SHOPPING ADDICTION KICKED
Hey you guys!!
I haven't been on here for a while and I am happy to report I AM NO LONGER a shopping addict and I want to share how I kicked my habit.
1st of all, know that an addiction is self medication, so I was making myself feel better about the issues in my life by shopping. During and after shopping I felt NEW and happy by putting something new and shiny in my life. Shopping also took my mind off of my problems during the time I was doing it. I am sure many of you can relate.
SO, here is how I officially kicked the habit. I started going to therapy to work out the issues I was having. I know this sounds expensive, but I actually got it through a FREE help line that my employer gave with our benefits....check in online, there are a lot of free- low cost resources you can reach out to if you can't afford it. Once, I had validation for all the feelings I was having and support, I also stopped drinking DAILY. I only have cocktails when I go out with friends and maybe once a week on my own if I don't.
It was like magic, once I worked out my REAL problems, I WAS SET FREE. I confronted the necessary people in my life who were bringing me down and/or cut them off completely.
I decided I wanted to quit my job (toxic environment) and relocate to another state. I connected with someone else at work who wanted to quit, we marked a date months down the rode on our work calendars and encouraged one another whenever we complained. She was a HUGE shopper as well, so we limited ourselves to only 2 new items each per month, then only 1. We checked in with each other every week after the weekend had passed to see if we shopped. We SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER TO STOP. This was to the point we were in a competition to see who could spend the least over the weekend. lol. It's like I knew when Monday came I did not want to give her a bad report of how I did. SO GET A PARTNER if you can and kick the habit together!!! This went on for months, until neither of us was checking up on what the other had purchased....because NEITHER OF US HAD THE DESIRE TO SHOP ANYMORE. I have NOT bought 1 item in about 4 months.. I purchase necessities ONLY. The only want items I buy are trying a new food or hair product maybe. I am working on using those hair products up now too, and only buying when needed. :)
ALSO, I am taking St. John's Wort pills for the past 2 weeks for those time that I do get a little depressed. It doesn't cure depression, but definitely calms me down......it can be found over the counter for around $4 at Walmart. ( Do your necessary research before using)
I am so much happier in life! My 2 week work notice went in today and I am relocating at the end of this month!
TRUST AND BELIEVE I have been at some very LOW points. Id laid in bed not wanting to wakeup, and even considered suicide. Picking up the phone and reaching out to a positive encouraging therapist HELPED....and even that did not happen over night.
I HOPE AND PRAY ALL OF YOU are doing well and if its bad, it gets better. HANG IN THERE. You can do it!!!
I haven't been on here for a while and I am happy to report I AM NO LONGER a shopping addict and I want to share how I kicked my habit.
1st of all, know that an addiction is self medication, so I was making myself feel better about the issues in my life by shopping. During and after shopping I felt NEW and happy by putting something new and shiny in my life. Shopping also took my mind off of my problems during the time I was doing it. I am sure many of you can relate.
SO, here is how I officially kicked the habit. I started going to therapy to work out the issues I was having. I know this sounds expensive, but I actually got it through a FREE help line that my employer gave with our benefits....check in online, there are a lot of free- low cost resources you can reach out to if you can't afford it. Once, I had validation for all the feelings I was having and support, I also stopped drinking DAILY. I only have cocktails when I go out with friends and maybe once a week on my own if I don't.
It was like magic, once I worked out my REAL problems, I WAS SET FREE. I confronted the necessary people in my life who were bringing me down and/or cut them off completely.
I decided I wanted to quit my job (toxic environment) and relocate to another state. I connected with someone else at work who wanted to quit, we marked a date months down the rode on our work calendars and encouraged one another whenever we complained. She was a HUGE shopper as well, so we limited ourselves to only 2 new items each per month, then only 1. We checked in with each other every week after the weekend had passed to see if we shopped. We SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER TO STOP. This was to the point we were in a competition to see who could spend the least over the weekend. lol. It's like I knew when Monday came I did not want to give her a bad report of how I did. SO GET A PARTNER if you can and kick the habit together!!! This went on for months, until neither of us was checking up on what the other had purchased....because NEITHER OF US HAD THE DESIRE TO SHOP ANYMORE. I have NOT bought 1 item in about 4 months.. I purchase necessities ONLY. The only want items I buy are trying a new food or hair product maybe. I am working on using those hair products up now too, and only buying when needed. :)
ALSO, I am taking St. John's Wort pills for the past 2 weeks for those time that I do get a little depressed. It doesn't cure depression, but definitely calms me down......it can be found over the counter for around $4 at Walmart. ( Do your necessary research before using)
I am so much happier in life! My 2 week work notice went in today and I am relocating at the end of this month!
TRUST AND BELIEVE I have been at some very LOW points. Id laid in bed not wanting to wakeup, and even considered suicide. Picking up the phone and reaching out to a positive encouraging therapist HELPED....and even that did not happen over night.
I HOPE AND PRAY ALL OF YOU are doing well and if its bad, it gets better. HANG IN THERE. You can do it!!!
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