What is behind the desire to buy compulsively?In this article we will talk about consumption as a bad strategy to deal with anxiety, in addition we will cite others that will help us not to fall into this temptation.
For some people, controlling compulsive purchases takes a lot of effort. Those who tend to buy often have trouble controlling the impulses of items they don’t need. Do they do it because consuming lowers their anxiety levels? Generated by other concerns. Thus, compulsive buying becomes a form of relief with unpleasant consequences.
- After the relief that the purchases produce.
- The individual suffers an intense discomfort.
- Maintained in large part by the feeling of guilt; in fact.
- After the initial euphoria.
- The anxiety reappears.
- Article some strategies to control compulsive shopping.
Compulsive purchases are often associated with impulse control disorders, commonly called oniomania and are associated with mood disorders, eating disorders and personality disorders. The main characteristics of compulsory purchases would be:
Possession of these objects generates immediate satisfaction, however, the person may feel ashamed or guilty of not being able to control a impulse that led him to acquire a property that he did not need and that compromises his budget or self-image (dissonance of the concept of himself).
This feeling of doing something wrong leads compulsive buyers to hide their behavior, trying to hide their actions and economic consequences for the family, while these feelings of shame can become triggers for new purchases, as the person associates the immediate. satisfaction of the purchase with the relief of unpleasant sensations.
Discomfort is the predominant condition in people with oniomania in the moments leading up to the purchase. An upset that promises to find relief from consumption. This results in the purchase of “magic potion” in the face of discomfort.
This magical potion has consequences: on the one hand buying produces a lasting sense of guilt, a new discomfort appears that will activate the impulse of a new purchase, it is a vicious circle that is in any addiction and becomes even more perverse with greater tolerance (it is increasingly necessary to consume more to have the same sense of relief). On the other hand, economic difficulties can become apparent, even when applying for loans or selling personal effects to get enough money to make the purchase.
Above all, it is necessary to initiate psychotherapy to control compulsive purchases and be aware of the periods in which the risk of purchase can increase, is the case of situations in which the individual spends more time at home with internet access and virtual commercial portals. Online purchases are often more difficult due to the increased availability of the item offering.
Similarly, the family needs to know the main symptoms of this disorder to participate in the process, otherwise there may be a risk that the family itself will generate unpleasant emotions and sensations when researching and blaming the individual for financial problems, this can become another element that triggers a new purchase to eliminate discomfort.
Here are some tips for controlling compulsive purchases
Paying in cash allows us to better understand what we spend. Does it hurt more?paying with bills than by card. An intermediate solution may be to use debit cards. With them, you can only spend what you plan and you’ll have the advantage of not carrying physical money.
In other words, stipulate a maximum amount that you can spend on optional items. Avoid bolstering the gains you have made in this direction by increasing this value. It is very positive that we fear when we achieve what was intended; however, it is not advisable to do so with something that reinforces consumption. In this sense, we can share our problem with someone and benefit from the recognition that person gives us when we communicate our progress.
This will lead us to think more about moving, if we want to buy we will have to invest more time and the process will be more uncomfortable, in many cases having to deal with queues and settlements will already be a high deterrent.
Controlling spending on weekends (or weekends) encourages the collection of money spent on items that are not needed, so it is also possible to observe the type of frequent items that are usually purchased after feeling some discomfort.
It refers to going out alone with the money that allows us to make the expected basic purchases, in this way we will not be able to acquire anything else, besides, it does not always help the previous reflection on the fundamentals. He thinks that, in this state of discomfort that motivates the purchase, everything seems essential.
Controlling compulsive purchases, as mentioned above, is not an easy task, however, if the problem is not solved, it can control the life of the individual, affecting their quality of life and that of their family. Psychological therapy is a help that works when you want to get out of this vicious cycle.