiction.
What responds to this syndrome?
People who suffer from this addiction are not able to manage the impulses that make them end up buying practically everything. Although the disease affects people of different ages, there are some purchasing groups that may be more exposed to this syndrome.
This is the case of the youngest, who perceive a great load of daily information about services and products that can be purchased. When they become addicted, they are somewhat easier to control and overcome than other older age groups.
Compulsive shoppers don’t look at price. It is also common for them to buy one or another item without needing it, in fact, some garments do not even get to be released. Specialists determine that if this problem is not treated in time, it can have serious consequences, both financially and psychologically, and can last for many years throughout life.
Causes of compulsive shopping
Like other psychological illnesses, there are several causes that lead people to buy excessively. There are certain degrees and each one will have a different possible cause.
Discounts and discounts
Although the compulsive shopper spends all year round and without looking at the money, sales times and sales often attract the attention of these people powerfully. On the one hand, they see in these discounted products the opportunity to buy without measure, and on the other, to acquire everything that they do not really need but they buy it for its reduced price. The satisfaction and pleasure they feel, once the purchase is made, become symptoms of this addiction.
Consumerism, society
Continual messages geared towards buying and spending negatively affect these people. So much so that consumerism ends up being one of the main causes of why they make these purchases. Society is setting parameters that are difficult for addicts to follow.
Appearances
This addiction is strongly linked to other kinds of problems. One of the causes of compulsive shopping is to do it for the mere fact of pretending, wanting to be better than others, having the most expensive products and showing them.
Some symptoms
The symptoms are also numerous. Shop assistants often have a strong desire to buy before doing anything else. This usually affects other daily activities, such as working, being with the children and others, so that the addicted person only wants to spend and buy.
When you cannot get to buy what you want, symptoms related to anxiety, irritability and nervousness appear, which end up affecting your life and those around you.
Possible solutions to shopping addiction
In order to alleviate the causes and symptoms that appear of this disease, such as anxiety, it is vital to go to therapy to see each case in particular. Above all, it is important to recognize the addiction and feel motivated to stop it. To avoid negative thoughts and this anxiety about wanting to buy, the treatment must combine relaxation and meditation therapies, depending on each case.
It is important to get to know what is the cause of this emptiness and of the desire to want to get more things and the pleasure that one feels once it has been purchased. To this can be added the modification of behavior to establish measures that lead to saving and buying out of necessity and not for sheer pleasure.
Some practices that are usually done and employed by the patient is the restriction of an amount of money so that they do not spend more than necessary, but the purpose is that they know how to use the money in general so as not to fall into a compulsive purchase. The patient must have the support of the family or close people so that the help and treatment is global and shared.
