Shopping Addiction

September 30th, 2024

By P. Casey Arrillaga, LCSW, LCDC

Shopping addiction is increasingly becoming recognized as a
process addiction. If you’re not familiar with that term, check out our
previous blog post, “Process Addictions” that was published on May 27, 2024. Shopping
addiction is just what it sounds like: shopping and spending in ways that are
recognizably addictive. This post will look at how this addictive pattern can
be recognized, how it may be compared to other addictions, controversy about
it, and how this knowledge can be used to help people.

What We Know So Far

Shopping addiction involves an ongoing unhealthy pattern of
behavior when it comes to buying and spending. For some people, this may also
include out-of-control use of credit to make purchases. Like other addictions, this
may involve behaviors that many people experiment with for a period of time.
Many people stop when they see it is not working for them or when they
experience negative consequences, but for some, it’s not so easy. It becomes an
addiction when the person continues the behaviors even after significant
negative consequences have been experienced. Often, the person who is suffering
tells themselves and/or others they will moderate or stop their spending
behaviors. They may be dismayed to find that these commitments go out the
window without warning, and they are right back to their old behaviors. Some
may be able to moderate for a while only to return to previous spending levels
or worse. They may try to justify and rationalize their spending, while knowing
deep inside that they are in trouble. Many find that when they try to stop or
slow their spending, they feel depressed, desperate, anxious, or restless until
they spend again. People in the grip of this condition often find themselves
questioning what is wrong with them that they can’t stop. This can lead to
worsening self-image, shame, and even despair. Many consider suicide as the
only way out of the financial crises their spending creates.

People who are familiar with other addictions will recognize
key features here that are common to all addictions: a negative behavior that
someone continues long after logic tells them they should stop, tolerance that
leads to increasing the behavior in an attempt to get the desired effects,
withdrawal that creates enough discomfort that the person returns to the old
pattern, justifying and rationalizing the negative behavior, seeming unable to
stick to commitments to self and others to stop, and negative emotional
consequences that can become life-threatening.

Despite all this, there are still many professionals and
laypeople who are resistant to thinking of this behavior as an addiction on par
with chemical addictions or even other process addictions such as gambling
disorder. They usually argue that our society wants to see every behavior as a
disorder, and that we are especially quick to prescribe medications for “newly
recognized” problems.

Nonetheless, there are many researchers and clinicians who
are starting to see “addiction” as a blanket term that describes an underlying
problem that can manifest itself in many ways, often within the same person. From
this perspective, someone who suffers from addiction may find they have
problems with alcohol, THC, shopping, and romantic relationships. These may
show up all at once, one at a time, or some may get worse whenever another gets
better. Rather than say they have four separate addictions, it may be more
helpful to recognize that they have one underlying condition that is showing up
in several ways. This conception leads to less pathologizing while also
avoiding the trap of turning a blind eye to serious problems by only
acknowledging the most obvious issue.

How Can We Use This Knowledge to Help People?

At Windmill, we come from the perspective that all
addictions share a common root and often have underlying conditions that cause
or exacerbate them, such as unresolved trauma, anxiety, depression, bipolar
disorder, etc. Given this, we see no fundamental difference between chemical
and process addiction, and we know that addressing one while ignoring another
only sets a person up for failure, something we refuse to do. This is why we
not only give each client a thorough assessment at intake, but continue to look
out for addictive behaviors that may emerge as treatment progresses. Our staff
meets regularly to compare observations so we can catch problems as they arise.
For instance, staff at our on-campus general store may see that a client seems
to be shopping compulsively and relay that to the primary therapist and
recovery coach to explore with the client.

When a client starts to see they have a problem with
spending, it may have never occurred to them that this is a known condition,
let alone that there is help available. We educate our clients first and
foremost, and then help them address the behavior. In the case of shopping
addiction, we help them use the tools of 12 Step, SMART Recovery, and Recovery
Dharma in whatever combination works for them. Recovery Dharma and SMART both
welcome people with any addiction, and 12 Step recovery offers specialized meetings
through Debtors Anonymous. We help clients find meetings and literature that
work for them, sponsors/mentors who have recovered from similar issues, and
offer therapy to address the underlying issues that lead to or exacerbate the
addiction. We have staff members who are familiar with the tools of all these
programs and may even be in recovery from similar issues. We consult with each
other to make sure each client is getting what they need.

The Bottom Line

Shopping addiction shows up with similar features to any
other addiction. This offers great hope, because once the addiction is
recognized, many of the same tools that work for other addictions will apply
here. At Windmill, we are familiar with shopping addiction and can offer
specialized help to help clients get and keep it under control.

About The Author

P. Casey Arrillaga is the Team Leader for Education at
Windmill Wellness Ranch, and he is the author of books including “Realistic
Hope: The Family Survival Guide for Facing Alcoholism and Other Addictions”.