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Compulsive Shopping

June 18, 2025

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What is Compulsive Shopping?

Compulsive Shopping, also known as Oniomania, is a behavioral addiction where individuals have an uncontrollable urge to shop, often buying items they don’t need or can’t afford. The shopping behavior is driven by emotional impulses rather than actual necessity and is often followed by guilt, financial stress, or relationship issues.

What Are the Symptoms of Compulsive Shopping?

This addiction goes beyond occasional overspending and includes emotional and psychological disturbances.

Common signs include:

Recurrent, irresistible urges to shop
Spending more than intended, often impulsively
Shopping to cope with negative emotions like stress or sadness
Feeling a “high” during shopping followed by guilt or regret
Hiding purchases or lying about spending

Common emotional and social symptoms include:

These behaviors can disrupt daily life and lead to serious personal and financial problems.

How Does Compulsive Shopping Show Up in Different Ways?

The pattern of compulsive shopping varies by emotional triggers, spending habits, and purchasing preferences:

Emotional spending: Shopping used to escape or soothe feelings.

Online shopping addiction: Repetitive and excessive use of e-commerce platforms.

Binge shopping: Making large purchases in short time spans.

Luxury or brand fixation: Preference for expensive or branded items to feel validation.

Debt-driven guilt cycle: Buying → guilt → emotional distress → more shopping.

Compulsive shopping may co-occur with anxiety, depression, or impulse-control disorders and benefits from cognitive and behavioral therapy.

Here’s where you can find the best Behavioral Addiction Specialist in Juhu & Borivali, Mumbai: