Compulsive shopping and spending are defined as excessive, and out of control. As with other addictions, the spending addict continues to spend and shop in the face of adverse consequences. Sometimes referred to as "shopoholism", shopping addiction can create massive financial, marital, legal and family problems. These consequences are identical in nature to the consequences created from drug addiction or alcoholism.

Many people ask why someone would continue to shop and spend when they know negative consequences are right around the corner. It is best explained as we would explain the process of any addiction. People who shop or spend compulsively get a feeling of being "high" from the experience. This translates into endorphins and dopamine, natural receptor sites in the brain, getting turned on, creating a "good feeling" and reinforcing the desire to shop or spend. This is the cycle of addiction that must be broken in order to recover and manage spending.

Signs and Symptoms of Compulsive Shopping and Spending Breaking one's budget - Many times a person will break their budget by spending more than they have agreed to. This can create tremendous financial strain as the person spends well above their means. Compulsive buying - When a person with a shopping addiction goes shopping, they may go with the intention of buying one shirt but before they know it they end up with six of them. Chronic problem - A shopping addiction is a continuous problem and one that gets worse over time. Generally speaking, it is more than once or twice a year. As with other addictions it is progressive in nature. Hiding the problem - Compulsive shoppers tend to hide their purchases due to the financial and family problems they have already created. They want to avoid arguments with their significant other. It is as if they are hiding their shame. Many create second and third credit card accounts, unknown to anyone else. Research shows this problem affects mostly women, with alcoholism affecting mostly men. The return cycle - Many people return their purchases due to the guilt and shame they feel. Unfortunately they place themselves back into the shopping environment and while feeling the guilt and shame they end up on another shopping spree. Impaired relationships. "It is not uncommon to find dysfunctional or unhealthy relationships in the homes of compulsive shoppers. Relationships begin to deteriorate as the compulsive shopper spends more and more time away from home to shop, creates more and more debt, covers up debt with deception, and starts to isolate themselves from others as they become preoccupied with their behavior." Consequences - Like any other addiction - it has nothing to do with how much a person shops or spends, and everything to do with consequences. There are always consequences to addictive behavior and a person will not recover unless they are allowed to feel and experience those consequences.

Behaviors that may indicate a problem

Others who have an accompanying drug or alcohol addiction, inpatient treatment is available and the compulsive shopper or spender can receive help there. The ability to be in a residential setting can provide the addict with much needed support to break the cycle of shopping, spending, drinking or drugging.