What Is a Shopaholic?
"Shopoholism," or "compulsive buying disorder," is a compulsion that associates an emotional high as well as an adrenaline rush with shopping behavior. This includes browsing, contemplating material objects, talking to salespeople and purchasing items.
A shopaholic may specialize in a particular form of shopping for this high, such as online shopping, shopping channels including the Home Shopping Network or QVC, catalogs or the physical shopping behavior associated with malls and department stores. With the emergence of Internet-based shopping and shopping channels, compulsive shoppers are more easily able to hide their behavior for longer periods of time.
As the compulsion continues, the need for this high can continue to escalate, pushing shopaholics to buy ever-increasing amounts of coveted items, which can range from clothing and accessories to electronics, computers and other larger-ticket items. Shopaholics often go tens of thousands of dollars into debt, maxing out credit cards, cleaning out bank accounts and destroying their credit.
Who Suffers?
Shopaholism has long been thought of as primarily a women's issue, but a study initiated by the "American Journal of Psychiatry" in October 2006 concluded that men are almost as likely to suffer from the condition as women (see Resources below).
Like many other compulsive behaviors, shopaholism not only affects the life of the sufferer, but everyone who is associated with her. With the advent of Internet shopping, many shopaholics have taken to browsing and buying during work hours while their performance slides. The compulsion can also overshadow previous emotional outlets, including relationships with family and friends. And as their debt escalates, it can erode trust in marriages and sabotage family stability both financially and emotionally.
Is It a Real Disease?
This question has been a matter of debate among psychiatric professionals for years. As of January 2009, the American Psychiatric Association has once again put the issue up for consideration as a recognized disorder.
Treatment Options
Because this condition has not been defined as a specific disorder as yet, there is some debate as to whether this is a treatable compulsion along the same lines as compulsive gambling or sexual addiction.
This ambiguity about the true intensity of the compulsion also affects a family's ability to cope with the fallout of escalating behavior. The lack of recognition and understanding of the causes for this behavior can interfere with a spouse or child's ability to cope with this disorder, to have compassion for the shopaholic or to explain the family's problem to others.
At present, recommended treatment includes individual as well as family therapy, both to treat the behavior itself as well as to address and repair the damage it inflicts on the shopaholic's family.
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