Retail Therapy

Web MD Magazine reviewed by

Patricia A. Farrell, PhD

Retail Therapy

Is your shopping a problem??

How to bag the pricey habit

Lynn Braz had just a shopping hobby, until a few family tragedies pushed her over the edge. When her sister died, her shopping hobby spiraled out of control, she used shopping to feel better. She thought she could eventually buy the perfect thing that would fix her. Although she felt up lifted while shopping her feeling of anxiety and depression were still a reality. Her shopping only temporarily helped her feel better about her life situations. Lynns sadness lead to lower self worth and everything in her life began to look worse, even her possessions, this led her into more shopping sprees. Lynn thought that shopping would fix her, but it did not, she received even more stress and anxiety due to her debts. Braz learned to place an “interrupter” between the impulse of opening her wallet, such as making a phone call or even taking a few deep breaths. She now feels anxious when she actually buys something. If her anxiety fades when she gets home, she knows that she bought what she really needed.

Shopping is just like any other addiction, the anticipation of reward releases dopamine in the brain, which is vital in shaping and motivating behavior. Dopamine systems are involved in the experience of a reward or pleasure, and when you buy something the reward process ends. Once you have bought it nothing new is going to happen, that’s how shopping can become an addiction, we crave the dopamine. Dopamine is also released with drugs such as cocaine,etc., certain dopamines are responsible for some severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia.