Women and shopping addiction are often two words that are thrown together as a joke. Women can very well suffer from shopping addiction, just as men can too. However, it appears to affect women more than it affects men.
Understanding Shopping Addiction
Shopping addiction usually refers to compulsive shopping, which means a person has a very strong desire to shop and they find it very difficult to fight the urge to shop. It’s thought that there are far more women who are addicted to shopping than there are men. In fact, there is research out there that shows almost six-percent of Americans are addicted to shopping and 80% of those people are women. Those who have an addiction to shopping may also have other mental issues, such as anxiety, mood disorders, porn addictions or an addiction to substances to name a few.
Diagnosing Shopping Addiction
Diagnosing compulsive shopping disorder isn’t always easy. Also, just because a person spends a lot of time shopping doesn’t always means they are addicted to it, especially if they are doing more shopping around the holidays or if there are birthdays or parties coming up and things of that nature. If someone has a lot of money and they are not spending outside of their budget, the chances are they do not have a shopping addiction. However, if a person is constantly spending more money on shopping than they can afford or if they are falling behind their bills but still shopping, then they may be addicted to shopping.
Recognizing The Signs Of A Shopaholic
There are certain signs to look for in someone who may be a shopaholic, and this includes spending more than their budget allows, as well as buying more stuff than they really need. Another sign is that the person keeps their excessive shopping habits hidden from the ones they know. Returning recently purchased items due to feeling guilty is another telltale sign of shopping addiction.
If a person is too busy shopping and their relationships suffer because of it, then this is a sign of having an addiction to shopping. The excessive us of credit cards to buy items is another sign of being a shopaholic. Other signs includes not paying bills on time, applying for new credit cards so more shopping can be done and shopping out of emotions, such as feeling depressed, angry or lonely.
Treatment
There are various treatment methods for shopping addiction. You can seek out the help of a professional, such as a counselor or you can receive behavioral therapy, if you believe there are certain behavioral characteristics that are contributing to your impulsive urge to shop. The best thing to do is to speak with your doctor and they will explain what your options are or provide you with advice to help you.
When it comes to women and shopping addiction, it’s important that they seek out help. Shopping addiction is a very real thing and it can cause a lot of harm. If you know someone who is dealing with shopping addiction or if you are dealing with it, then seek out help right away.