People who shop for the "high" it gives them suffer from obsessive thoughts about spending when they are not actually acting it out. Their behavior when shopping has a compulsive quality to it. It feels uncontrollable. Their failure to control their spending impacts detrimentally on all other aspects of their lives.

Compulsive shoppers believe that shopping will make them feel better. They often shop when they feel depressed, lonely, bored or angry. Shopping offers a palliative for their suffering. While they are spending they experience the kind of euphoria that is similar to the "high" induced by drugs.

While they are on this "high" they tend to spend outrageous amounts of money on things that they don't need. Their closets are full of items still bearing their tags. The "high" comes with the spending, not with the enjoyment of what is purchased.

Because they lose their ability to buy within their means they are constantly in financial trouble and often dogged by collection agencies. When the "high" of shopping dissipates they are left with the guilt and shame so characteristic of the addiction cycle. The guilt and shame may contain the urge for a short while but ultimately it leads to the need to alleviate the bad feelings through another bout of spending.

Relationships, jobs and financial obligations suffer as the uncontrolled spending leads the addict deeper and deeper into debt.

There are a number of established organizations that provide help and support for those struggling with a shopping addiction. Compulsive spending is often coupled with other addictive behaviors so working with the right kind of professional help along with the support of a self-help group is the most effective treatment.
 

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