Impulsive Shopping, Temptation, and self-control

In general, what this type of buyer wants is related to physical image, and this kind of phenomenon goes hand in hand with feelings of loneliness, sadness and frustration.

Constant shopping gives these people momentary happiness, even when buying things they don’t need; They even get into debt for it, and suffer feelings of guilt as a consequence .

Understanding the tendency to compulsively buy

This disorder is known as onitomania; It is characterized by a lack of impulse control. This disease is sometimes considered an addiction when it leads to purchases that are not out of necessity .

These people have difficulty adapting to reality, have a low tolerance for frustration, and have a need for immediate gratification in order to have intense sensations of pleasure from novelty.

This addiction can cause serious conflicts with the couple, with the family and even at work. It can lead to the need to get into debt, to resort to telling lies or sometimes to commit crimes (for example, through fraud or theft) due to the need for quick and easy money to satisfy the impulse to buy and buy .

These people often spend more than they have and also suffer from a void that they believe they can mitigate by buying. These kinds of experiences can produce significant feelings of guilt, and self-esteem will gradually be eroded.

These people have difficulty adapting to reality, have a low tolerance for frustration and have a need for immediate gratification in order to have intense sensations of pleasure from novelty . This pattern of behavior also serves to avoid and avoid conflicts instead of asking for help.

This lack of control has serious consequences, since we can say that it is a “social addiction” since it also seeks to fill a need to be physically attractive and competitive. It can cause social, work and family isolation.

These purchases, by relieving the subject’s tension and generating a lot of pleasure at the moment, make the person stop thinking that subsequently the feelings of guilt due to regret and self-reproach are difficult to handle and tolerate, thus falling into a difficult vicious circle to overcome .

The dependence on buying and their inability to value themselves thus affects their self-esteem. It can cause social, work and family isolation. When buying, the individual may feel embarrassed and feel compelled to destroy or hide the purchased items.

context matters

It is also worth mentioning that in our society consumption is central, but in this time of pandemic, Internet purchases have facilitated the increase in this type of addiction, since the acquisition of various objects is much easier . The lockdown helped to make multiple purchases to control anxiety and feelings of loneliness and those that are linked to depression.

What can be done?

It is important to help these people set limits appropriately . For example, people who in their childhood have lived in a very “spoiled” way, growing up in an environment where all their whims have been attended to immediately, end up internalizing this pattern of behavior and even see it as normal and natural.

To avoid being a compulsive shopper, you should avoid shopping in depressed situations. Perhaps make a shopping list and follow it to the letter, assessing only what you need .

It is also key to recognize and assess the budget sufficient to cover only these needs; it is important that these people begin to value what they have.

To avoid buying compulsively, it is necessary to learn not to spend too much time thinking about purchasing unnecessary objects. One way to avoid this compulsion is to plan your purchases, make a plan of when and where to do it .

On the other hand, it is highly recommended to go to a psychotherapy specialist to help the person understand and control conflicts and negative behaviors.

In therapy it is possible to acquire self-control strategies and achieve and learn to reduce behaviors that are harmful and cause anxiety . The psychologist also helps to identify the causes that produce the impulse to buy unnecessary things and look for other alternatives that help counteract these factors.

When and how can we realize that we have this addiction?

A key piece of information to recognize this psychological alteration is when objects are bought that are not needed or are bought in an excessive way that exceeds economic possibilities .

It’s also important to be aware of these red flags:

• When I have some money I can’t control the desire to spend all or part of it.
• For me, buying serves to relieve stress and daily anguish and thus calm it down.
• There is an inexplicable inner feeling that pushes you to go shopping.
• I have a tendency to respond to offers and discounts that are advertised on social networks and advertising in general.
• I am a wasteful person.