Shopping Addiction Support Group
Oniomania (also known as shopping addiction), is the compulsive desire to shop. Similar to other compulsive behaviors, sufferers often experience the highs and lows associated with addiction. The purchase generates a mood of satisfaction, gives their life meaning, and lets them forget about their sorrows.
So I am new here, I too am a shopping addict.
I am 47 and have a family. I have secret debts. Relatively small so far but as soon as I get a handle on things think - I will just buy everything I could need for a while THEN I will stop - but of course it never does.
I shop to fill a void, but I m not sure I know why. I mainly buy clothes to make me feel better about how I look, but we all know its not that. Theres more.
There are so many posts on here asking for help. so what do we do?! Whats the answer?
Where do we start to stop?!
Does anyone have any steps to take to get control of this monster who engulfs me?!
I am 47 and have a family. I have secret debts. Relatively small so far but as soon as I get a handle on things think - I will just buy everything I could need for a while THEN I will stop - but of course it never does.
I shop to fill a void, but I m not sure I know why. I mainly buy clothes to make me feel better about how I look, but we all know its not that. Theres more.
There are so many posts on here asking for help. so what do we do?! Whats the answer?
Where do we start to stop?!
Does anyone have any steps to take to get control of this monster who engulfs me?!
The next thing I did, and the hardest, was to tell my husband about the issue, and that it is a legitimate disorder, and told him about the material I have found online about compulsive buying. Then...I told him how much debt I have racked up. That was SO hard. But he was extremely supportive, and now I feel like I can work hard to fix this problem.
I gave him my credit card, removed the card as payment methods from Amazon and Etsy, and am going to be journaling a LOT about this. If I don't feel confident about my progress in the next few weeks, I am going to go to counseling.
I know exactly what you are saying about shopping to fill a void. I am not sure what void I am trying to fill is, either. I think I don't like telling myself no. I don't like being told no by others,so I rebel or get defiant, and I don't think I like to hear no even from myself! I think there are several factors, but I am not sure what they are yet. Still working to figure it out.