Is compulsive buying a valid mental illness?
Dr AZ Hakeem talks on compulsive buying
Excerpt transcribed from the Weekend Sunrise TV programme in Australia.
Compulsive buying disorder or shopping addiction as it reappeared in psychiatric literature this month is nothing new. In the 1950’s ‘oniomania’ (has nothing to with onions) was entered as shopaholism or compulsive buying disorder. I suppose the controversy is -Is this a disorder in its own right or is this a manifestation of another general disorder characterised by compulsivity and impulsivity… or is it just a leisure activity?
Are you a shopaholic?
If you look at the proposed features/criteria for shopping addiction…
- Preoccupation with shopping
- Irresistible impulses to buy stuff
- Buying more than you can afford
- Spending excessive time for shopping
Criteria to define a shopaholic:
For a compulsive shopper there is a play of internal factors, so things like feelings of depression and anxiety combined then combined with external cues in a shopping environment. eg: promotional – boxing day sales and advertising; these two things combine to result in poor self regulation and a difficulty in resisting the impulse to buy stuff.
If you track the emotions and you start with negative emotions, predominantly feelings of depression and anxiety… and these gets replaced with more positive emotions like excitement, happiness and satisfaction leading up to the purchases. Once the purchases is completed, these nice positive feelings get replaced by feelings of despair, shame and regret, which then the compulsive shopper sometimes deals with by ignoring the purchases or hiding them even. There is a flipping of behaviour between depression and euphoria in relation to their buying activity.
What treatments can help a Shopaholic?
There are no conclusive evidence or conclusive treatments… but what people are trying are seratonium based anti-depressants, cognitive behavioural therapy or ‘Debtors Anonymous’ which is quite like ‘Alcoholic Anonymous’ or self help groups.
However, there are a few simple methods to prevent yourself from being a shopaholic
- Admit you have the problem
- Cut up all credit cards
- Shop with a supportive friend
- Indulge in other activities/ hobbies
Shopping is only a problem if you are continually in debt or if you have a house full of stuff that you don’t need.
For the link to the video click here
Dr Az Hakeem 