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Are you a compulsive shopper? At this time of the year, when the gift buying starts to get out of control, you may begin to wonder. I personally am afraid to add up how much I've spent on Christmas presents. But when the holiday season is over, most of us will go back to a much more normal level ...
thank you for this article, I have been reading a lot about this disorder because I am starting to feel guilty and depressed after I buy things I dont need. I used to waitress for 2 year and a half and I think it is the main reason why I feel the need to buy something almost everyday. While waitressing I made good money daily, so if i bought something it was ok because the next day I would make that money back...or that is what i thought. Now Its getting out of control because I feel the need to buy something, even if its just a magazine.
I am considering to go to a DB group because although I am not in huge debt, I am scared it might progress....because it has.
Do you have any more tips or exercises to stop overspending??
thank you. N.A
My depression started when I was pregnant with my first daughter in 2007. When I was feeling down, I would shop. By the time she was born, I was a thousand dollars in debt, because I felt I needed to buy her everything. After she was born, the behavier stopped. Depression was always been a part of my life, but I would never seek help. I was the strong one in the family, if I was depressed, that showed weakness. AND I WASN`T WEAK I kept telling myself. My husband had no idea what I was spending. I would go the the grocery store to buy food and would come home with toys and clothes for my girls. I never bought anything for myself, I always bought for others. I think it was because I came from a poor family, so I thought if I bought my girls everything, that maybe they wouldn`t resent me as much as I resend my parents.
My husband and I started to fight every night about my shopping. He kept telling me I had a problem, but I refused to listen. My second daughter was bvery collic and at 8 months old was still up all night. I was lonely and pushing everyone away. First my friends, the my family and then I started to push my husband away. I kept telling myself I didn`t have a problem.
It started to get really bad, when I started to switch price tags on clothes for my daughter. If it said $12, I would switch it with a tag that said $8. I was still paying for the item, I convinced myself it wasn`t stealing. If I didn`t spend as much, the fighting would stop and I would start being happy again.
On one stupid day, I stole from a friend. A friend whos husband was a cop. Stupid I know. I was so ashamed of myself, I gave the money back. I was so disgusted with myself. I had to face my husband and tell me what I did. I knew I needed help. The next morning I went to doctor and was told I was depressed and I needed help. I am now on medication for depression and to help with my impulses. I was so scared. I thank god that my friend didn`t press charges. My children are my life.
I will be meeting with a counsillor right away. I was so embrassed with my disease, that I kept everything inside. I now know I need to express myself in order to get better.
Thanks for the article.