We love making money, but perhaps we love spending money even more. With the abundance of stores at our disposal and the convenience of internet shopping, it is easier than ever to satisfy our ,shopping needs., No money? Then you borrow it, right? For some, the so-called shopaholics, it is a true addiction. With all its consequences.
Shopping like a disease
Life has many pleasures. Shopping is one of them. With some exceptions, most women find it an enjoyable day out as they browse shop after shop to spruce up their wardrobe with new clothes, find new additions to their jewelry box, or one of the many other luxury products the retail industry has to offer. has. It’s par for the course in today’s consumer society, and most of us manage to tailor our purchases to the contents of our wallets. But there are also those who are deeply in debt as a result of their purchasing disorder. How can shopping be a disease?
Anything that is a source of pleasure or pleasure has the potential to become addictive. Alcohol, drugs, sex , food… and shopping. When we experience satisfaction from something, the so-called pleasure center in our brain is activated. This causes the production of the substance dopamine , which, depending on the extent to which it is produced, can generate a pleasant to euphoric feeling. Everyone needs their daily dose of dopamine to keep feeling good. Normally, the pleasant moments of everyday life, a piece of chocolate with coffee or a beer with friends are sufficient. However, sometimes it can go awry, with people taking a stimulant excessively and losing control over this behavior. The stimulant becomes a necessity for a feeling of well-being. In its absence, withdrawal symptoms occur. This in turn causes an urge to take the stimulant. This is how the vicious circle of addiction arises. In this respect the shopaholic is no different from the alcoholic or glutton.
How did it get to this point ?
In general, an addict does not have to expect understanding from those around him. Especially when it comes to an unusual addiction such as shopping, one may wonder why such a person doesn’t just control himself? It becomes even more incomprehensible when you consider that the items that shopaholics purchase usually disappear into the closet and are never used, while the bank account is heavily in the red. We all enjoy an alcoholic drink or a day of shopping from time to time. Why does it turn into an addiction for some people?
Research has shown that people with addiction have certain personality traits that distinguish them from the average person. These people are therefore more likely to develop depression . People with a predisposition to depression in turn appear to have a low level of dopamine in the brain. A plausible theory that connects these scientific findings is the following. People with lower levels of dopamine in the brain are at risk of not experiencing enough pleasure from everyday life to ensure their sense of well-being. A chronic lack of pleasure can lead to a state of unhappiness, which can develop into depression. To raise dopamine levels to sufficient levels, these people seek out pleasurable activities to a greater extent. The source of pleasure depends largely on the living conditions of the person in question. Considering that most stores are aimed at women and shopping is generally accepted as a harmless habit, it is not surprising that women in particular fall prey to shopping addiction. The thrill they experience from buying things becomes an absolute necessity to feel good; it is a kind of self-medication against their dark moods. According to one estimate, around 6% of the American population exhibits this compulsive purchasing behavior. A study within the United Kingdom found an even higher percentage; 11%.
Compared to other addictions, shopping is one that is particularly encouraged. We are inundated every day by advertisements on our doorsteps, on TV and on billboards. Shopping has an appealing image; walking around with an abundance of shopping bags, the walk-in wardrobe and the collection of dozens of pairs of shoes will be music to the ears of many women. Moreover, nowadays, thanks to internet stores, it is a matter of simply pressing a button from the comfort of your couch. And then there’s the credit card system, which gives us the opportunity to spend money we don’t actually have. Research has shown that excessive purchasing behavior mainly occurs among socio-economic groups that cannot actually afford it, resulting in large debts. Although this form of addiction does not pose a threat to health or public order, it can still be quite problematic.