Help for a Shopping Addiction?
I'm wondering if anyone has any experience overcoming a shopping addiction? I'm going to go into debt very soon if this doesn't get better, so I'm really desperate for some help.
I am a college student, so I've been shopping to cope with the intense stress of school.
I didn't realize it had gotten so bad.
Now I need a kick in the *** to help myself out of this darkness.
I've talked to my family about it, and they are putting all of their energy into shaming me. But I really would like to help myself out of this hole, and grow from this experience. Has anyone here had to deal with a severe shopping addiction like this, too?
Thank you for listening y'all :)
@oliveDrum11 I've personally never had a shopping addiction, but I'm dealing with other addictions. It sucks that your family is shaming you instead of supporting you properly. First of all, you need alternatives. You can't just take this addiction away and leave nothing in its place. Is there anything that you enjoy or even anything that distracts you that could occupy you when the need to shop hits? As for controlling the addiction itself: can you remove yourself from shopping areas? Can you have someone else handle your cash/card? Can you disconnect from the internet? As an example, when I struggle to not drink or cut myself, I know there are ways to not give in: I can stay out of my house, I can go for long walks, I can help other people online like this, I can distract myself with YouTube, I can simply get in my car and sob violently, I can pet the cat, I can go to sleep. You have to remind yourself there are other options and the hard part is then to follow through and make that better choice. Also, what is stressing you out? Is there anyway to cut back on the things that trigger you?