A shopaholic refers to buying all kinds of items necessary for daily life, such as clothing, small decorations, etc., without any thought. This phenomenon is more common in women, but it also occurs in men, especially in major shopping malls. Go shopping like crazy during the discount craze.

In recent years, shopaholics have gradually been considered a psychological disease, and some psychologists have tried to use drugs to control shopping habits.

The so-called "shopaholics" are those who have a pathological possessive desire for goods. When they are faced with a dazzling array of goods, even if they are useless to them or they are purchased repeatedly, they will not hesitate to buy them. He dug into his pocket thoughtfully. They go to the supermarket every two days, and even if they don't buy a few things a day, they feel overwhelmed.

Many psychiatrists believe that it is necessary to remind the public to be wary of this psychological deviation. Most of the items that women with this symptom are keen to buy are related to their appearance, such as clothing, shoes, socks, and cosmetics. , gold and silver jewelry, etc. They value the shopping process far more than the shopping results. The underlying reasons are mostly lack of self-esteem and self-confidence and inner emptiness, which they have to use shopping to fill.

The main reasons for inducing "shopaholics"

1. Shopaholic patients are mainly people who are mentally lonely, physically and mentally damaged, or have low self-esteem, trying to fill their souls with crazy purchases. emptiness. The modern credit card payment method has further contributed to the development of the disease, because patients can no longer find out in time that their wallets have been empty.

2. Crazy shopping is related to their emotional fragility, fantasy, and romance, not to mention that some products have symbolic significance for showing women's charm. Therefore, they often go on a shopping spree for products needed for social activities, such as clothing, cosmetics, accessories, etc.

3. Advertisements and pictures and sounds played in shopping halls cause strong sensory impact, and women often cannot withstand these temptations.

4. Wrong concept orientation, such as "shopping is enjoyment" and "shopping is good for health". Shopping is even promoted as a way to treat mental illness, depression and other diseases, which subconsciously aggravates practical attempts. .

5. Lack of healthy channels for releasing stress. Since women rarely participate in sports activities, smoke or drink, they have narrow channels for psychological compensation and venting. Shopping is often the best way for them to balance their emotions, relieve stress and vent their emotions.

The psychiatrist analyzed that the shopping habit of the shopaholic is actually related to her original superior family environment. When she first started working, she was not able to arrange her own finances well. Her performance is more representative of the shopping psychology of most consumers: they love both brand-name and discounted products, but they may not necessarily buy the ones that suit them, and they often regret it afterwards.

The psychological factors that promote the expansion of shopping desire include: excessive pressure and the accelerated pace of work in the modern workplace. Many people feel tremendous pressure, including assessment, competition, elimination, promotion...everything at work. Any change can easily cause greater psychological pressure on people, and shopping has become one of the ways for women to release stress. Many people shop when they are in a bad mood to release stress in time; they also shop when they are in a good mood because they feel a sense of happiness after buying something they like. This is also a way to release and transfer stress through shopping, which plays a positive role in emotional adjustment.

In addition, an empty life can easily lead to an inflated desire for shopping. Although some people have enough food and clothing, they lack communication, lack various other hobbies in life, and do not have many social activities. Shopping often becomes a pursuit for them. When the shopping process is over, the pursuit usually stops, and piles of merchandise are rarely of real use.

Then there is vanity and herd mentality. Active elements such as fashion and popularity determine that many products are updated faster and faster. Consumers are influenced by various concepts of "luxury consumption" and "brand-name consumption", coupled with the herd mentality that everyone has. , it’s easier to stop shopping.

Psychologists believe that although many shoppers feel that "shopping can indeed bring happiness", whether it is to relieve stress, kill time or relieve loneliness, shopping is not the fundamental way to build trustworthy interpersonal relationships. Relationships, exercise appropriately, expand horizons, turn unnecessary consumption into public welfare investment, such as participating in charitable donations, public welfare activities, etc., the psychological satisfaction obtained will be more positive and long-lasting.

Overcome Shopaholics: Change Your Lifestyle

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After encountering trauma, shopping, overeating, and alcoholism are destructive Behavior, while paralyzing people's minds, can also damage people's health and normal lifestyle, and finally aggravate people's stress, forming a vicious cycle of psychological imbalance.

So, what should you do when you encounter a trauma that is difficult to overcome at once? There is a rule in psychology: first change a person's behavior, and then his cognition will adjust accordingly. For example, exercise can be used instead of shopping. When a person adjusts her time schedule in order to achieve a certain goal, she is changing her lifestyle to a healthy and rhythmic life schedule. A healthy lifestyle can help her cope with the crisis at hand and form a virtuous cycle. Of course, no matter what, you still cannot blindly escape the contradictions you need to face, otherwise the pain will only become deeper and deeper. If the conditions are ripe and you will not suffer a psychological breakdown, you can try to face the problem head-on. If you encounter severe adaptability difficulties, you can also seek help from friends or professionals.

Many psychiatrists believe that it is necessary to remind the public to be wary of this psychological deviation. Most of the items that women with this symptom are keen to buy are related to their appearance, such as clothing, shoes, socks, and cosmetics. , gold and silver jewelry, etc. They value the shopping process far more than the shopping results. The underlying reasons are mostly lack of self-esteem and self-confidence and inner emptiness, which they have to fill with shopping.

How to control your shopping desire and consume more rationally? Psychiatrists believe that it is more effective to change shopping patterns and gradually control one's shopping desires from a behavioral perspective.

People who are addicted to shopping often regret it afterwards, so they develop the habit of "planning" before shopping. They can list the items they need when there are no discounts or leisure time when the seasons change, and develop the habit of accounting. , you can keep recording the amount spent on big-ticket items or large purchases to reduce blind spending. Arrange shopping time on your schedule and limit a rough time to avoid excessive shopping caused by long selection time and wide range.

Many people who love shopping have the habit of using credit cards. Indulging in overdraft cards is not conducive to developing a reasonable consumption concept. It is recommended that people addicted to shopping use cash to pay so that they can be more aware of their own needs. The consumption limit helps you control your purchasing behavior.

What needs to be reminded is that some people not only consume too much, but also become overly emotional when consuming, and the number of unreasonable consumption continues to increase. This may be due to insurmountable difficulties encountered in reality. Through shopping, Avoid problems. If such a "shopaholic" is also extremely talkative and cheerful, he is likely to be depressed or manic and needs professional psychological examination.

Experts remind: If a person goes shopping without restraint and exceeds a certain limit, it will turn from creating happiness to creating pain. To correct the overly strong desire to shop, it is necessary to strengthen the cultivation of psychological quality and strive to maintain a normal mentality, so that this psychological disease can be reduced or eliminated.

Consultation on five types of shopaholics

A. Indecisive type - "I am always dissatisfied with the things I buy.

Patient's statement:

“I don’t like shopping alone. I only go with a friend or my sister. I always spend half an hour in front of a container thinking about it: Should I choose maroon or burgundy for this silk shirt? Should I buy flat-heeled boots or high-heeled boots? I just kept thinking about it over and over again until the sales girl and my friends around me couldn't bear it any more and lost their patience. Then I had no choice but to make a decision with great hesitation and worry. And even before I even stepped foot into the house, I already regretted my choice. So, I usually rush back to the store and put on another one... However, the result still dissatisfies me: maybe the first choice was better? It would be nice if I could try each sample for 48 hours before deciding to pay. ” (Clemence, 38 years old)

Psychologist analysis:

“Clemence’s almost ever-present dissatisfaction comes from the inner ‘perfection complex syndrome’: she always wants to Find that one piece of clothing just for her. She dreams of a dress that fulfills all her ideals, just like she dreams of a flawless Prince Charming. This shows how childish her disappointment was. She was blind to her physical imperfections, an adolescent fantasy.

”

Expert advice:

Don’t go to big department stores and specialty stores, the brands there are too tempting. What you have to do is to start buying only some neutral colors. Classic style, re-construct your own shopping concept, during which you will learn to recognize your choices.

B. Shopping addictive type - "I want to buy things all the time, and I want to buy expensive ones." ”

Patient’s statement:

“I can earn and spend. I spend almost half of my monthly salary on clothes. Sometimes I feel it’s too much!” Almost every two weeks I spend a full day shopping. I like to be like a true fashion connoisseur, knowing how to ‘mix’ new and old styles to create the coolest look, or how to spot the latest trends in Zara stores with a keen eye. I will find what I want on ELLE as soon as possible, and then rush directly to these stores, unable to wait for seasonal discounts. My closet goes through a big purge every year, and I completely empty out the old clothes and send them to thrift stores. ” (Li Shan, 29 years old)

Psychologist’s analysis:

“Li Shan has to clean out her wardrobe every season. This excessive appetite for fashion has Sheng' is not far removed from an addict's dependence on drugs. For her, possession of material things is an urgent need to fill a sense of emptiness and ‘lack of meaning in existence’: only consumption can make her feel alive. Therefore, the more famous the brand, the more likely it will be favored by her, because what she wants is to regain her narcissistic feeling and make her image more valuable. ”

Expert suggestions:

1. Only do business that does not lose money. Set up a special account for all the clothes that are going to be sent to second-hand stores, and spend the money on each new purchase of clothes. You can only withdraw from this account and never overspend.

2. "Diet" regularly for one week per month or one month per quarter. Remember to make your "diet" plan and time public. Only under the supervision of friends will you persevere.

C. Blind copying type - "I always imitate others unconsciously. ”

Patient’s statement:

“Besides jeans, I don’t know what kind of clothes I like! I always imitate other people's clothes, and I will dress them the way they want. For example, I once saw a fashionable girl wearing a very handsome lambskin jacket, so I bought an identical one. I would not ask myself whether I really liked that jacket, or whether it was that girl who wore the jacket so handsomely... ...The result? I realized when I got home that this was a complete mistake! Now that I think about it, this is totally normal: I am short and plump, while the girl is tall and lanky... So, except for jeans, my wardrobe is almost filled with the proceeds of failed shopping. . ” (Caroline, 28 years old)

Psychologist’s analysis:

“The establishment of personal style comes from a clear understanding of oneself; however, Caroline regards this as self- The gratification of desires and vanity. Women always care more about other people's opinions, or think other people's things are better, so when we know that Caroline has liked to secretly imitate her mother since she was a child, it is not surprising that she uses someone completely different from herself as a role model. . Of course the exception is jeans: they are truly unisex. ”

Expert advice:

Choose a fashion icon who is somewhat similar to yourself (that is, if you have a figure like Monica Bellucci, don’t stare at her all the time) What to wear with Kate Moss), and believe it to the end. At the same time, you should pay attention to the opinions of your boyfriend or husband: If he screams in horror when he sees a 16-year-old girl with a model figure wearing overalls and shorts, don't do it. Don’t risk it anymore.

D. Obsessed with high-heeled shoes – “I buy a lot of high-heeled shoes but never wear them. "

Patient's statement:

"I have a special hobby for shoes, especially collecting all kinds of high heels! This is my treasure: it is my greatest joy to own and appreciate their beauty. I bring home a new pair of shoes every month, even though I never wear high heels myself. Perhaps this hobby can be traced back to childhood. I remember that when I was only five or six years old, I liked to wear my mother's shoes and look in the mirror.

” (Lucie, 30 years old)

Psychologist’s analysis:

“Our feet are actually a special erotic part, and shoes are like jewelry boxes that double the temptation. , as long as they are cleverly thought out, they can become excellent props for creating feminine charm. For Lucie, all kinds of shoes satisfy many of her dreams: imagining herself as elegant as a movie heroine, imagining herself as if she were a child again, and all she can think about is growing up as soon as possible and becoming a beautiful woman like her mother... ...Such a beautiful imagination satisfied her heart. ”

Expert advice:

Immerse yourself in your imagination but don’t forget the real world: spend one day a week to experience real life! Remember to wear more than 10 centimeters Put on your high heels, your favorite handbag, and bravely walk into the subway and the office!

E. The desperate type - "I have nothing to wear anymore!" ”

Patient’s statement:

“I am no longer surprised by this scene: opening the wardrobe, and then falling into deep fear, because there is nothing to wear. clothing! This is a feeling of anger and despair that usually occurs during the change of seasons, especially the lukewarm spring and autumn. It seems that all the clothes are out of date, nothing looks good on me, and the more I look at them, the more ugly I feel. So I couldn't help but feel frustrated that I had nothing to wear anymore... In the end, I usually spent the whole summer in white clothes and white pants, or a black jacket and jeans in the winter. And every day is just so-so, and I even lose interest in shopping: because based on my experience, there are no clothes suitable for me to wear anymore! ” (Isabelle, 27 years old)

Psychologist’s analysis:

“This is a common disease that comes from a deep boredom with oneself: the patient desires to break through the original body. , get a new spirit and life attempt. Such emotions are more common in spring and autumn, precisely because that is the time when people are most sentimental. ”

Expert advice:

Usually, people who complain that they have nothing to wear often have too many choices. In fact, the way to regain your confidence is very simple, as long as you can Persistence: Never allow yourself to wear the same white or black again, and force yourself to find inspiration in your wardrobe... If you feel that the floral shirt you bought in 2000 is in line with this year's fashion elements, Then you will succeed!

I hope it can help you!