Bought and ashamed: the psychologist called a sign of hidden shopaholism
Today, November 11, the world celebrates Shopping Day, and for many it is a real holiday.
Clinical psychologist Stanislav Sambursky explains: shopping really does relieve stress. Adults are daily crushed by routine: deadlines at work, everyday life, children, parents. Shopping is becoming a legal way to make time for oneself, and this “medicine” is used by both women and men.
The problem begins where rationality ends. The psychologist notes that a powerful release of dopamine occurs at the time of choosing a product, when we clearly imagine how cool we will use the new product. But there is a fine line between a pleasant reboot and illness.
Disturbing symptoms
A mountain of unpacked bags. The classic picture of a shopaholic: things with tags lie at home, and new orders are already waiting for payment in the online basket.
• Hunting for discounts, not things. The purchase is made impulsively only because the price tag is red, and the real need for the item is completely absent.
• Emotional swing. The most striking marker of addiction is an acute sense of guilt, shame and regret, which covers immediately after paying for the next purchase.
If you notice this, the expert advises you to start keeping a trigger diary. What exactly is pushing you to the checkout? A fight with your boss? Chronic fatigue? Loneliness?
“If spending money has become the only available way to calm down, it is a serious addiction comparable to gambling,” warns Sambursky. In such cases, you should not close yourself, but it is better to seek professional help to break this vicious circle.
