Shop 'Til You ... Feel Better

Finding that bargain may not only save your wallet, but also your sanity.

A growing body of evidence indicates that the shopping experience releases chemicals in the brain that create a high. Shoppers often experience the high when window-shopping or when they find a great bargain.

According to a recent NBC report, the chemical that is released during shopping is called dopamine. This chemical is associated with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction.

Some shoppers find the experience therapeutic, but it can easily get out of hand and turn into an addiction.

Research has associated dopamine with pleasure and experiencing new things, which shopping often provides for many people.

Indiana University researchers said people usually buy more when visiting out-of-town because of increased dopamine levels in the brain. Some researchers believe the link is actually between the anticipation of the purchase and not necessarily the experience itself.