One for you, two for me. Sound familiar? It’s a classic trap around holiday shopping, where the buyer gets enticed by all the glitz, selection and pre-holiday sales. Mix in the stress of the season, and you have a prime recipe for retail therapy overload. While many people love to shop (present company included), the problem is when it truly becomes a problem.
While the term “shopoholic” has been thrown around layman’s circles for ages, doctors actually do recognize “compulsive shopping” as a real diagnosis. American studies estimate about 6% of their population suffer from the problem. In fact, there has been burgeoning interest in compulsive shopping, recognizing it as part of the spectrum of obsessive compulsive disorders. There is also a proposal in upcoming psychiatry literature to make this condition a formal diagnosis in the so-called bible of identifying mental illness (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM). So what defines a compulsive shopper? Not being able to pay off your debts, making shopping a priority over other important things in your life, and having loved ones comment that it’s out of control.
If this is all sounding too familiar, take heart, there are things you can do. The first step is always identifying the problem, and then taking steps to fix it. Know there are high-risk times, including the holidays, when stress and lack of sleep can make you more vulnerable to a retail meltdown. So try replacing your shopping time with healthier ventures, like a trip to the gym. If you must shop, do so only with cash. Only go shopping when you need something. And take Santa’s lead: bring a list and always check it twice.
There will be some, however, that need more expert intervention from a psychologist or psychiatrist well versed in this area. Doctors at Sunnybrook have treated many, helping target patterns of thinking that may distort what is pleasurable. In severe cases, medications may be needed. The bottom line is, help is available.
And for everyone, shopping smart is always the way to go. The Ministry of Consumer Services just released a 2011 Smart Consumer Calendar, helping all those making really big purchases this holiday season, like cars and houses.
So as you navigate through one of the most consumer-driven weeks of the year, be real and realistic. And remember that you can’t buy good mental health in any store.
