One of the least understood forms of compulsive disorders is shopping addiction. At present, only Germany recognizes this condition as its own separate addiction. In the rest of the world, it is often lumped with other compulsive disorders. According to experts, there have only been about two decades of research into shopping disorders, a mere fraction of what other disorders have had. The condition centers around the feeling a person has while they are shopping for an item. Those suffering from this condition receive a distinct form of pleasure immediately before and during the purchase, but many scientists believe that once they walk out of the store, the pleasure is gone, and the behavior needs to be repeated.
Neurofeedback help in addiction treatment has proven to be quite helpful. Neurofeedback is a procedure that employs EEG as well as neuro-training in order to train the function of the brain for the addiction treatment to take place.
The most obvious impact from a shopping addiction would be financial. Returning the merchandize you buy is out of the question for most compulsive shoppers, even though most of what is bought isn’t even wanted as soon as the person leaves the store. Incredible amounts of credit card debt can be racked up in a very short time, which can cause a credit crisis that can affect you for the rest of your life. If a person with a shopping addiction is spending money that belongs to both people in a relationship, the condition could easily ruin a marriage. If the inability to pay bills continues along that path, a person could easily end up on the street. In some extreme cases, people could even resort to crime to obtain more money instantly so they can either pay off bills or go shopping once again. Since this condition is often present from an early age, it is thought to affect teenagers and young adults disproportionately.
Since most shopaholics tend to shop alone, it can be difficult to pinpoint symptoms. The average shopping addict will have many outstanding bills, an incredible amount of credit card debt, and as many credit cards as they can possibly have. They may also be likely to ask to borrow money on a regular basis, and you may notice the phone ringing on a regular basis from bill collectors. You may also notice many packages, boxes, and shopping bags with new items in them that are not being used or even opened.
The average shopping addict will not be able to live for very long with their condition, which gives it an immediacy people only normally associate with hardcore drug addiction. Long-term consumer debt that may or may not be wiped out by bankruptcy is likely, and the possibility of resorting to crime to obtain more money is always a possibility. In the United States, there are several organizations that exist for the sole purpose of helping people with shopping addictions. They can provide you with more information and a place to start if you suspect a friend has this condition.
