Shopaholic or not?

The term shopaholic has become a household term over the recent years. But already in 1915 the compulsive desire to shop was described using the term oniomania. Wikipedia offers thesesymptoms of addiction to shopping;

“Victims often experience moods of satisfaction when they are in the process of purchasing, which seems to give their life meaning while letting them forget about their sorrows.”

“Cases have shown that the bought goods will be hidden or destroyed, because the person concerned feels ashamed of their addiction and tries to conceal it.”

So how do you know if you are obsessed with shopping or just fascinated by clothes? Every girl loves to buy new clothes; some do it just to wear it, others to feel better. It is fairly easy to discover if your’re shopping for the right reasons. Once you start buying just for the sake of buying and the high it gives you to bring something new home, think twice about what is making you want to buy. It’s okay to shop a lot as long you are not only shopping to feel better.

Some golden rules

1. Buy it because you want or need it and not just to buy it. Most of the time, you know if you’re just buying for the sake of buying.

2. Impulsive shopping is okay if you see something you have wanted for some time or if you are missing that piece in your collection, like a good blazer or a scarf.

3. Buy it if you’re certain you’ll wear it. Doubt means don’t!

4. If shopping is the only thing that can make you feel better right there and then, buy something small, like an accessory or a lip gloss.

5. If you use rule four, use the time on your way home from the store to reflect about why a small thing, like a lip gloss can make you happy and how long does that happiness last.

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