Break the Pattern of Online Shopping Addiction

Introduction

Online shopping addiction, also known as compulsive buying disorder (CBD) has become a growing problem in the digital age in conjunction with consumer culture, easy access to credit cards, and browsing online. CBD is characterised by an uncontrollable urge to shop online, leading to excessive spending, distress, and impairment in daily life. Yes, compulsive spending and impulsive buying can have serious emotional, financial, and social consequences, affecting mental health and relationships, and even contributing to depression and anxiety. If you experience this addiction, it’s important to understand what is going on underneath. This article discusses what online shopping addiction is, its rise, causes, symptoms, and treatment. So if you or someone you know experiences this problem, it’s time to understand it as a real addiction and give it the serious attention it deserves, to regain control of your wallet, and your life.

What Is Online Shopping Addiction?

So before we look at the rise, causes, and treatments available to compulsive shoppers, we need to know the nature of the beast! What exactly are we dealing with here? Well, firstly, online shopping addiction is a behavioural disorder, such that individuals experience an overwhelming urge to shop online, it’s pretty much an online shopping obsession whereby people purchase things they don’t need, or cannot afford. This addiction is not helped by its accessibility, with store cards, credit cards, and the ability to pay in instalments. Yes, CBD is driven by the convenience and accessibility of online shopping platforms, but also electronic cash. These factors make it easy for people to buy compulsively. Symptoms of this addiction include fixation with shopping, inability to control purchases, and considerable distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, which we look more closely at below.

The Rise Of Online Shopping

E-commerce, or the ability to shop digitally has certainly revolutionised the retail industry. We can now access all of our favourite stores conveniently, from the comfort of our own homes. We can even access stores from other parts of the world, there is so much we have access to. This has been further enhanced by technological advancements, increased internet penetration, and the proliferation of smartphones. Then there was the COVID-19 pandemic which meant we were at home, bored, online, and maybe seeking comfort. This event also accelerated online shopping trends, with many consumers shifting to digital platforms for safety and convenience. Over time, these factors have helped those who had a real-world shopping addiction transpose it to the virtual world, becoming a compulsive online shopping habit. For others who may not have had a problem with shopping before, these factors may have merged to develop the problem.

Causes Of Online Shopping Addiction

The causes of online shopping addiction are varied and it’s important to be aware of the different things you might be up against so that you can think about how to manage your shopping addiction, and your purse. So what are the potential causes? Online shopping triggers the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine and creating feelings of pleasure and happiness. This is naturally a motivator, but for individuals who are struggling with mental health problems, which may be brought on by life stressors, and, or, past traumas, online shopping obsession becomes an escape from their difficult emotions. Yes, the research shows that it becomes a way to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. Then there are the social influences and aggressive advertising, with targeted ads and social media influencers creating a perceived need to shop. These factors can each influence compulsive buying behaviour, making it very difficult to resist the temptation that is all around.

Online Shopping Addiction Symptoms

Impulsivity

So now we’ve considered the potential causes of online shopping addiction. Let’s review the possible symptoms of this problem so you can determine which ones affect you the most. Many people will notice that their buying habits can be quite impulsive, with frequent purchases made without planning or consideration of the consequences. It’s important to consider this because you may think ‘impulsivity’ comes with an urgency, it doesn’t have to. Your online shopping addiction may feel calm, but if you’re making purchases often, buying things you don’t need, and without thinking about how it impacts you, your purse, or your family, you’re not thinking it through.

Excessive Accumulation

So if you’re reading this and you’re wondering if you have a compulsive online shopping problem then one of the online shopping addiction symptoms that is easy to see is excessive accumulation. If you’re hoarding items and have things that you’ve never used, some that may still have labels on them or be packaged and boxed, then this means you’re simply creating a stockpile of stuff that you don’t need. This is hard to miss because it takes up space. This hoarding around you is like a mirror, it reflects the noise in your mind that you’re trying to escape, but instead, you recreate it in the physical world.

Emotional Triggers

So let’s think about that thing I referred to as ‘noise’ and although this applies to any addiction, it is one of the effects of online shopping addiction; emotional triggers. Your noise is the stuff you’re suppressing, the things you want to avoid. There may be something missing for you, something historically, and now in the present. You try to fill the void with ‘stuff’ but this shopping is a response to feelings of sadness, loneliness, or boredom. These tell you that something in life needs to be addressed. The first step is to say: “I am addicted to online shopping”

Financial Consequences

So this is another effect of online shopping obsession and shopping sprees. If you’re doing anything in a committed way, it will show. For example, if you’re spending hours in the gym, you’ll likely get fit, or if you’re eating too much sugar, that will show too. With compulsive online shopping, it will show as financial problems. You may experience significant debt or financial strain due to excessive spending. This may mean that you’re unable to save money, so do not have a ‘rainy day fund’, something Martin Lewis recommends. It may also show as stress on your relationships, and within yourself.

Buying Unnecessary Items

You know you have an online shopping addiction when you’re buying things you don’t need, or that are simply unpractical. Especially if  it’s the rule, and not the exception. This online shopping addiction symptom tells you that you’re not buying things out of necessity, or to treat yourself now and again. It’s reflective of a concerning pattern if you’re routinely buying items you don’t need. There’s simply no logic in this kind of spending, it’s irrational. Irrationality is one of the aspects of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and may indicate a bigger problem, when coupled with other symptoms.

Hiding Purchases From Others

If you’re concealing your purchases from family or friends, then the research tells us that you’re probably hiding a deeper problem. Yes, think of the alcoholic who drinks in secret, or the secret eater who gorges on food. They do this because they are unable to control their habit and experience shame. Thus, one of the effects of online shopping addiction is concealment. You may also hide your bank statements, or have a secret credit card because you wish to minimise the severity of financial distress.

Interference With Daily Life

An online shopping obsession will interfere with daily life and functioning. It can make some people neglect their responsibilities and obligations. This is done in multiple ways. Firstly, there is the time taken up by compulsive online shopping, this is time taken away from things you could be doing to help yourself, and your wider obligations. Then there is the financial aspect; if you’re spending your money, or money you don’t have, you’re neglecting the ability to save for your future or spend responsibly in the present for yourself, or your family. And that’s not even mentioning the effect on your mental health, which you’re also responsible for.

Online Shopping Addiction Treatment

Therapy

You may have decided that your online shopping addiction requires financial counselling, or that you need to learn how to budget, but this would merely be treating the symptom and not the cause. Yes, you may learn how to balance your books, and who knows, for a time, this could work. But, without knowing the causes of online shopping addiction for you, you are very likely going to lapse when you’re emotionally triggered. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) helps identify and change harmful shopping behaviours. At its core, addiction is a mental and emotional health problem, this means you’re always going to be vulnerable to your triggers unless you know what they are and why they exist, rather than suppressing them.

Online Therapy

Now, if you want to work through the effects of online shopping addiction for you and your life, but find all kinds of reasons to avoid therapy, like you tried a therapist in the area and she didn’t know how to help with this problem, or you don’t have the transport, or the time, or even the money. Then I have to challenge that and offer a solution. The solution is online therapy, because you can find someone specialising with this problem, anywhere in the world! Also, you don’t need transport, you save travel time (and browsing time), and money because whatever you spend on therapy will pay for itself when you save money, rather than overspend.

Self-Help Strategies

Of course, if you’re still unable to access therapy for your compulsive online shopping, for whatever reason, you can still find ways to help yourself. The time you spend on your online shopping obsession can be productive, so instead of spending minutes and hours on social media, and online stores, you can look up self-help strategies and see what works for you. Techniques like setting spending limits and finding alternative activities can reduce compulsive shopping. It may be difficult at first. You may need someone to help hold you accountable like a therapist would. Get family or friends involved. Tell them what you’re doing, and ask them to check-in. If you ‘fail’, see it as feedback and try to understand the reasons why.

Support Groups

 Another online shopping addiction treatment is support groups. You can use them alongside self-help strategies and you may find other strategies by hearing what works for others. It can be daunting to admit we have a problem, but to declare: “I am addicted to online shopping” might also be liberating, and in more ways than one. How? Well, firstly, making the announcement is releasing something that you’ve been suppressing and avoiding. But more than this, you can be free of this addiction’s hold on you by admitting it exists. “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.” This highlights that deception allows things to operate unnoticed. Admitting the problem means you can deal.

Medications

If you’ve tried therapy or self-help to manage the effects of online shopping addiction and still feel the need to partake in this problem, it may be because you need to first attend to the underlying mental health conditions, which may feel quite severe and unmanageable. For some people, antidepressants and other medications can help them address factors contributing to the addiction, in conjunction with therapy. It is important to understand however that medications alone will not offer understanding and deeper change. They may, however, help you feel a bit more in control, and this may be what you need as a temporary measure at the outset. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor and explain your reasons.

Conclusion

So, if after reading this, you’ve concluded to yourself that: “I am addicted to online shopping” don’t be disheartened. Take relief. You’ve admitted the problem of online shopping addiction, and this is the first major hurdle. Without this essential step, there is no chance of recovery. But now, you can understand online shopping addiction symptoms, causes, and effects for yourself. You can see the effects of online shopping addiction more clearly. Write these down, and then imagine (and write down) what would replace them if you beat this addiction. For example, one effect is overspending. It could be replaced by savings that go toward a car, or a place of your own – something you need, essentially. So be heartened by this admission, set your intention, and act on it.