Shopping Addiction

What obtain Can Lead To What is shop? Is shop something we do for fun, for fashion, or to make us happy? Is shop in our culture? Is shopping something we turn out learned from our p arents, growing up? obtain can be defined in many commissions, except when does shopping become a occupation? In Shopping Spree, or Addiction by Heather Hatfield, MD, she says shopping can be atomic number 53 of Americas favorite past-times, but shopping can likewise lead to a dangerous addiction that entrust stick financial disaster (1-2). Ill be going over cardinal main factors, recognition cards and the mall environment, that cause a shopping addiction, along with the type of illness, imprint, that also causes a shopping addiction. Ill also talk ab let out the treatment individuals go through to chasten the addiction. The dictionary definition of shopping is the act of a person who shops. It does non define an overreaction to shopping. What is an overreaction to shopping? Its a shopping addiction. A shopping addiction is referred to as shopoholism, and is just as unhealthy as alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling.In some cases there are similarities amongst these addictions. For instance, alcoholics will hide their bottles, and shopaholics will hide their purchases. Having a shopping and overleaping addiction is defined as be inappropriate, ebullient, and out of control. Like separate addictions, it has to do with impulsiveness and overleap of control over ones impulse. In America, shopping is embedded in our culture so often, the impulsiveness comes out as excessive shopping, says Donald Black, MD (quoted in Hatifield 1-2).A article by David Futrelle, who is a licensed psychologist and giving researcher of Shopoholism, states that shopoholism is an impulse control problem rather being an obsessive compulsive dis run (OCD). For an example, a person with OCD will wash their hands and find relief whereas a compulsive shopper will run short a high. The euphoria compulsive shoppers facial expression keeps them coming pricker for more, and more, and more (Futrelle). Individuals who are compulsive shoppers arent able to control their behavior through rational considerations. They will not be concerned if they gaint have enough notes to pay.Since credit is so easily available, it makes it easy for passel to lead, but before they accredit it they will find themselves in debt. The word credit card is in close every shopaholics story. But its not credit cards that cause shopping addictions. fit in to statistics most individuals who develop this addiction are in their early twenties. Normally, this is after they fascinate their first current job and their first credit card. Its not just shopaholics who have problems sp wipeouting with credit cards. Its everyone. Using credit cards is easier, and we feel like we got it for free because no money has come out of our pocket, just not yet anyway. nation who use credit kind of of cash tend to spend 20%-30% more than somebody who is paying with cash says Gary Herman, director of counseling services for consolidated credit (quoted in Futrelle). With all the spending thats going on the debt keeps piling up. Individuals wont know how more than debt they are in. Eventually individuals will go into denial on how much they actually spend and owe back. People will end up owing back twice as much as they thought they did. Credit cards arent to blame for addictive shopping they just childs play a big part in a persons life who is addicted to shopping.The way malls, stores, and advertisements are set up plays a big part on how wad spend. Advertisers influence people to shop and spend more. Malls and shops are set up to attract people with their displays. For instance, people can go into their favorite store and there could be a sale. Of course the shopper will buy more than they really need because they feel like they have gotten a deal. In a way malls and stores seduce us to buy, and it can lead to an addiction says James J. Farrell who is a professor of history at St. Olaf College (53-55).Companies also will use their guide words to get people to buy and spend more. Take BMW for instance, their slogan is The Ultimate Driving Machine. This slogan tricks people into thinking that if they dont own a BMW then whatever car they do own is not good enough. Other catchy slogans include Levi jeans, You Walk a Little Taller in Levis or Visa Everywhere You Want to be. Companies use these tactics to persuade people to spend and spend and spend, attracting the shopalcholics until individuals cant spend any more. Nine million people in America receive from shopoholism, and its more common in women. at that place have been studies conducted to see if addictions are genetic. About 10%-15% whitethorn have a genetic predisposition to an addictive behavior says Ruth Engs, MD (quoted in Hatifield 1). As reported by Dr. Adrienne Backer There is a strong link between compulsive shopping and an inadequate maternal relationship (quoted in Futrelle). Frequently the mother was depressed or absent emotionally causing the daughter to develop a low self-esteem, resulting in the daughter turning to shopping to feel happy (Futrelle). In reality people who have a shopping addiction are masking up a low self-esteem.Dr. Louise Chang who is a physician at Grady Memorial hospital states that the endorphins, dopamine, andnaturally occurring opiate receptors get switched on in the brain, and people will feel a high that makes them feel good somewhat themselves for that short amount of time while shopping. The causes of addictions and why addicts will continue their destructive behaviors remain uncertain. most individuals who suffer from compulsive shopping have a history of psychological problems and difficulties at mansion, and this plays a big part in forming this compulsion (Chang 1).There are many warning signs to look out for in individuals who are ad dicted to shopping. Some of the signs to look out for are spending over budget, compulsive buying, being obsess with money, and feeling lost without credit cards or cash. Having a shopping addiction will cause arguments with other family members to the highest degree the individuals shopping habits. A shopping addiction is a reprehensible cycle that keeps repeating itself. For most people shopping is going to the mall with friends or to buy the in style(p) style, but for compulsive shoppers, shopping makes them feel good.About ninety years ago German psychologist, Emil Kraepelin defined excessive shopping as an illness calling it onioman, (quoted in Velez-Mitchell 20-25) but only recently its being understood as a disorder. After individuals shop they feel guilty or depressed approximately how much they spent. In some cases individuals will feel so guilty they will go back to the store and return the merchandise thinking they will feel relief. Again once they return home they f ind the guilt has gone away, but then they will feel eager. The outcome of feeling anxious will lead to another shopping spree.Its an ongoing cycle. More than half the time shopping addicts have to hide their problem from loved ones to avoid arguments. Individuals will let merchandise pile up in their car until loved ones arent home. Then they take their purchases inside. In marriages, one will have secret bank accounts or credit cards to avoid confrontation with their prodigious other about spending money. Just like any other addiction it takes a toll on family relationships or personal relationships. Individuals will spend every extra minute they have at the mall instead of being home.Individuals will also isolate themselves from others because they become preoccupied with their behavior. Before one notices that their partner has a problem, they usually are in debt for $75,000 or more. The husband or wife is equally responsible for the debt their significant other has obtained. Usually this addiction will ruin a relationship, and if one is married it will end with divorce, which is stated by Jane Velez Mitchell who is an awarding winning journalist and bestselling author (192-198). Is there a cure for someone who has a shopping addiction? The answer is yes. The first thing to do it to admit one has a problem.There are different levels of a shopaholic. Individuals will have to find a debtors anonymous 12 smell program to go to. This program is important for ongoing support and maintenance. Individuals will also have to go through credit counseling. There are no standard treatments for shopping addictions says Donald Black, MD (quoted in Hatifield 1-2). There is one type of medication that is given to people with a shopping addiction and that is an antidepressant, called Celexa. The cause of a shopping addiction results in the individual being depressed, and they will use shopping to relieve their depression and feel happy.But antidepressants dont always wo rk, and many victims they have to go to counseling. For individuals who try to recover from this addiction, its a good idea to get rid of check books and credit cards which fuel the problem. People also should not shop by themselves. They should find other meaningful ways to spend their time. With people who have a severe shopping addiction, its recommended that someone else controls their finances for them. If someone disagrees with what Ive compose about shopping addictions, they are either an addict or wealthy.People with shopping addictions or any other addiction dont realize they have a problem and think they are ok. Its very hard for one to realize and admit they have a problem. In seeking religious service for this addiction a person needs to admit they have a problem in order to recover from the addiction. Another type of person who would disagree with a shopping addiction is someone who has money to spend. If an individual has money and can afford going on shopping sprees regularly, then why not buy everything they want. But individuals who are wealthy wont realize they have a problem, and they could be suffering from depression.The first thing to do to recover from this addiction is to admit one has a problem, differently treatment wont work. Works Cited Chang, Louise, MD. The New Addiction. WebMD. 2009. Web. 5 July 2011. Farrell, James J. One Nation chthonic Good. Washington D. C Smithsonian Books, 2003. Print. Futrelle, David. Do You Shop Too Much. Money Magazine. Money Magazine, 31 Oct. 2003. Web. 1 July 2001. Hatifield, Heather,MD. Shopping Spree, or Addiction? WebMD. 2004. Web. 5 July 2011. Velez-Mitchell, Jane and Sandra Mohr. Addict Nation. Florida Health Communications, 2011. Print.