Addected to shopping when you dont know when to stop

More recently compulsive shopping has been started to be recognized as an addiction.. Although the precise symptoms vary from one addiction to another, there are two aspects that all add

Addicted to Shopping

When You Don’t Know When To Stop

Shiladitya Verma

(Masters in Management Science, Masters in Arts (Drawing & Painting), Masters in Arts (Psychology))

Associate Professor, MBA Department

Lakshmi Narain College of Technology & Science, Bhopal, M.P., INDIA

Shopping generally refers to the act of buying products Sometimes this is done to obtain necessities such as food or clothing; sometimes it is done as a recreational activity To many, shopping is considered a recreational and diversional activity in which one visits a variety of stores with a premeditated intent to purchase a product

Recreational shopping often involves window shopping (just looking, not buying) and browsing and does not always result in a purchase "Window Shopping" is an activity that shoppers engage in by browsing shops with no intent to purchase, possibly just to pass the time between other activities, or to plan a later purchase

To some, shopping is a task of inconvenience and vexation Shoppers sometimes go though great lengths to wait in long lines to buy popular products as typically observed with early adopter shoppers and holiday shoppers

More recently compulsive shopping has been started to be recognized as an addiction Also

referred as shopping addiction, "Shopaholism" or formally oniomania, these shoppers have

an impulsive uncontrollable urge to shop The term "Retail Therapy" is used in a less serious context

Addiction

Addiction has long been understood to mean an uncontrollable habit of using alcohol or other drugs Because of the physical effects of these substances on the body, and particularly the brain, people have often thought that “real” addictions only happen when people regularly use these substances in large amounts

More recently, we have come to realize that people can also develop addictions to behaviors, such as gambling, and even quite ordinary and necessary activities such as exercise and eating What these activities have in common is that the person doing them finds them pleasurable in some way

There is some controversy about which of the “behavioral” addictions constitute scientifically validated “true” addictions, with both professionals and the public failing to

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reach an agreement More research is needed to clarify this issue

Although the precise symptoms vary from one addiction to another, there are two aspects that all addictions have in common:

Firstly, the addictive behavior is maladaptive or counter-productive to the individual So instead of helping the person adapt to situations or overcome problems, it tends to undermine these abilities

For example, a gambler might wish he had more money – yet gambling is more likely to drain his financial resources A drinker might want to cheer herself up – yet alcohol use contributes to the development of her depression A sex addict may crave intimacy – yet the focus on sexual acts may prevent real closeness from developing

Secondly, the behavior is persistent When someone is addicted, they will continue to engage

in the addictive behavior, despite it causing them trouble

So an occasional weekend of self-indulgence is not addiction, although it may cause different kinds of problems Addiction involves more frequent engagement in the behavior

The question is that if one still enjoys It, It Can’t Be an Addiction, Right?

Wrong Because the media, in particular, have portrayed addicts as hopeless, unhappy people whose lives are falling apart, many people with addictions do not believe they are addicted as long as they are enjoying themselves, and they are holding their lives together

Often people’s addictions become ingrained in their lifestyle, to the point where they never

or rarely feel withdrawal symptoms Or they may not recognize their withdrawal symptoms for what they are, putting them down to aging, working too hard, or just to not liking mornings People can go for years without realizing how dependent they are on their addiction

People with illicit addictions may enjoy the secretive nature of their behavior They may blame society for its narrow-mindedness, choosing to see themselves as free-willed and independent individuals In reality, addictions tend to limit people’s individuality and freedoms as they become more restricted in their behaviors Imprisonment for engaging in an illegal addiction restricts their freedom even more

When people are addicted, their enjoyment often becomes focused on carrying out the addictive behavior and relieving withdrawal, rather than the full range of experiences which form the person’s full potential for happiness At some point, the addicted person may realize that life has passed them by, and that they have missed out on enjoying much other than the addiction This often happens when people overcome addiction

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What’s the Problem if it isn’t doing any harm?

Addictions are harmful both to the person with the addiction, and to the people around them

The biggest problem is the addicted person’s failure to recognize the harm their addiction is doing They may have denials about the negative aspects of their addiction, choosing to ignore the effects on their health, life patterns and relationships Or they may blame outside circumstances or other people in their lives for their difficulties

The harm caused by addiction is particularly difficult to recognize when the addiction is the person’s main way of coping with the other problems they have Sometimes other problems are directly related to the addiction, for example, health problems, and sometimes they are indirectly related to the addiction, for example, relationship problems

Some people who get addicted to substances or activities are very aware of their addictions, and even the harms caused by the addiction, but keep doing the addictive behavior anyway This can be because they don’t feel they can cope without the addiction, because they are avoiding dealing with some other issue that the addiction distracts them from (such as being abused as a child), or because they do not know how to enjoy life any other way

The harm of addiction may only be recognized when the addicted person goes through a crisis This can happen when the addictive substance or behavior is taken away completely, and the person goes into withdrawal and cannot cope Or it can occur as a consequence of the addiction, such as a serious illness, a partner leaving, or loss of a job

Symptoms of Addiction

All addictions, whether to substances or to behaviors, involve both physical and psychological processes Each person’s experience of addiction is slightly different, and addiction usually involves a cluster of some of the following symptoms You can still be addicted even if you do not have all of the symptoms

There are many different addictions, but similar symptoms span them all

Some of the symptoms common to addictions are:

• Tolerance - the need to engage in the addictive behavior more and more to get the desired effect

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• Withdrawal happens when the person does not take the substance or engage in the activity, and they experience unpleasant symptoms, which are often the opposite of the effects of the addictive behavior

• Difficulty cutting down or controlling the addictive behavior

• Social, occupational or recreational activities becoming more focused around the addiction, and important social and occupational roles being jeopardized

• The person becoming preoccupied with the addiction, spending a lot of time on planning, engaging in, and recovering from the addictive behavior

Signs of Addiction

Symptoms can only be experienced by the person with the addiction, whereas signs can be observed by other people You can never know what someone else is experiencing unless they tell you, so if you are concerned that someone else may have an addiction, look for signs

as well as for symptoms

You might see some signs in an addicted person but not others These are signs which occur across many (but not necessarily all) addictions:

• Extreme mood changes – happy, sad, excited, anxious, etc

• Sleeping a lot more or less than usual, or at different times of day or night

• Changes in energy – unexpectedly and extremely tired or energetic

• Weight loss or weight gain

• Unexpected and persistent coughs or sniffles

• Seeming unwell at certain times, and better at other times

• Pupils of the eyes seeming smaller or larger than usual

• Changes in social groups, new and unusual friends, odd cell-phone conversations

• Repeated unexplained outings, often with a sense of urgency

• Drug paraphernalia such as unusual pipes, cigarette papers, small weighing scales, etc

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• “Stashes” of drugs, often in small plastic, paper or foil packages

Be cautious about jumping to conclusions Unless you have found drugs or drug paraphernalia, or have some other obvious evidence of an addiction, it is likely there is another explanation However, do not be nạve if you have found drugs or drug paraphernalia, as you may end up with legal problems if you do not address the situation

The most important factor in finding out whether someone has an addiction or not is trust Trust needs to be earned, so try to be supportive A confrontation with someone with an addiction is likely to just lead to denial and rejection from the addicted person

Symptoms and Signs of Specific Addictions

The links below will give you more details of the signs and symptoms of specific addictions

Substance Addictions

• Alcohol – for example, wine, beer, liquor

• Amphetamine or similarly acting sympathomimetics – for example, speed, crystal meth

• Benzodiazepines - for example, Xanax, Valium

• Caffeine – for example, coffee, tea, sports drinks

• Cannabis – for example, marijuana, grass, hash

• Cocaine – for example, coke, crack

• Hallucinogens – for example, acid, ecstasy

• Inhalants – for example, poppers, aerosols

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• Nicotine – for example, cigarettes, cigars, nicotine patches

• Opioids – for example, heroin, morphine, painkillers

• Phencyclidine (PCP) or similarly acting agents – for example, angel dust, ketamine

• Sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics – for example, sleeping pills, downers

Behavioral Addictions

• Computer – for example, internet, video games, social networking sites, cybersex, online gambling

• Eating – for example, overeating, binging

• Exercise – for example, weight loss, sports

• Gambling – for example, VLTs, casinos, slot machines

• Gaming – for example, computer games

• Sex – for example, porn, cybersex, multiple partners

• Shopping – for example, spending, stealing

• Work – for example, overwork, money, power

Addiction Diagnosis

The diagnosis of an addiction can seem like a daunting experience, but it can be the starting point for making positive changes in your life

Where Should I Go for a Diagnosis?

If you recognize the symptoms of addiction in yourself, the easiest way to find out whether you have an addiction is to make an appointment with your family doctor They may decide

to refer you to a specialized addiction clinic or clinician who specializes in addictions for a full assessment and addiction diagnosis if appropriate

Who Will Make the Diagnosis?

Many different health care professionals are trained to conduct addiction assessments, including addictions counselors, physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers and other therapists They are often called “clinicians” when they are carrying out assessments or therapy

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Occasionally, there is more than one person involved in making the addiction diagnosis For example, you may be interviewed once by a counselor and again by a physician Do not let this put you off – you will have two experts’ opinions instead of one!

All health care professionals are trained to treat people with addictions with courtesy, respect, and a non-judgmental attitude You can trust them to keep the information you give them confidential

How Will They Decide If I Am Addicted?

The clinician will make the addiction diagnosis using a combination of objective criteria and clinical judgment

Objective criteria are usually based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), which lists the symptoms of addiction for substance and gambling addictions As some addictions, such as sex addiction and computer addiction, are not included in this version of the DSM, the clinician should use the most recent diagnostic criteria published in scientific journals

Diagnostic information can be gathered in several different ways, including:

• Standardized assessment tools and other questionnaires that the clinic staff will give you to fill out

• Face to face “open-ended” interviewing, which is like a conversation, with the clinician making notes This is best for history-taking so you can explain the circumstances in your own words

• Face to face “structured” interviewing, in which the clinician will ask standard questions and write down your answers It’s a bit like completing a questionnaire, but you can discuss questions as you go along

• The questions and focus of the discussion will involve some or all of the following:

• The history of your addiction, including when and how you started the addictive behavior, how it has progressed, and factors which have contributed to its development

• Your current pattern of addictive behavior – what your addictive behaviors are, how much and how often you engage in them

• Your current symptoms of addiction

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• The effects of your addiction on the other areas of your life, including your family, social life, work life and financial situation

• Your readiness to change

You may also be asked for a urine sample to assess the levels of drugs in your system Blood samples are not routinely taken, but if you have signs or symptoms of serious physical illness, a clinician may request a blood sample, for example, to assess your liver function Not all addiction clinics are set up to take urine or blood samples

A good diagnostic assessment will also gather information on your general mental and physical health to assess whether you are suffering from another condition such as depression, anxiety disorder or personality disorder You might be referred to medical physician if there are specific physical concerns, or to a psychiatric physician if there is an indication of another significant mental health issue Inpatient or outpatient detoxification may also be advisable at this stage

Co-existing conditions can and should be treated at the same time as the addictive behavior

It will help the process if you follow these Tips for Getting an Accurate Diagnosis

What Next

Most clinics will be able to give you a verbal addiction diagnosis right away Occasionally, there may be a delay, for example, if a psychologist wants to score your standardized tests before making a diagnosis If so, you should make an appointment to come back to get your diagnosis in person

Your diagnosis and the information gathered will form the basis of your treatment plan This plan will be made in consultation with you, with the opportunity to discuss their recommendations and the options available

You are free to withdraw from the process at any time Often times, just knowing your addiction diagnosis can be the start of making positive changes in your life

Addiction Treatment

Approaches to addiction treatment depend on the needs of the individual, and may include:

• Detoxification to medically manage withdrawal from alcohol or drugs

• Individual therapy to help the person reach a greater understanding of their addiction

and how to overcome it

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• Group therapy to allow people with the same addiction problem to share

understanding, support and encourage each other

• Residential treatment to give people the chance to get away from their usual lifestyle

into a safe supportive atmosphere with intensive therapy

Many people successfully overcome addictions without professional help through “natural recovery”

Both natural recovery and addiction treatment can be enhanced through self help groups The best known addiction self-help group is Alcoholics Anonymous or AA, which is a 12 step program, although there are many others which use different theories of addiction treatment

How Do I Know Which Treatment Approach to Use?

In reality, people often use a combination of approaches to addiction treatment It may take several different treatments to successfully overcome an addiction

Quitting takes time, and involves several stages:

• The decision to change –- you may not be ready to quit, but services exist to help you make this decision

• Preparing to change –- deciding on the best way to quit

• Withdrawal from the addictive behavior – can last a week or two

• Developing a lifestyle without the addictive behaviour

• Finding non-addictive ways of coping

• Maintaining a non-addictive lifestyle over the long-term – this will take the rest of your life

• Many different addiction treatments help people overcome addictions The effectiveness of your therapy will depend on:

• Your readiness to change

• How well you get on with your therapist

• How severe your addiction is –- it is dangerous to withdraw from some drugs, including alcohol, without medical supervision

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• Your physical health –- you may have problems such as liver disease, which also need immediate treatment

• Your mental health –- your addiction may be co-occurring with another mental health problem, which will also need immediate treatment

• The amount of social support you have Generally, family and friends who do not share the addictive behaviour can support your recovery, but people still engaged

in the same addictive behaviour tend to make it more difficult

• Your financial circumstances –- you may need to take time off work, and if you have difficult financial circumstances, treatment services can connect you with financial and housing support

How Do I Begin Addiction Treatment?

The best place to start is to discuss your addiction with your family doctor Some ways that they help are:

• Providing a long-term therapeutic relationship -– don’t underestimate the value of someone who can see you progress from being addicted to long-term recovery

• Diagnosing physical and mental conditions you may not even be aware of

• Referrals to other medical, psychiatric and formal addiction services

• Advice on addiction treatment approaches

• Medical management of your withdrawal –- they can explain how this will work, whether you need to go into a detoxification facility or hospital, and refer you to appropriate services

You can also contact a helpline, to put you in touch with treatment services directly Helplines provide immediate anonymous support and information, often 24 hours a day You may still need a referral from your family doctor to get into a treatment program

What Can I Expect From Addiction Treatment?

Addiction treatment services vary, but expect some or all of the following:

• Confidentiality with very few exceptions

• Supportive professionals who will collaborate with you, accept you for who you are, empathize with your situation, encourage you to keep trying, and help you solve problems

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• Individual counseling to discuss how you became addicted, your reasons for quitting, and what will help you quit

• Group therapy, where you will meet other people in addiction treatment, to support each other and learn about addiction and recovery

• Your addiction treatment service may or may not involve:

• Drug testing -– only if abstinence from alcohol or drugs is one of the goals you agreed with your therapist

• Medication management by an on-site medical professional -– a great advantage

if you are detoxifying, or if you have other mental or physical concerns

• Family support and/or couples counselling to give support to people in your life who could help your recovery

• Follow up –- to make sure that you are still doing OK after completing the treatment program

Will I Be Judged?

Generally, healthcare providers take a nonjudgmental approach to treating people with addictions Anyone working in the medical system should treat you with dignity and respect, and if they do not, you can make a complaint

Sometimes people in group therapy are judgmental of others A facilitator will prevent this from happening by setting ground rules for participants at the beginning of the session It is part of their job to ensure that group members are respectful to each other

The lack of facilitators is one of the difficulties of self-help groups If you feel judged or uncomfortable with a self-help group you are attending, try a different group

What if I Can’t Quit?

Successful recovery from an addiction takes time and patience The most important factor is your commitment to quitting Support is available, and if you relapse, you can always try again It is common to have several attempts before you are successful

Addicted to Shopping : When You Don’t Know When To Stop

Oniomania

Oniomania is the psychiatric term for compulsive shopping, or shopping addiction People

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with oniomania shop on impulse as a way of coping and find it difficult to control their spending or shopping behaviors

Oniomania (the word is derived from the Greek Words: onios = "for sale" and mania =

"insanity"), often colloquially referred to as shopaholic, is a medical term for the compulsive desire to shop Oniomania is the technical term for the compulsive desire to shop, more commonly referred to as compulsive shopping, compulsive buying, shopping addiction or shopaholism Another common version of this syndrome is credit card addiction, also can take the form of compulsive credit card use All of these are considered to be either clinical addictions or impulse control disorders, depending on the clinical source: First described by

Kraepelin in 1915, and then Bleuler in 1924, as oniomania from the Greek oneomai, to buy,

included among other pathological and reactive impulses, compulsive buying went largely ignored for nearly sixty years

Omniomania, compulsive shopping (or what's more commonly referred to as shopping addiction), is perhaps the most socially reinforced of the behavioral addictions

We are surrounded by advertising, telling us that buying will make us happy We are encouraged by politicians to spend as a way of boosting the economy And we all want to have what those around us have –- consumerism has become a measure of our social worth

Although widespread consumerism has escalated in recent years, shopping addiction is not a new disorder It was recognized as far back as the early nineteenth century, and was cited as

a psychiatric disorder in the early twentieth century

Almost everyone shops to some degree, but only about 6% of the U.S population is thought

to have a shopping addiction Usually beginning in the late teens and early adulthood, shopping addiction often co-occurs with other disorders, including mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, other impulse control disorders, and personality disorders

Normal Shopping v Shopping Addiction

So what makes the difference between normal shopping, occasional splurges, and shopping addiction? As with all addictions, shopping becomes the person’s main way of coping with stress, to the point where they continue to shop excessively even when it is clearly having a negative impact on other areas of their life As with other addictions, finances and relationships are damaged, yet the shopping addict feels unable to stop or even control their spending

The Controversy of Shopping Addiction

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Like other behavioral addictions, shopping addiction is a controversial idea Many experts

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