Peterborough Counsellor says shopping addictions usually mask deeper issues
A recent study suggests the number of adults affected may have doubled since the pandemic.
A Peterborough counsellor says shopping addictions should be taken more seriously.
It's after the number of people suffering from a shopping addiction may have doubled since the pandemic.
It is estimated that there are between 200,000 and 350,000 shopping addicts in the UK - and recent research shows 90% of people who struggle with compulsive shopping are women.
Diane Stevens, from Peterborough Counselling Service says clients “often come for depression or stress or relationship problems, and then the addiction manifests itself as the therapy delves deeper as this is usually masking a deeper issue.
“Ideally, we'd all like to be able to regulate our needs and wants. But when this is overindulged, it's usually compensating for a lack of our needs being met in other areas such as our relationships or job satisfaction, perhaps loneliness or even loss.”
Shopping addiction is characterised by an obsession with shopping and spending money.
Like any addiction, people feel a compulsion to engage in the activity despite it having negative consequences for their lives.
Diane added;
“All addictions are a form of poor mental health. Poor mental health is a lack of enjoyment in life. Therefore, we look for other ways to release our good chemicals that we need to release to make us feel happy.”