LoveToKnow Recovery:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Recovery

Comments

Shanna,

A person with a shopping addiction may resort to stealing to get money to continue to shop once they run out of their own funds.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

Can shopping addiction lead a person to steal money from their work place so they have money to spend? I think my mom in law has a shopping addiction. She's been divorced for 7 years (from an alcoholic that put his drinking friends before his family) and suffers from depression. I just found out last night she was arrested for stealing money from her work place. The only time I really she her happy is when she's spending money. She's constantly buying things she doesn't need or use. She's always juggling bills so she can buy stuff. At birthdays and Christmas, she always splurges and spends way more than she really should. She buys clothes online a LOT, especially if they offer "buy now, pay later

-- Contributed by: Shanna

Joni,

If you know why you engage in the behavior, you can use this knowledge as a starting point to get help. You don't have to stay in the shopaholic cycle. You can start by seeing your doctor and asking for a referral to a therapist with experience treating people who are addicted to shopping. Getting screened for depression is a good idea, too, since this may be a contributing factor.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

I am a shopaholic and just racked up $25,000 for the third time. I am so sick and depressed. My husband left me 3 years ago after being married 25 years. I shop to avoid feelings. I am a failure, have guilt, shame, feel awful.

-- Contributed by: Joni

Enter Your Name,

You can't change your father; only he can decide to do that. You can approach him and tell him that you are concerned about him but this may not go over well. A better approach may be for you to get some counseling to learn how to talk to your father about his addictions.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

I believe my father has a compulsive lying /shopping addiction as long as i can remember the two have gone hand in hand but i have had it enough is enough any advice on how to help him. He is addicted to buying sports memoroabelia. Any suggestions?

-- Contributed by: Enter your name here

Deb,

Please visit this link for a list of online resources for compulsive shoppers.

http://www.stoppingovershopping.com/otherresources.htm

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

I have a severe shopping addiction & have been unable to find help & therapists are baffled as to where to direct me or how to help me. There are addiction groups for the more common ones but not for this one which I believe remains very closeted & not talked about because I believe it is just one of those addictions people don't really know about or realize. When one runs out of money they then resort to shoplifting & I have too done that & it is truly an addiction for which it is an extremely hard one to break. If anyone know of any on-line groups for this please do make it public. I am entering into a 12-step program through a program "Creative Recovery" which is a program fast growing & is given in churches so one may want to look into that on the web. I am looking forward with much fear & anxiety to this program but am hopefully hoping that it works for me.

-- Contributed by: Deb

Lynneski,

Your friend does have a problem and if you suspect that she is shoplifting, you may want to tell her that you will no longer be shopping with her. If she is caught shoplifting and you are with her, there may be legal consequences for you as well.

You can sit down with her and tell her that you are concerned about her behavior. Tell her what you have noticed about her spending and ask her what is going on. Then wait. She may not be able to tell you anything right away, but chances are that she is behaving the way she does to mask something that is painful to her. Offer to help her find someone (like a therapist) that she can talk to (and mean it). Reassure her that you still care for her, even if you can't be part of the excessive shopping expeditions anymore.

Jodee Redmond, LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

Your article was very helpful. Unfortunately, I have a friend who is obsessed with shopping to the point that she's spending all her husband's hard-earned money. Her marriage is suffering and its difficult to be around her because she wanted to do nothing else, but shop for junk she doesn't need with money that isn't even hers'. Once when I went out with her, I think she shop-lifted some cosmetics. Please help me! What should I do? I want to be a good friend to her, but I'm afraid to shop with her because of her embarrasing spending habits and shoplifting.

-- Contributed by: Lynneski
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