Compulsive buying disorder causes you to spend money, even if you don’t have it, regardless of whether you actually need the product you’re buying. Recovery programs can help you learn how to manage the addiction and adopt healthier spending behaviors.

Shopping addiction, also known as compulsive buying disorder, refers to the compulsion to spend money, regardless of need or financial means. While many people enjoy shopping as a treat or as a recreational activity, compulsive shopping can be challenging to manage and can cause severe financial consequences.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) does not officially recognize shopping addiction as a distinct disorder, which means there isn’t an official way to diagnose this. However, many experts believe that it should have a distinct psychiatric diagnosis due to the addictive behaviors it can cause.

Learn more about what a shopping addiction is, how you can recognize the signs, and tips to manage this behavior.

People with this disorder may be addicted to a certain product, such as clothes or jewelry, or may also buy anything from food and beauty products, to stocks or real estate.

It can cause the person to get a rush or high from making purchases. Once the brain associates shopping with this pleasure or high, the person with a shopping addiction will try to recreate it again and again.

Little is known about this addiction. Research is mixed, with some studies showing that women are more likely to have this addiction than men. Other research has shown that men and women have an equal risk of developing the disorder.

Someone with a shopping addiction may hide their problem well, and sometimes the only ones who know about their problem are those closest to them. People with a compulsive buying disorder may hide their purchases or seem like they have plenty of money to spend on shopping.

Some compulsive shoppers may convey an image of wealth and success, while in reality they are deeply in debt. If they are unable to stop shopping or have large amounts of shopping debt, they may have an addiction.

A person with a shopping addiction may:

  • obsess over making purchases on a daily or weekly basis
  • shop to manage stress
  • max out credit cards or open new ones without paying off previous balances
  • feel intense euphoria or excitement after making purchases
  • buy unnecessary things or purchase items that go unused
  • steal or lie in order to continue shopping
  • feel regret or remorse over purchases, but continue to shop
  • be unable to pay off debt or manage money
  • fail in attempts to stop compulsive shopping

Shopping addiction can be difficult to manage, as making purchases is a normal part of everyday life. Everyone has to purchase food regularly, and things like clothing, personal products, and cars from time to time. But simply ceasing to buy can’t treat a shopping addiction.

Depending on the severity of the shopping addiction, the compulsive buyer may need to be “cut off” from cash flow.

It may be helpful if someone else helps them manage or oversees their finances.

Most often, a shopping addiction can be treated with behavioral therapy and individual counseling.

Therapy can help to:

  • teach you how to develop impulse control
  • help you learn how to identify triggers
  • teach you how to develop new, healthy ways of thinking, feeling, and acting
  • identify if the addiction stems from deeper emotional issues or mental health conditions.

Also, creating a support network of friends and family and others with shopping addictions can overcome their issues and go on to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

Money management classes or 12-step recovery programs are also available. These groups offer a positive source of support during recovery. Many people with a shopping addiction use them for years after they begin recovery.

If someone with a shopping addiction is having difficulty with debt and getting out of it, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers some tips to relieve debt and repair credit.

If a shopping addiction is left untreated, compulsive shoppers may find themselves going deeper and deeper into debt. Sometimes, they will only ask for help when they “hit bottom” and serious events occur.

To overcome the addiction, people with a buying disorder may need a family member or close friend to help them manage their money in the early stages of recovery.

Like other addictions, a person with compulsive buying disorder may relapse. But with the right support, they can learn coping strategies and get back on the road to recovery. Despite challenges, a person with a shopping addiction can learn to manage the addiction and adopt healthier spending behaviors.