Do you find yourself unable to control your shopping habits? Does every shopping spree leave you with feelings of guilt yet unable to stop? You're not alone. For many people with a shopping addiction, the cycle of impulsive purchasing and regret can feel impossible to break.
Shopping addiction is often not taken seriously by those around the person suffering from it. However, we at Clinic Les Alpes understand the devastating impact of this addictive behavior. Through compassionate and expert care, we offer specialized shopping addiction treatment to support those looking to recover and find new ways to live a meaningful and health-promoting life.
Learn more below about compulsive shopping, its signs and symptoms, and treatment for shopping addiction. It is never too late or too early to start on the road to recovery.
The first steps on the road to recovery are often the most difficult, and it is nearly impossible to do whilst in environments that enable compulsive buying. This includes work places, familiar environments, and even home now that online shopping has become the norm for many. Break away from your daily life and enter an inpatient facility that will protect you from your compulsions until you build the strength to resist them yourself.
For a compulsive shopper, the constant accessibility of stores and online shopping platforms makes it particularly challenging to break harmful patterns without specialized support. Our treatment center provides the necessary distance from these triggers, allowing you to focus entirely on recovery.
Clinic Les Alpes not only offers this protection, but also a break from the daily pressures of life. With multiple daily therapies and luxury amenities, you can learn more about what triggers your shopping addiction, as well as new healthy ways to cope with those underlying emotions. Overlooking calm meadows and the serene Lake Geneva, you can start to rediscover yourself surrounded by care, compassion, and leaders in addiction treatment.
Shopping addiction, also known as compulsive buying disorder, is a term commonly used by mental health and addiction professionals to describe an overwhelming urge to shop and buy items, leading to distress and impairment in various areas of life. Individuals with shopping addiction often experience an intense emotional high while shopping, which is followed by feelings of guilt, regret, or anxiety. This cycle can lead to a continuous pattern of compulsive shopping, financial problems, and negative impacts on personal and professional relationships.
While substance addiction receives more attention, behavioral addictions like compulsive shopping can be equally destructive to one's financial health and personal relationships. The impulse to spend money becomes overwhelming, and the temporary emotional relief gained from shopping reinforces the addictive cycle.
It is important to acknowledge that most international diagnostic manuals, such as the DSM-V or the ICD-10, do not currently have criteria for 'shopping addiction'. However, this does not mean that such an addiction is invalid or any less severe than other recognised behavioural addictions.
Compulsive buying disorder can manifest in different ways, with various types of shopping addiction affecting individuals differently:
Understanding which type of shopping behaviors dominate your experience can help tailor the most effective treatment approach.
In the absence of formal diagnostic criteria, a study was recently published by Müller et al (2021) which proposes a set of seven experiences that those suffering from shopping addiction may live through. If you think you may be a shopping addict, consider if:
If you have said 'yes' for yourself, or someone you know, for four or more of the above points it may be time to seek professional help and support. Attending a rehabilitation centre can be a great way to start your recovery journey by addressing not only the shopping addiction, but also the root causes of why shopping can get so out of control for each unique person.
An assessment period enables the professional care team around you to learn more about you and what your needs and goals are for your treatment stay. This typically lasts 5-10 days, and you will be able to address all your health needs with a multidisciplinary team. By being open and honest with the team, they will be able to create a personalised treatment plan unique to you and your addiction.
During this phase, we conduct a thorough evaluation of your shopping behaviors, spending habits, and any co-occurring mental health conditions that may contribute to your compulsive buying.
During your treatment period, which is most often 28 days, you will undergo a variety of therapeutic interventions. This will include a range of more traditional talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), narrative therapy, traditional psychotherapy, dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), and others.
Our treatment options for compulsive shopping include:
It will also include complementary therapies in order to provide a somatic sense of recovery including massage, acupuncture, meditation, sound bowls, ayurvedic medicine, and more. Alternative therapies may also be proposed such as art therapy, music and dance therapy, or equine therapy.
It is important to remember that not only does individual therapy help with recovery, but that research has consistently demonstrated the 'power of the group' when it comes to group therapeutic experiences. Not only does this provide you with the opportunity to build new connections with people experiencing similar problems, but it also enables peers to hold each other accountable during their recovery.
Prior to graduating from treatment, your therapist will support you in putting together both a Relapse Prevention Plan and an Aftercare plan. These two plans will connect you with experienced professionals that can help you use your new skills to prevent lapses and cope adequately with triggers. You will be able to feel secure and strong in your newfound recovery.
Many people benefit from ongoing support through specialized support groups such as Debtors Anonymous or other programs designed for those recovering from compulsive spending. Our aftercare planning ensures you have these resources readily available.
Yes, shopping addiction and compulsive buying is often associated with mental health problems. Often there are underlying mental health conditions that force people to turn to a shopping addiction in order to cope with their emotions. Alternatively, it may be that the shopping addiction itself created mental health problems as a result of the negative impacts on that person's life.
Common co-occurring mental health conditions include:
In either case, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to address a shopping addiction without also addressing the underlying mental health concerns. Most commonly, these include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, financial stress, and relationships difficulties. Addressing these disorders at the same time requires a comprehensive approach that includes therapy, counselling, and lifestyle changes to achieve an overall improved sense of well-being.
Our dual diagnosis approach ensures that both your shopping addiction and any co-occurring mental health issues are treated simultaneously for the best possible outcomes.
If you or someone you love is struggling with compulsive shopping behaviors, know that effective, compassionate help is available. At Clinic Les Alpes, we understand the complex nature of shopping addiction and provide specialized treatment in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
Our team of experienced professionals is ready to help you break free from destructive shopping patterns and develop healthier relationships with both your finances and yourself. Through our comprehensive approach to shopping addiction treatment, you can regain control of your life and build a more fulfilling future.
Contact us to learn more about our shopping addiction treatment program and how we can support your journey to recovery.
