Some People Can't Say 'No' To Shopping
Sufferers Can Find Help For Compulsive Disorder
UPDATED: 10:49 am CDT August 7,
2003
Shopping until you drop is no longer a laughing matter for people who really can't stop shopping. Many find they have debts mounting in the tens of thousands of dollars.
"Before I knew it, I was more than $20,000 in debt," said one woman who did not want to be identified.According to a recent Stanford University study, 15 million Americans are compulsive shoppers, which means they're buying things even when they don't want or need them.Sandy, a Detroit resident, found herself on the verge of losing everything. Her possessions and her relationship were in jeopardy because of her need to buy anything and everything."Shopping was my best friend. I couldn't stop shopping. It had complete control of me," she said.Some psychotherapists believe the compulsion to shop is caused by depression. The shopper experiences similar emotions simliar to those of drug users, including feeling euphoric when they buy or spend, experts say.For some shoppers, the brain releases a chemical called seratonin, which is closely involved in controlling our moods. Low levels of the chemical have been linked to depression. Seratonin is also found in chocolate and other carbohydrates, which may explain why some people eat to feel better. Apparently, a similar logic applies to some shoppers -- they shop to feel better.Compulsive shoppers can be treated with medication, said Dr. Hinten Patel, a Detroit psychiatrist."Drugs like antidepressants Zoloft and Paxil have been shown to reduce the shopper's need to spend money," Patel said.Although medication is one way to treat compulsive shopping disorder, Sandy found help through Debtors Anonymous, a program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous designed to help people with chronic spending habits."Debtors Anonymous is teaching me how to take control and get my life back," Sandy said.
Are You Addicted?
Previous Stories:
- July 17, 2003: Study: Pill May Cure Compulsive Shopping
- December 3, 2002: When Does Shopping Become Addiction?
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Texas license plates have a new look and another character, KPRC Local 2 reports.
A Houston Fire Department captain asked for the public's help finding the man suspected of killing his daughter, KPRC Local 2 reports.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shuts the door to a resolution honoring Michael Jackson because debate on the symbolic measure could raise "contrary views" about the pop
star's life.
U.S. marshals and police arrest more than 1,400 fugitives and cleared 1,654 warrants during a monthlong cooperative between federal, state, and local law enforcement in
South Texas.
July 8, 2009: A bar that's had its liquor license pulled and where police have looked for sex trafficking victims is raided, KPRC Local 2 Investigates reports.
July 8, 2009: Detectives believe a group of thieves has been breaking into homes and stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. Elizabeth Scarborough reports.
July 8, 2009: Several law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County have seen a rash of purse snatchings. Three people have been arrested. Ryan Korsgard reports.
Here are your Anthony's Weather Quiz answers!
KPRC Local 2 is helping law enforcement agencies put wanted criminals behind bars. Check out the fugitives featured on the Wheel of Justice.
We take a look at Forbes Magazine's list of the top ten hot billionaire heiresses.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
