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| Warning Behaviors |  For lots of people, shopping means new clothes for work or maybe some kinds of things for the house. For others, nevertheless, shopping takes on a completely other meaning. It can become as destroying as any other type of addiction and result in a financial dismay for the shopper and family as well. This is referred to as compulsive spending or compulsive shopping.
Warning Behaviors
 Shopping or spending money caused by feeling angry, depression, anxious, or lonely.
Having arguments with others about one's shopping habits.
Feeling lost without credit cards – actually going into withdrawal without them.
Spending a lot of time juggling accounts or bills to accommodate spending.
Purchasing things on credit rather than with cash.
Depicting a rush or a feeling of euphoria with spending.
Feeling guilty, ashamed, or embarrassed after a spending spree.
Lying about the sum of spent money. For example, owning up to buying something, but lying about how much it actually cost.
Having obsessive thoughts about money.
For those of you who have recognized three or more of the above, there may be a problem. Even as there are no standard programs, specializing in compulsive shopping, cure is available. It usually will come in the form of a psychiatric evaluation, ongoing outpatient therapy and medication to help with the compulsivity.
Others who have an accompanying drug or alcohol addiction, in-patient treatment is available and the compulsive shopper or spender can receive help there. The ability to be in a residential setting can provide the addict with much needed support to break the cycle of shopping, spending, drinking or drugging.
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