| Do you budget your spending? Or are you addicted | | | | psychotropic drugs and counseling. |
| to shopping? Research shows that shopping addiction | | | | Here are some simple tips to recover from a |
| affects mainly women while alcoholism affects men. | | | | shopping addiction: |
| Items which top a woman's shopping list are clothes, | | | | - Be honest and admit you have a problem. |
| makeup and jewelery. | | | | - Take professional help and speak to wise and |
| You may have an internet shopping addiction if you | | | | empathetic non-shopoholic friends who can offer |
| spend a major part of your time online shopping for | | | | unbiased moral support and positive encouragement |
| alluring products that seem just a mouse click away. | | | | to help you overcome your addiction. |
| If the only channel you watch on the telly is the | | | | - Chalk out a budget and ascertain a fixed amount, |
| home network, you could be at risk for a home | | | | which you can spend on your personal shopping. |
| network shopping addiction. | | | | Categorize items on your shopping list as necessities, |
| Causes Of Shopping Addiction | | | | comforts and luxuries with the help of your therapist. |
| Shopoholics get a high from an addictive behavior like | | | | Try to minimize expenses on luxuries and judiciously |
| shopping. During shopping sprees endorphins and | | | | monitor purchases of comforts. |
| dopamine, naturally occurring opiate receptor sites in | | | | - With the help of a mental health professional |
| the brain get switched on making the person feel | | | | identify all the stages in the compulsive buying cycle- |
| good. The nicer this feeling is the person is likely to | | | | the triggers, feelings, dysfunctional thoughts, typical |
| shop more." | | | | behavior and consequences. Try to break the vicious |
| To capitalize on this compulsive shopping instinct - | | | | cycle of shopping sprees. |
| shops display similar items alluringly side by side - | | | | - Try to keep credit and debit cards just for |
| making customers pick up what they want or desire | | | | emergencies. These cards just add fuel to fire in your |
| rather than what they need being quite oblivious of | | | | shopping addiction. In fact canceling them won't be a |
| the fact that one's money is after all limited. | | | | bad idea. |
| Shopping addiction is rooted in complex psychological | | | | - Don't subscribe to shopping catalog's. Don't even |
| reasons. Shopping may just be a means of escapism | | | | visit sales or discount warehouses as they may make |
| from the realities of life and its accompanying | | | | you spend more in the long run. Avoid watching |
| problem - an outlet to anger, depression, anxiety, | | | | shopping programs on TV and try not to obsess |
| boredom or loneliness. | | | | over advertisements in magazines and newspapers. |
| Shopping cures none of your woes. It just seems to | | | | Divert your attention when you come across such |
| provide some instant relief. The long-term effects of | | | | advertisements. Also avoid window-shopping as |
| shopping addiction can include debt and damage to | | | | before long you may end up in purchasing what you |
| close relationships. | | | | covet for but can't really afford. |
| Like most addictions, shopping addiction may be the | | | | - Keep yourself busy throughout the day in work and |
| result of trying to fill a void in your life with | | | | various other hobbies. Don't allow shopping to be |
| materialistic things, and gives only temporary | | | | your major or only hobby. |
| happiness. | | | | - Try to be farsighted. Understand that saving |
| How To Treat Your Shopping Addiction | | | | money will help you to buy an asset your family |
| Treatment for compulsive shopping is like any other | | | | really wants in the future - a house or a car - or be |
| addiction. Shopping addiction may be treated with | | | | used for emergencies and dry days. |