How tough economic times are affecting compulsive shoppers.
How tough economic times are affecting compulsive shoppers.
According to Newsweek -
Most of us like to shop, but how many of us know when to stop? According to a 2006 survey by the Stanford University School of Medicine, 5.8 percent of the U.S. population—about 17 million people—are compulsive shoppers, a label psychologist April Lane Benson applies to those who “spend so much time, energy or money on shopping that it’s impacting [their] life in a negative way.” But during a recession, does a compulsive shopper learn to curb his behavior, or does it just make spending habits worse?
I wondered how some people would cope with not having disposable income to spend on whimsical shopping. It is evident from the amount of gas consumed and the huge shopping malls that many people love to shop. I think that having less money will make people aware of their addictions – perhaps painfully so. So how do you cope with this kind of addiction?
Taming Your Shopping Addiction
One method is to redirect the energy. As soon as you feel the urge to shop, take that energy and time to go for a long walk, to use an exercise DVD, volunteer at a day care or some other activity. Instead of focusing on the the ‘hunt’ for some new item to buy, turn your energy into another activity that will benefit and you others.
The joy of helping others is really not appreciated much in this culture. Among the Northwest Indians of North America, the wealthiest person was the one who gave away the most at a potlach. Ours is a consumer driven economic culture with some 75% of the GNP based on people buying something. Well it might not drive the national economy but helping others will drive good chemicals around your brain and that will translate to others as well. Opening a door, letting someone go ahead in line, making a positive comment to someone – event these simple things bring about good things inside you and others.
If you good deed drops dead on the floor after a grumpy person rejects it. That is their loss not yours.
So convert that addictive self-serving behavior that can destroy your finances to something good. Use relaxation skills to be aware of when and how that craving arises. Do you clench your jaw? Tighten your shoulders? What happens when that urge to shop come up. Release that tension and you will likely see that the urge fades. It make take 10 times but you will train your body to relax and let go.
Dr Tim Lowenstein (c) 2009 All Rights Reserved Contact Dr Tim for permission to reprint. We can supply a copy of photos from this article as well.
