Are you an online shopping addict? Well, it has now been recognised as a mental health condition. Psychotherapists say it is an actual mental disorder, called the ‘Buying-Shopping Disorder’ (BSD).
“It really is time to recognise BSD as separate mental health condition and to accumulate further knowledge about BSD on the Internet,” says Dr Astrid Müller, a psychotherapist at Hannover Medical School in Germany. Her colleagues say the condition had gone unrecognised for too long.
In a study they looked at evidence from 122 patients seeking help for their online shopping addictions and found they had higher than usual rates of depression and anxiety. They argue the rise of online stores, apps and home delivery have added an entirely new dimension to the concept of a shopaholic. The research was published in the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry.
The internet has made shopping more available, anonymous, accessible and affordable. You can purchase things through Facebook or Instagram pages or websites. Cash on Delivery (CoD) option or online bank deposits has also made online shopping quite easy without stepping out of the comfort of your house.
Currently, BSD is not classified as a disorder on its own but is part of a category named ‘other specified impulse control disorder’. Online shopping can cause a loop of extreme cravings for buying things and satisfaction when spending money. This can then lead to a breakdown in self-control, ‘extreme distress’, other psychiatric problems, relationship difficulties and physical clutter and debt.
Are you addicted to shopping? Buying-Shopping Disorder (BSD) often happens alongside other mood, anxiety or eating disorders. It often appears in the late teens or early 20s, and usually gets worse over time.
Symptoms may include:
- Accumulating debt
- Hiding purchases from loved ones
- Tensions or breakdowns in relationships between friends and family
- Compensating for negative feelings by buying things
- Trying to stop shopping but unable to
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