Stopping Overshopping

Shopaholism, also known as Compulsive buying disorder.  We all know at least one person who does this.  They shop for things that they don't need, they are addicted to finding the best bargain.  They hit the sales thinking it is OK because it is not buying something at full price.   When your purchases shift from impulsive to compulsive, you may be grappling with a more serious condition: a shopping addiction.  This is made even worse nowadays due to how easy it is to shop online.  

Here are signs that you may, in fact, be a shopaholic:

1. You have many unopened or tagged items in your closet  
2. You often purchase things you don’t need or didn’t plan to buy
3. An argument or frustration sparks an urge to shop
4. You experience a rush of excitement when buying
5. Purchases are followed by feelings of remorse
6. You try to conceal shopping habits
7. You feel anxious on days you don’t shop
8. You shop beyond your means

Perhaps you max out credit cards and open new ones in order to keep purchasing things. You max them out.  The mounting debt may also tempt you to lie or steal - another hallmark of an addiction out of control.  I have seen this behavior at it's best cause a person to avoid dealing with whatever they are trying to distract themselves from.  It could be a spouse or marriage out of control, so they find solace in shopping.  At it's worst, I've seen it ruin marriages and cause financial ruin of an entire family, bankruptcy, foreclosure and loss of home and divorce - simply because people in these situations were afraid to address it or other addictions head on and get to the root of the real problem.  Any addiction starts like a drop of water hitting a lake, with each circle that travels out from the starting point, the havoc radiates to family, friends, work.  Just because some addicts withdraw does not mean the damage still isn't there from that drop of water.  Sometimes you DO need to choose your battle and address it.