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Are You an Overshopper?
Shopping
can be an important source of self-definition, self-expression,
creativity, even healing. Done to excess, however, it can spin
out of control and lead to serious problems, eroding rather than
enhancing your quality of life. The more you use shopping as an
attempt to fill an inner void, manage your feelings, repair your
mood, or pursue a "perfect" image, the more likely it
is that you need to take a closer look at what this behavior is
costing you.
Frequency/ Intensity of Shopping
Do
you often go on buying binges?
Do
you find yourself spending more time and/or money buying on the
Internet, in catalogues, or on the shopping channels than you
want to?
Does
money burn a hole in your pocket?
Reasons Why and When
Do
you go shopping because you want to make yourself feel better?
Do
you often buy things because you think they will make you more
like your ideal image?
Do
you sometimes feel that something inside of you pushes you to
shop?
Do
you shop to avoid doing something else in your life?
Feelings Before, During and After
Do
you go on buying binges when you're lonely, anxious, disappointed,
depressed, or angry?
Do
you feel "high" when you go on a buying binge?
Do
you feel anxious, guilty, or ashamed after you go on a buying
binge?
Impulsive/Compulsive/Addictive Aspects
Do
you buy things even though you don't need or can't afford them?
Do
you ever feel on edge, agitated, or irritable when you haven't
been able to buy something?
Have
you tried to stop overshopping but been unable to?
Financial Consequences
Do you find yourself making
more and more use of credit [acquiring more cards, increasing
your credit limit, etc.?
Have any of your purchases
ever resulted in problems with your bank or legal problems?
Do you worry about your
spending habits but still go out and shop and spend money?
Other Consequences
Are your relationships with
family and friends suffering because of your buying?
Has the craving to buy something
ever caused you to miss a social engagement?
Has your job performance
been suffering because of your buying?
Denial, Avoidance and Shame
Do
you hide your purchases and shopping trips from family or friends?
Are
you not opening your mail or answering your phone because you
don't want to face the consequences of your buying?
Do
you not know, or not want to admit, how much you shop?
Each of these
questions has been answered "yes" by compulsive buyers.
Only you can decide whether your buying is a problem and, if so,
whether it is enough of a problem to require help.
If
you want to know about the various forms of help available for
this problem, click here.
If
you are interested in participating in an on-line research study
that examines why people shop and what they hope to get from it,
click
here.
For
a schedule of Dr. Benson's speaking engagements, click
here.
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